Category Archives: Year 8

Summer’s Predators

Year 8,

It was 38F just after sunup this morning at Sax-Zim Bog. Nature was decked out in green with scattered wildflowers. I wore shorts and a lightweight short-sleeved cotton sweater! This Great Gray Owl wore its finest down.

If you are a vole, you are in BIG trouble.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch the young Merlins scream for food. This particular Merlin was in a dead tree right off my driveway. At least one time per day the Merlin family works their way towards my yard (they nested about 800 yards distant). I am certain my feeders and the resulting songbirds attract the Merlins. I actually heard this juvenile screaming while I was inside my home.

 

Summer’s End Sunflowers & Birding

Year 8,

Today is August 12th, and it may seem strange to be talking about summer’s end, but “meteorological summer” ends with August, not September 21st. Here in northeastern Minnesota over the next few days temperatures will drop into the mid 40’s at night, and ground fog / lake steam will be common at sunrise. While there are still hot days ahead, the “times are a changing”. Many birds have already started their southward migration. Warblers are the latest bird specie to start exiting the northern forests (monitor this Fall’s migration via BirdCast).

Today is one week since my two surgeries which means I am now allowed to take some longer excursions. At sunrise I visited MK3 Hardwood Farms. This family farm plants a field of sunflowers and includes a walking path through the blossoms. Sunflowers are at their peak right now, and one would be hard pressed to find a better morning walk. (MK3 Hardwood Farms: corners of Cty 18 and Matten Road near Wrenshall). If you are not able to visit at sunrise, arrive 90 minutes before sunset. The colors early in the morning and late in the day are amazing, and it’s cooler! Although there is no “admission charge”, make sure you leave a donation in the wooden box at the entrance to the walking path.

Here are some photographs from my visit early this morning

Someone always has to be different!

With the end of summer approaching, birds start to feed in ways you may not anticipate, but they are just taking advantage of great food sources. Many of you may think Cedar Waxwings are berry eating birds. Actually this Cedar Waxwing was ignoring the berries and acting like a fly catcher. They will eat berries once bugs disappear.

In fact, hundreds of waxwings were diving out over the pond to catch bugs … very common for August. The final image is a juvenile. Note how its colors are not as bright, and the streaking. Camouflage for when it was in the nest. There are a lot of predators around.

Dads Ignoring Kids! Real Life Birding!

Year 8
How many of you Dads sometimes have this feeling. If I ignore my kid begging for food , perhaps it will go away and be Mom’s problem?! Here is a male purple finch and juvenile this afternoon I photographed this afternoon.

On another note, my owls continue to be very involved with my heart surgery therapy. Although I had not seen my Great Horned Owls in almost two weeks, shortly before 6 am I heard a crow attack in progress. Anyhow, I took a one mile hike in the fog and found one of the juveniles. No pics … foggy and dark. See my prior post … Owl Cardiac Therapy. My medical team 100% supports my hiking right now, but I am not allowed to use the car to go anywhere.