Day 119: Wedding Bird Bouquet!

May 21, 2014Year 1MN North: Amity, MN North: Hartley Nature Centerrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Today is my 31st wedding anniversary! Molly has been a great friend, supporter and love through all these years which included raising our three great kids: Karen, Carl and Erik. What could be better for this day than to search for “birds of color” and create a “wedding bouquet collage”?!

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

Today’s Wedding Bird Bouquet

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American Redstart

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Least Flycatcher

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American Goldfinch

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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

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Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

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?!