Ice Pack Snowstorm Goldeneye leads off day #1 of my 7 Day Nature Photography Challenge and edges out Sleeping Snowy Owl in the Snow!

Here in northern Minnesota fellow photographers are challenging each other to the 7 Day Nature Photography Challenge which requires one to post an nature image every day (current or old picture). I have tweaked the 7 Day Nature Photography Challenge in that I am requiring all my images to be from the current day. The challenge was actually welcome as I was bemoaning the weather forecast which has 7+ days straight of cloudy, snowy weather … not a photographer’s friend. Now I look at the forecast as a challenge and fun activity!

Thus, here are today’s winner and loser … as selected & photographed by me during today’s snowstorm. Both birds were cooperative both in terms of being almost motionless which was a major plus given the low light, and that they stayed in place long enough for me to use manual focus (auto focus might have bounced off the snowflakes).

Ice Pack Goldeneye in a Snowstorm

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Sleeping Snowy in a Snowstorm

The bigger and deeper lakes in northern Minnesota are finally freezing over. This has pushed a huge number of Goldeneyes south and they are now hanging out in the Duluth harbor. The harbor is also starting to refreeze, which means for those of you who like opportunities to observe “eyes” from up close, that is becoming quite possible from the 1890 Interstate Bridge and the Aerial Bridge Piers.

Also found this Snowy Owl enjoying the sleet this morning down in the Port Terminal area. I suspect it does not mind having more food sources around!

• View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)