I almost never enter photography contests, but I just made an exception to that rule for the Washington Post. One of the contest rules was the image had to be taken within the past 12 months. While submission of a birding image might seem obvious, I decided to provide a photograph taken last November of the Davidson Windmill and the Northern Lights. Here is the image I submitted. In my comments to the Washington Post I noted that I practice realism in my photography. Thus, this photo closely represents what I saw that night last November with my naked eye. I did NOT run up the ISO thereby allowing my camera to record something different than what was showing in the heavens above! 
Category Archives: Year 13
Upland Trail Forest Road Magic
People who bird the Upland Forest Trail normally access the road from Lake County #2 at the junction with Whyte Road (avoid this section of Whyte Road like the plague … it descends into horrible bog and should NOT be driven even with four wheel drive.) However, I figured out that there is another section of Upland Forest Trail on the other side of a marsh / bog. If one drives to the area known at Toimi, Minnesota and IF you have a car with four wheel drive / all wheel drive, there is a one mile section of the road that may be safely driven. Right at the one mile point there is a parking area, BUT DO NOT drive past this point. I tried hiking and the road descended into marsh. Later this fall I will try the hike once more.
The drive will take you across an active set of railroad tracks, and from that point on the birding is fantastic. When the flies and mosquitoes die down some towards the end of July there are some great birding hikes off to one’s right as a person drives onto this wilderness area. The birdsong listening stations I have deployed have ID’d a remarkable number of warblers species, including lots of Connecticut Warblers. The area off to the right has amazing raptor perching trees.
The images included below are actually from just past the turn onto Upland Forest Trail. In a few hundred yards a person gets to two cool large ponds (next to the railroad tracks). The Trumpeter Swan Family lived in and raised their family here this summer.
America’s 250th Birthday Barred Owls Hooting
While most of the United States sweltered in an extreme heatwave yesterday on our country’s 250th birthday, here in northern Minnesota on Northstar Lake thunder storms reigned (rained?!) supreme and the temperature never rose above 62F. My Tempest Weather System recorded 1,401 lighting strikes in the immediate area. When the downpours finally ended a bit before 5 pm, I was surprised to hear my local barred owls starting to hoot. It was only 5 pm; sunset would not be for over four hours.
Apparently the Barred Owls wanted to celebrate the July 4th Holiday, or were just happy at being able to dry out. For those who have been subscribers for a time, you may remember I have two pairs of Barred Owls that seem to think my cabin’s property is their territory dividing line (read prior post … the night time owl fight). After BBQ’ing brats for dinner, I went looking for the owls at 6:45 pm. Jackpot! I now present you with America’s Independence Day Barred Owls! Who Cooks for Youuuuu?!
Barred Owl #1
Barred Owl #2
July 4th Birthday Barred Owl … The Movie! (video link for subscribers)