Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Happy Hour Bird Photography!

Year 5

I know I often lecture about how I hang out in swamps at sunrise with millions of bugs all around me, or a bemoan the -20F temperatures while I watch a Great Gray Owl hunt in the middle of the northern winter. Well folks, wildlife photography is a tough job, but someone has to do it.

  • The “wild human” sipping Chardonnay photographs were taken by Molly Hoeg.
  • The “wild bird” photographs were taken by Rich Hoeg (i.e. me!)

Wild Human with Chardonnay

Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds

Shortly before sunrise this morning … my garden and yard … two eight point bucks. Unfortunately my drink at 5:45 am was a Diet Coke as I headed out to the swamp.

Green Herons Hunting

Year 5,

Since last Friday I have been watching my Green Heron Nest. The nest is really buried and it is hard to see the chicks. However, they should fledge soon, and then I will be able to observe their first clumsy attempts at hunting. However, their parents never stray to far from the nest and provide me excellent vantage points to watch them catching small fish, frogs and bugs. I hope you enjoy some of the images. I have no idea what kind of water bug one of the parents caught (hunt #2)

Green Heron Hunt #1

Green Heron Hunt #2

Green Heron Hunt #3

Some Cool Poses!

Meanwhile back at my house, only three miles away … the birding is still good. My bee balm has now bloomed and the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are constantly in my perennial garden.  The Cedar Waxwings are also very much in evidence … catching small bugs early and late in the day.

July 4th Bird!

Year 5, ,

Okay, I know it is the 5th of July today, but it is the holiday weekend. This Bald Eagle struck a post for me in an unusual location … deep within an oak tree! Still, kinda cool!

I found this eagle over at the Wisconsin grasslands. My Red-Headed Woodpecker friends were in the expected spot, and this Wilson’s Snipe also struck a nice pose for me!

Upon returning home, one of local woodpecker families was busy showing the kids how to find food. After a short visit to my suet, the three Hairy Woodpeckers (one Dad, and two chicks) moved around and visited some of the dead trees in my yard. Occasionally the parent would feed the chicks, but more often he ignored them.

Finally, two days ago I ventured south to the Minneapolis area to pick us some family arriving from overseas at the airport. I had 20 minutes to bird at Flying Cloud Fields, and while I did not see the Blue Grosbeaks, I did find this Horned Lark.

Happy Independence Day everyone!