Day 118: Nashville Comes to the Northland

May 20, 2014Year 1MN North: Hartley Nature Centerrichardhoeg@gmail.com

A Nashville Warbler that is! Yes, spring must finally be here. The trees are starting to bud and flower, and this also means the first crop of insects. On cue, the warblers are reappearing up here in the north woods. It was a long winter!

It was nice to take a walk about Hartley Nature Center / Park. However, the ice and snow are not all gone as demonstrated by my muskrat photo. I saw this guy swim under the dock at the small craft harbor.

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon image to view at full size)

Nashville Warbler

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Spotted Sandpiper

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Muskrat McQuade

Day 117: Day of the Mergansers!

May 19, 2014Year 1MN North: Mouth of the Lester Riverrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The post title sounds like a “B Movie”, but the name is appropriate. The smelt and steelhead run up the northern Minnesota streams and rivers of Lake Superior continues to strengthen, and the diving ducks are very aware of that fact! With the wind chance out of the NE, the ice left Wisconsin and slammed back against the Minnesota shore. However, the current at the mouth of the Lester River insures and opening for fishing.

Today I saw and photographed my first hooded merganser. I hope you’re agree they are a pretty bird. In addition, two red-breasted mergansers drakes fought over a hen. I wonder if any female is worth the trouble?!

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon image to view at full size)

Hooded Merganser

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Red-Breasted Merganser Fight

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Ice flowing back to Minnesota from Wisconsin

Bird Photography by Bicycle

May 18, 2014BackgroundBicycle Birding, Birding Know How, MN South: Minneapolisrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Bicycling, birding and photography are a great combination. Yesterday I took a 24 mile ride on the Luce Line Trail. This rails to trails route which starts in the western suburbs of Minneapolis and proceeds into the rural countryside allows one to get some great exercise and also access areas not reachable by car. While one certainly may walk your local trails, when on a bicycle the birding photographer may quickly ride between prime habitat locations, and then either slow down or dismount for birding. By keeping a good lookout which in transit, unexpected sights will often present themselves.

My setup for birding photography is simple. I have a handlebar bag where my camera is stored for easy access. In addition I have a monopod lashed to rear bag for stabilizing my camera during long distance zoomed shots.

Here are a few photos from my Luce Line Trail bike ride. Please realize songbirds are just starting to migrate into the area. Photographic opportunities are yet a bit thin this spring.