A good pilot always checks the wind speed and direction before take-off!
(photograph taken just before sunset this evening).

In addition, some very news from my eye doctor appointment today …

The prospect of going blind is very scary, and for the past few months I have been dealing with that strong possibility. When outside I was more often than not essentially blind. This morning I saw one of the top eye doctors in Minnesota, and discovered I have a rare neurological / eye disorder where my eyes are not communicating properly with my brain. Better yet, a treatment exists which should stop this nerve communication problem from occurring (not cure). My doctor is confident my treatment will return me to a normal life. Thus, Molly and I are cautiously optimistic that the new year will be very good. The treatment involves deadening certain nerves with Botox (essentially snake venom). Medicine is amazing. Learn more if interested … Blepharospasm.

It was a celebration today for me to find and photograph this Snowy Owl. I am already on new medication which is only manufactured at one location in Minnesota. Thank you for everyone’s kind words and prayers. Please keep me in your thoughts this Christmas season, but the trend is positive for the first time a long while. Happy Holidays.

The real treatment with the Botox does not start till next month. Thus, we have hope but it’s still a waiting game.

They’re back! Duluth / Superior Snowy Owls! Best late afternoon / evening’s entertainment in December … owling followed by Bentleyville. I will admit it was a touch cold just before sunset this evening. I spied the owl from a distance, and then found a spot to park my car. The Snowy was kind enough to sit tight while I hiked 1/3 of a mile in the -1F (-15F chill factor) conditions. The owl then let me take photographs for over five minutes before moving on to its next hunting perch. By the time I got back to the car, I was cold … but happy!

Posing for me

Snowy Owl Take-Off

Although thousands and thousands of Snow Geese migrate through the Dakotas and extreme western Minnesota, here at the tip of Lake Superior this beautiful white bird is a rarity. Each fall I hope to find a small flock, and today I finally struck pay dirt. A small group of six birds was hanging out at the Tri-State Fair Grounds in Superior. Even though it was still wet and windy this morning, I enjoyed some quality time with my geese. Finally, when I say thousands and thousands of Snow Geese migrate a bit west of here, see this post from this spring when I chanced upon the northward migration … some cool videos.

Superior Snow Geese! (first image gives a nice comparison in size vs a Canada Goose, and the last image shows a Blue Morph)