Category Archives: Year 2

An Afternoon in the Fog: Swan Attack! (Year 2, Month 5)

Last winter’s cold, cold nights means the Lake Superior water temperature even in mid May is still very cold (i.e. in the high 30’s). Unfortunately the direct result of this cold water is lots and lots of fog. Most outdoorsmen know that fog and photography don’t mix, or that’s what lot’s of people think. I often head out in during these conditions. The fog itself can present eerie image opportunities, and one never knows when the fog may lift, even somewhat.

Yesterday afternoon was just such a day. Rather than be grouchy at home I took a quick bike ride and then headed out with my camera. The results speak for themselves!

Trumpeter Swan attacks and drives Canada Goose off local pond
Y2-M05-Trumpeter-Swan-Attack-Canada-Goose-2

———-

Love in the fog … Ring-billed Gulls
Y2-M05-Gull-Love-2

———-

Common Yellow-Throat (Warbler)
Y2-M05-Yellow-Throat-1

———-

Ring Necked Duck
Y2-M05-Ring-Necked-Duck

Grand Finale Wood Ducks

The long bicycle tour is almost over! Molly and I are actually off the bikes and are now “driving” home. In total we cycled 34 days and 1,500 miles carrying all our own gear. Unlike many people, who tour, I carried lots of camera equipment, my Canon Sx60, my Sony NEX-5t, and a monopod! This amount of photography equipment is actually somewhat amazing if one considers that I only had with me three sets of clothes, one of which was on me at all times! One must just set priorities in life, including bike touring.

On the way home I had the opportunity to photograph these two wood ducks in a small pond. It looks like spring is even working its way up into Minnesota! Very much looking forward to sleeping in my own bed tomorrow night.

The two wood ducks I discovered in a small pond this morningWood-Duck-Duo


A photo of me … shows how much gear I carry (or how little!), includes a sleeping bag and tent25-Rich-Pig-Ride-2


One final bird from our trip … a neat Mockingbird photo

13-Mockingbird_wm


Our final bike route …34-Final-Route

Missouri Meadowlark!

My wife and I are 1,200+ miles into a self-supported bicycle tour. One highlight yesterday was seeing and photographing my first ever Eastern Meadowlark. These beautiful birds do not live in the cold climate of northern Minnesota (our home). As we continued to bicycle our way north through southern Missouri we actually saw hundreds of meadowlarks! Perhaps we had caught up with their spring migration? Many of the trees along the roadside are now just beginning to bud out … this the name for this tour, the Spring North Tour.

Read my full bike trip diary (many more photographs)

A male Eastern Meadowlark

24-Eastern-Meadowlark_wm


Taking in a typical roadside view

28-Time-Trial-Vista