The weather finally moderated enough to allow for a quick bird in between various Christmas celebrations. After all the ugly days of sub zero weather and huge winds, I was hopeful of finding a hungry hawk. This Red-Tailed Hawk obliged … the temperature was a balmy 4F at the time! Merry Christmas.
Tag Archives: MN South: Plymouth Wetlands
Bicycle Birding
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
Egrets, Herons and Fish … Oh My!
Molly and I are down in the Twin Cities for a wedding and dinner with friends. This morning at sunrise I took time to visit a bunch of birding locations in the NW burbs. My final stop was what I call the Plymouth Wetlands, but which has the official name of Three Ponds Park. One reason I love this park is it has a ton of undeveloped land with narrow dirt trails. For the person willing to then go “off trail” there are lots of great places for both watching birds, but also where one is able to easily hide from our feathered friends. Such was the case this morning when I watched Great Egrets and Green Herons in search of their breakfast. (video link for email subscribers of a Great Egret catching breakfast snacks)
Great Egrets
The Strike and Recovery (less than one second) 
Green Herons
The Take-Off
Juvenile Wood Ducks & Great Egret Fishing Video