While taking a break this afternoon I suddenly noticed motion in the white pine above our bird feeders. Apparently after last night’s big rain and thunderstorm a local raccoon family decided to look for better accommodations. Our white pine has one section that is hollow. It was fun watching the family move in, but they may have a rude awakening tonight. Both raccoons and owls are nocturnal, and my Great Horned Owl family of five hunts in my yard every night starting at 10 pm.
While Hoot may be to small and inexperienced yet to catch a raccoon, either parent owl would find catching a raccoon, particularly the babies not much of a problem. It will be interesting to see what evolves. There are definitely more than two raccoons in the tree (two seen in the video).
Raccoons move In to hollow White Pine
Count the noses! (I do not know the total count is of raccoons)
Raccoon Movie-In … the Movie (link for email subscribers)
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!}
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)
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.
