A few years back I insisted we add more bee balm to our perennial garden. I had noticed that our ruby-throated hummingbirds found this particular plant sweeter than candy. Thus, this evening for about 1/2 hour before supper I sat in our garden with a glass of white wine and took hummingbird photographs! Summer is sweet … hard to remember the -30F days of January. Do Snowy Owls really exist?!
Female Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds in our Garden! (1/1250th of a second exposure)
Over the past few weeks, the combination of the HUGE storm (100+ mph winds while losing power for 4+ days), my son’s wedding, and now getting our town home down in the Plymouth area of Minnesota has severely limited time out in the woods. Yesterday I finally got back out in the countryside day with my camera. I started the day at the end of Park Point, drove over to Cloverland, Wisconsin, and ended my birding in my own garden while barbecuing some steaks (and sipping some white wine).
Why “Unknown Birds”? Take a look at my first two images. Hawks are often hard to identify, particularly with lots of immature birds now around. Sandpipers just give me issues. I have problems with the sometimes subtle differences between sandpipers.
Post Update: My thanks to commenter, Adam Roesch, who helped me with the ID. The hawk is an immature red-tailed hawk, and the sandpiper is a buff breasted sandpiper!
Unknown Hawk (actually posted this photograph on an online forum … this bird was identified as an immature northern goshawk, an immature red tailed hawk, and a female northern harrier … take your pick!)
Unknown Sandpiper
Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in my Garden (I see you!)
Hummingbird Moth
I also saw my friend the Red-Headed Woodpecker over at Cloverland, and some Sandhill Cranes which were “Dancing at Dawn” (actually … more like walking)!
Finally, the promised Milky Way image from my night out photographing the Northern Lights.
The forecast was perfect last night … a G2 Aurora Borealis Watch, No Moon & Clear Skies. Thus, I made the decision to drive 70 miles north of Duluth to the Isabella area. Not only is this area remote, within a few miles of the Canadian border, but it borders the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA) and is DARK! For 90 minutes I sat on a dock on a remote lake, waiting and hoping. The “Green Glow” was present, but I wanted a solar storm with light spikes. Shortly before midnight I was rewarded, and the Northern Lights continued to dance until dawn. I took the opportunity to check out some locations at which I had been wanting to try night photography. Here are the results … (also took some nice Milky Way photographs … will post those tomorrow)
Waiting … Selfie Under the Green Glow – Shallow Lake (12 miles NW of Isabella)
The Aurora starts to Dance! (Shallow Lake)
The Pagami Creek Wildfire Region (BWCA / Tomahawk Road 18 miles from Mn. Hwy #1)
Had been wanting to check out this entry point to the BWCA. A huge forest fire burned through this area in 2011. The forest is experiencing a rebirth. I often bird here, and had wanted to try some night photography. Mist is rolling in.
Greenwood Lake Boat Access (Lake Cty #2)
Watch the sunrise, or the Northern Lights? Decisions, Decisions. Why not watch both! Given I desperately needed some sleep, I had actually pulled the car over at this boat launch shortly before 4 am because I desperately need some sleep, but God thought otherwise!
