Tag Archives: MN South: Medicine Lake

Great Horned Owl on Nest in January

Year 11

The title of this post says it all … in January. Granted I am south down in the Plymouth, Minnesota area visiting my daughter’s family, but this is the UnWinter. There is zero snow on the ground but finding a Great Horned Owl already incubating eggs on January 28th is exceedingly weird. Our winter up north in Duluth is also extremely mild, but at least there is a few inches of snow on the ground. I had already started taking local “owl hikes” at night as I am convinced if the weather continues with this warm pattern, owls will nest much earlier this year. Last year my own local owls were not on the nest till early April.

Actually, with my tunnel vision focused on the owl, it took several minutes for me to realize this wild turkey was standing only 15 yards away from me. The image shows the total lack of snow.

Bicycle Birding

Year 9, ,

Life is good when as you are completing a workout and ready for a physical break … the birds suddenly appear and pose for the guy with a camera. With one mile left while cycling first I found this Great Egret fishing the shadows of Medicine Lake, and then after taking a few pics of the egrets, just a bit further along a bike path I found these Northern Shovelers and Wood Ducks eating algae in a small pond. As I have noted many times, my Canon Sx-70 and monopod goes on all bike rides with me!

Let’s also hear it for weather apps with hour by hour weather predictions that are actually correct. I was out bicycle birding during the only time today with sun. It’s now blustery and raining.

Great Egret

Northern Shovelers

Northern Shovelers & Wood Ducks

Cavity Nesters

Year 8

I took a hike this morning in area that has mature old trees with lots of cavities. I wondered whether I would find a newly nested Barred Owl family … Nope! However I saw this male wood duck way up high courting his lady love. She was behind him and blocked by many, many branches. Love is in the air (and the trees … and the cavities)

The Environment

Quack!

Does she hear me?!

I’ll try again … Quack!

Wood Duck Courting … The Movie (web link for email subscribers).

Please note I was quite a distance from this duck. It demonstrates just how well I am able to zoom in utilizing my Canon Sx70 (and a monopod for stabilization). I only use optical zoom (not digital) and the 35mm equivalent is 1365 mm. The Woodie is definitely quacking but I am too distant to pick the sound up with my camera’s microphone.