Category Archives: Year 1

Day 192: Observe Your Surroundings While Birding!

Early this morning I set out to photograph either … A) a kingfisher, or B) a hummingbird.

While the kingfisher family was a no show, my travels pointed out the importance of looking around oneself when focusing upon a particular kind of photograph. If I had ignored my surroundings I would never have seen … within 30 yards or less of me … a beaver, an 8 point buck, or a dragonfly on a flower!

I ultimately got some neat hummingbird photos, but they were almost an afterthought to the day!

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird Studies! 

Arrival
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Inspection
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Deep Drink #1
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Deep Drink #2
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Departure
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8 Point Buck
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Return of the Beaver (see movie #1)
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Video

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Dragonfly
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Days 187 to 191: Biker Birds

ÏI love to bicycle, and I also love to photograph birds. This past week I co-led a bike tour through the BWCA (boundary waters canoe area) of northern Minnesota, and the north shore of Lake Superior. My boyhood friend, Jim, runs a bike touring company … Bike Tour Vacations, and I often work as his second in command tour guide.

While the combination of cycling and birding is fun, leading a tour is a bit difficult when combined with birding and photography. I often cannot afford to stop and take the time to capture the desired photos. However, if one uses one “bird smarts”, the results are fun!

Day 187: Wounded Eagle (neat war memorial in the small town of Virginia, Mn.)
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Day 188: Sleepy Time for Mallards
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Day 189: White Throated Sparrow
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Day 190: Peregrine Falcon at Palisade Head (a lifer for me!)
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Day 191: Motel Ruby-Throated Hummingbird
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Sax-Zim Bog Addendum: Sandhill Crane Cleared for Take-Off

As noted on day #183, I visited the Sax-Zim Bog last week on my 1/2 year anniversary for this project. While in the bog I captured this sandhill crane during the take-off process. It took me a few days to make a collage out of the photos. Now posted here!

Sandhill Crane cleared for take-off on runway 3-0-9!
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