Canosia Wildlife Reserve Osprey

Year 8

This was the second stop of my morning. After laying down on the ground watching the owlets this morning for an hour starting at 6:45 am with the mercury at 30F (photos coming), I needed to warm up. Thus I took a series of short hikes as I drove around and checked osprey nests. The Canosia nest is my favorite, closely followed by “Steamshovel Sally”. This nest is surrounded by wetlands and very natural. I still needed to wear a winter parka to take these photographs. Being motionless, even standing, for 30 minutes waiting for some action can sometimes be tough.

The Nest … Looking for a Good Lady Osprey!

The Favorite Tree (about 150 yards from the nest)

Do Owls Get Lonely?

Year 8,

I have no idea what is the answer to this question, but two of the three Great Horned Owlets have fledged. With their new found gift of flight the youngsters have moved about 1/2 mile in the forest, which leaves “junior”. This owlet is all by itself in the nest tree. Momma Owl is definitely delivering food (see early yesterday morning), but otherwise after having Mom plus its siblings around all the time, it is by itself. Thus, Do owls get lonely? Does it even understand the concept? This owlet hatched 7+ days after its siblings. It is not ready for flight.

The Lonesome Dove … umm … Owl

Some Blue Winged Teals I had fun photographing a few days back … in between rain showers.

Southern Birding

Year 8

My kind of southern birding would still be considered “way up north” for most folks, but for me I had driven 180 miles south out of the Boreal Forests near Duluth to the Minneapolis area. Leaving Lake Superior also means the temperature rises significantly, and without the severe winters of northeastern Minnesota, I was surprised to discover leaves were already budding. Greenery is still one month away in my neighborhood.

Obviously this habitat change means different birds. Given the weather was gloomy yesterday afternoon, I decided to adjust my efforts. Great Egrets rarely make it up to the Duluth area; thus I took a hike around some ponds in the Plymouth area. Although it was Sunday afternoon, the poor weather meant I had the trails to myself. I guess you would have to be “bird brained” to be outside. Oh well, I enjoyed my time. The low light actually meant it was much easier to photograph birds with white plumage without the feathers looking blown out by the light.

Great Egrets