Tag Archives: MN North

Lady Aurora Dances Over the Suomalainen Kirkko (Northern Lights at Historic Lutheran Church)

Year 12,

Oh my … wow!!! Last night was one of the best Northern Lights displays I have ever seen in my life, and even though these photographs were taken in northern Minnesota … for many of the images I was pointing my camera to the Southeast! I was able to see the reds very easily with my naked eye, and the Aurora Borealis filled the entire sky up to the zenith. Lady Aurora performed an amazing dance last night.

A few years ago I discovered the historic Suomalainen Kirkko (Finnish Lutheran Church) while out birding southwest of Duluth. At the time I remarked to myself that it would be a nice spot to watch the northern lights, but please understand I almost never drive south (in this case southwest) for a “dance session”. However, I knew clouds would be a problem from Duluth and to the north of my home town. Thus, I drove southwest. Uff Dah! Wow! Zowie! Last night was a night for the ages.

There will be a second post about this Northern Lights display when I have time to work through the videos which I took (real time, not time lapse). I tend to focus upon realism with my photography. Thus, these images represent very closely what I was seeing with my naked eye. I almost never see vibrant reds dancing across across the sky when watching the Northern Lights. However, last nights reds were everywhere.

A post with my videos is now published. Browse here.

Here is information about this fantastic church … Suomalainen Kirkko (Google Maps Location)

 

Owling by Bicycle!

Year 12

I have taken three amazing bicycle rides in the past week. I load my bike on the car’s rack, and drive somewhere deep into the Minnesota Boreal Forest Wilderness. Once I reach my desired starting point which is always near a bog, I then bike for about 8 miles on a dirt or gravel road. My last three rides have yielded sightings of a Black Bear, a Bull Moose, and yesterday morning a Great Gray Owl. My private STRAVA account indicated for yesterday’s owl ride I biked for one hour, and spent 52 minutes stationary with the owl!

Here are a lot of images, but the morning was extra special. The Great Gray Owl granted me amazing views while it hunted, often near where I was standing. You will note that the owl in a number of pictures is holding its wings a bit open. The tall grass and trees were wet from both overnight rain and morning ground fog. The owl was drying off as it hunted.

And my Owling Bicycle Birding Setup (video link for email subscribers)

And me … check the background … an owl!

Northwoods Magic – Great Gray Owl Nest! (Visit #2)

Year 12

This is my 2nd post about my two visits to a Great Gray Owl nest which a few of us found in northern Minnesota. As the owlets have now fledged and are able to fly, the nest is empty, and the birds are safe. My two days of visiting were in early June. Read my post about my first visit to the nest (this is the 2nd). This post has both “flight training images” and “videos” of both owlets (found at the bottom this post)

The rains came overnight just prior to my second visit, and all the owls … Mom and the owlets were quite wet. Should you ever decided to hike into a back country boreal bog, wear FULL mosquito protect (head nets, gloves, etc). Trust me on this one!

First … wet Great Gray Owls (Momma and Owlet A)!

Great Gray Owlet B was Branching in the Sunshine, and had Dried Off

Momma Great Gray Owl Started Hunting, but Very Near the Nest! (Poppa Owl is the main hunter)

Owlet A Decided to Perform Flight Tests … Hanging On to the Nest for Dear Life While Wing Flapping!

Just prior to the owlet flight training escapades

Flight Training

Meanwhile Momma Owl started calling … I think she was asking for Poppa to make a food delivery.

Finally, prior to my videos, here are two pics of Owlet B Just Hanging Out!

And the Grand Finales … Great Gray Owlet Movies!

Great Gray Owlet A (video link for email subscribers)

Great Gray Owlet B (video link for email subscribers)