What does someone from northern Minnesota do on vacation? Head to the American Southwest to photograph a once in a decade snowstorm in the desert.
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Actually it was just dumb luck, and the snow melted by 1 pm. Our AirBnB hosts told us this was only the third snow event they had seen in 20 years! My location for the photos was a bit north of Tucson. It was truly crazy weather last night … first a downpour and 40+ mph winds. The rain then turned to snow and dead calm conditions. Upon waking up this morning the scene was truly magical. I quickly headed out at sunrise (behind clouds), but found a “Kodak Location” for later (around 9 am) when I there was a 30 minute window of blue skies. (video links for email subscribers: One | Two)
Category Archives: Year 10
Red-Tailed Hawk Love Birds!
Molly and I are spending a little over a week in Tucson, and down in the Desert SW birds are already well into the mating season, including these two red-tailed hawks which I saw a bit after sunrise. One issue I had not anticipated is roaring rivers in the desert. Two dry washes which I normally use on my birding hikes were totally impassable due to rivers which had appeared.
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Get this, if we wanted to take a drive in our car and climb a bit in elevation there is a winter storm warning for the next 24 hours. Even down at our elevation of 2,400 feet snow is likely tonight. Tomorrow’s sunrise photography assignment may be photographing the snow covered desert!
Cementing the Love Bond 
One Hawk Checked Me Out!
5 Minutes Before Sunset Yesterday Evening at our AirBnB (looking away from the setting sun)
Barred Owl Nest!
Excitement shortly after sunrise this morning! At least for me, but the Barred Owl was just trying to enjoy the sun’s warming rays on a cold winter’s morning (1F). I think that this bird is actually on a nest. Barred Owls love to nest in tree cavities. It is also amazing how much earlier in the winter that owls nest down in the Twin Cities area. I am visiting my daughter’s family, and back home on Amity Creek my own Great Horned Owls are still waiting for warmer weather, but they should also nest within two weeks.
