Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Dark Falls Colors with a Hoot!

Year 7

For the first time in almost a month I am hearing owl song tonight … both begging from the juveniles and one of the parents hooting. It is nice to hear them, and seems to indicate my neighborhood will be part of a territory again for the next mating season. I was actually quite surprised to hear an adult hooting on October 2nd. I went outside and listened for ten minutes! It was most enjoyable. Last year I did not hear owl song till the end of November.

On the Fall Colors front one of my favorite songbirds has come out of the forest … Slate Colored Juncos (now known as Dark Eyed Juncos). I really enjoy all the different color variations between the males and females. It just shows grays and browns are beautiful. With Juncos showing up at my feeder it really indicates winter is coming. In fact, today’s high was 39F. Apparently it snowed about 70 miles from here today … inland from Lake Superior.

Slate Colored Juncos

And yet more Fall Colors!

Year 7,

Rain drenched birds! Once I got home from my morning trip to Sax-Zim Bag, the drizzle arrived. For the past few days I have tried unsuccessfully to photograph a male purple finch against the Mountain Maples in my yard. Finally, in the rain, I succeeded! (okay … against Aspen leaves, not the brilliant red maples … oh well.)

And of course … the blue parade continues … just a wet parade.

Finally, I forgot to include this Red-Tailed Hawk photo I took up in the Bog this morning. This raptor took over the hunting duties when the owls went to bed!

Fall Colors!

Year 7

It’s nasty cold today … huge wind out of the NE off Lake Superior with some drizzle and clouds (50F).  In short, it is beautiful day to enjoy the Fall colors and photograph birds (and watch surfers on Lake Superior!). To take photos on a day like today one needs to push the ISO up, rely upon burst mode, and find birds. There is no shade or shadows to ruin an image, and colors are deep / intense.

Today’s player include: Red-Bellied Woodpeckers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Mourning Doves and of course … old “Blue!”

Now for a public safety announcement. Wear a helmet 100% of the time when cycling. Yesterday afternoon I had a nasty crash which resulted in road rash, a fractured rib or two and a BROKEN bicycle helmet. My Garmin which I always wear recorded I was motionless for over 12 minutes. Obviously I was knocked out for part of that time and received a minor concussion. The rest of the 12 minutes was spent sitting, stunned, next to the road. If I had not worn my helmet, I might not be creating this post.  It was very strange to wake up … stretched out on the ground and be staring directly up into the faces of two walkers. For 15 minutes I could not remember what had happened, or where I was … I just knew I hurt.

My bicycle helmet showing the crack right behind my temple area. Be safe!