October Otters!

Year 11,

Molly and I are enjoying some beautiful weather up at our cabin a bit south of the Canadian border. Yesterday I spent some significant time starting at sunrise west of Big Falls in the Pine Island State Forest. Although the weather was gorgeous … crystal clear and 39F to start my expedition, the mammals and birds did not really cooperate. However, the strong southerly winds gusting to 25 mph had lowered my expectations. It is unusual on the first of October when the temperature climbs to the high 60’s. Only this Spruce Grouse strutted its stuff for me.

This morning one could really feel Autumn. I took a hike in the dreary early morning to a remote lake. Although birds were again not really present, I found a family of five River Otters which let me watch them catch breakfast. While I love to bird, watching this family of otters for over 15 minutes was a real treat, and trumped my birding efforts! (video link of one otter’s fishing efforts for email subscribers … if you listen closely towards the end of the video you will be able to hear the otter chirping and squeaking … communicating with the other four family members).

Finally, here is an image I took yesterday of a “bog stream”. Toomey Williams Forest Road reaches deep into some amazing Boreal Bog. All that water must eventually drain out of the bog, and quite often the “streams” are amazingly straight (and wildlife magnets).

Rich On TV – Next Monday: Minnesota Live

Background, Year 11

KSTP Channel 5 in the Twin Cities has a live morning show. It’s title is Minnesota Live, and this coming Monday, October 7th I will be their guest. In a 5 to 10 conversation I will speak about these subjects:

  • Bird Photography
  • Cornell’s Bird App: Merlin
  • Cool Birds to See this Fall
  • How I Became Interested in Birding as a Child
  • My Children’s Owl Picture Books (PDF’s available for free)

Obviously that is a lot of content for such a short time period. Regardless, you may watch live streamed from the KSTP web site. I do not know the exact time I will be featured on the program, but the show airs between 9:00 and 10:00 am. My segment may be available after the fact. Here is Minnesota Live’s web site (including live viewing link)

Of Comets, Moose and Large Kitties …

Year 11,

This morning I went comet hunting … arriving at 5:50 am with fantastic views of Lake Superior’s eastern skies. Sunrise was at 7:06 am; thus I was in position during the prime viewing hour (about one hour before sunrise). Although I scanned the eastern skies for 20 minutes with both my naked eyes, and binoculars, I saw zippo. The skies were super clear without humidity, and I was at a non light pollution location.

Four years ago from my cabin I had a great time with Comet Neowise at my northern Minnesota cabin near the Canadian border. That time I scored fantastic views of both the comet and the Northern Lights at the same time!

After striking out with the comet I drove inland to the Greenwood Forest Fire Burn Area. Something has been damaging my bird feeders, but I don’t think it is a bear. Thus I wanted to pull my trail cam’s simm card and move the camera to watch over my feeders.

When I pulled the images off my trail cam this morning I was excited to find pictures of a Bull Moose and a Canada Lynx. I know Poppa Moose is interested in the Cow Moose which has been hanging around the Greenwood Creek Bog all summer. Notice how Poppa Moose has branches stuck to one antler! He also has his nose to the ground. Moose have poor eye sight but great sense of hearing and smell. Perhaps he smells his lady love?!

Trailcam Pictures – Greenwood Creek Bog

The only bird that was willing to pose for my camera this morning was this Bald Eagle near McQuade Harbor. Molly and I are now up at our cabin and tomorrow means a pre-dawn trip to Toomey- Williams Forest Road west of Big Falls for me.