Category Archives: Year 7

Morning at the Pond (Sandhill Cranes & Colts)

Year 7,

I owe one to the bugs … all those swarms of mosquitoes and deer flies. Let me explain. About one hour after sunrise this morning I arrived at the trailhead to the Great Blue Heron Rookery in the Canosia State Wildlife Preserve. Less than five minutes into my hike the swarms of bugs in combination with the thick undergrowth drenching me (thunder storms last night), I remarked to myself that my walk was definitely not fun! I turned around and bid a hasty adieu to the woods.

When I got in my car to escape the bugs, a short drive down the dirt road found me unexpectedly meeting a brand new family … two Sandhill Cranes and their two colts (chicks). They were out in the open near a pond with lots of wildflowers on the shore. I was in photographic heaven!

{Just below all the Sandhill Crane photographs and movie you will find an audio recording I took of Hoot last night at 3 am. I was standing in my bedroom next to the window!}

Sandhill Cranes and Colts

Movie! (link for email subscribers)

One final item … I have often remarked that many nights I can hear Hoot, the Great Horned Owl, from my bedroom window. I made this audio recording last night at 3:15 am of Hoot. She was screeching (two toned) and demanding to be fed by her parents.

Hoot at 3 am … audio only … recorded next to my bedroom window! (link for subscribers)

Photo Failure Mode … Resetting Now!

Year 7

Okay … note to self. It is not smart to try out a new lens for the first time just before midnight. I still need to find true “infinity” on my new lens. Anyhow … here is a photograph of Comet Neowise at 11:45 pm a bit north of Duluth. This was my first ever attempt to use a telephoto lens at night. Normally I use a wide angle lens. Hopefully I will get another clear night to apply my lessons learned. My wife pointed out that my focus looks correct, but by being “zoomed in on the comet”, I picked up some star trails (25 second exposure). It just shows how fast the earth is spinning. Anyhow, using a telephoto lens at night is a challenge.

When I arrived home a bit after midnight, I discovered Hoot at the end of my driveway. She was begging to be fed by her parents. I said goodnight to my owl friend, and went to bed. At 5:00 am right outside my bedroom window, a bunch of Blue Jays decided Hoot really should not be hunting in my yard 25 minutes before sunrise. Soon about 40 crows joined in the chase. While I desperately needed sleep, I was also curious where Hoot would go perch for the day. I have not been able to find my friendly Great Horned Owl for over a week (at least during the day … she hunts my yard every night starting about 10 pm).

While my hiking attire was a bit unusual … pajamas and sandals, I headed out onto the Lester Amity Trails. About 3/4 mile later, I found Hoot who was being attacked my some Robins. I noted the spot, and returned home getting back before sunrise. It was back into bed, and I tried to sleep for another hour (after a failed bicycle ride attempt … my body was also screaming reset … late night photography + pre-sunrise hikes + early morning bicycle rides does not computer for my 64 year old body).

When I hiked back over to see Hoot, I decided it was time to force myself to use my new lens and monopod. While I was not taking photographs at night, Hoot was at a side angle to the sun, and I had an excellent, successful morning with Hoot. She was still putting up with pesky robins, but at least the crows had disappeared.

Hoot … the Great Horned Owl!

Hoot … the Movie! (link for email subscribers)

Northern Harrier at Dawn!

Year 7

Hoot was begging for food in a tree right our side my bedroom window at 3:30 am this morning. Once I realized what time it was, I thought just perhaps Hoot (the oldest of my Great Horned Owl family juveniles) was trying to tell me to get my “#*!0” out of bed, and go see the comet Neowise. By 3:55 am I was down at Brighton Beach on Lake Superior, and I owe my owl friend a big thanks. While I did not take any photographs of the comet (the horizon was already showing the pre-dawn light … sunrise was at 5:25 am), the view was amazing. I could easily see the Comet with my naked eyes, and by using my binoculars the comet’s tail was an awe inspiring sight. When the comet appears in the night time sky in true darkness in about one week, get out there! (good web site / blog for learning more about the comet … Astro Bob)

Given I was up so early, and only live 45 minutes from Sax-Zim Bog, I drove over to see if I might find some Great Gray Owls hunting just before sunrise. Nope! However, I found something which for me is much more rare, and by approaching very slowly with the sun extremely low in the sky and right behind me, a Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk). I have never had such a neat viewing experience of a Northern Harrier. For over 30 minutes I watched it hunt (unsuccessfully) and preen. These birds spook so very easily, but it could not see me due to the sun’s low angle. Thanks Astro Bob and Comet Neowise!

Northern Harrier Take-Off

Early morning housekeeping

A few other pics of the Northern Harrier (and a video … link for email subscribers)

One final image. I know the United States is sweltering in a heat wave. The temperature was 47F at 5:10 am, fifteen minutes before sunrise (lots of ground fog).