Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Day 183: Year Long Bird Photography Project is 1/2 Complete!

Year 1

This osprey which I photographed this morning is screaming it aloud … well done on completing 1/2 year of bird photography! While the output of this project has been the bird photographs, the input has been my learning how to manually control and use my camera. Many of the photographs I now take were totally impossible for me six months ago.

Thus, if you are considering a 365 photo project, find a subject you like and be prepared to learn! The project forces you to use your camera in all kinds of varying conditions and light levels. The result helps you improve your photo taking skills!

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Day 174 Addendum: Sax Zim Bog Bird Bike Ride

Year 1

Although my official bird for today was the USAF Thunderbirds, I also took a bike tour through one of the premier bird locations in North American … the Sax Zim Bog. I rode 42+ miles through along deserted gravel and asphalt roads. Not only did I get some great exercise, but I enjoyed some nice birding!

Near an old  “missile silo looking building” left over from the cold war when the airspace directly over Minnesota was the most direct route to the USA from Russia, I discovered a northern harrier (see photos). This bird squawked at me, but never really flew out of the area. Given there had to be a nest in the area, I kept a respectful distance.

My big surprise of the day was scaring up two sandhill cranes just 1/2 mile north of the Visitor Center on Owl Ave. I was cycling along and never saw them till the cranes launched into the sky only ten yards in front of me … crying out in there not very melodious voice. They scared me more than I scared them! Later in my ride I watched some American Kestrels which were hunting along side some railroad tracks.

All the deer and cows thought I was an oddity. The deer would watch me approaching and only run at the last moment. One herd of cows even ran alongside me as I biked for 1/5 mile. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the photos from my bike tour!

Getting Ready to Ride
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A Turkey Vulture which thinks its too cold and early to soar!
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Northern Harrier
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American Kestrel
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The Sax-Zim Bog Visitor Center
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The cows that ran along side me!
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Ending with a Osprey!
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Amity: A Winter Wonderland Photographic Tour (free book)

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This past Winter has the most number of sub-zero degree days in history (fahrenheit). With Friday’s snow we are over 130 inches for the season, and have moved into the third snowiest winter in history for northern Minnesota. Thus, it’s time to publish my first book which will take you on a magical tour of this winter wonder which I call “Amity”.

Amity, will be published and available via Amazon in approximately seven days. However, I am giving away a pdf version of my book via NorthStarNerd.Org (my other web site). Here is the book’s description:

The Lake Superior wilderness of northern Minnesota is rustically beautiful. Amity invites you to explore this region’s winter wonderland through the eyes of landscape and nature photographer Rich Hoeg. The word “Amity” comes from a small stream that roars down the hill to Lake Superior near Duluth, Minnesota.

This winter I was flattered to see organizations such as Fox News and the Weather Channel pick up and use my ice cave photographs in national news articles on the Apostle Islands Sea Caves. In addition, being one of the few finalists in the Lake Superior Magazine annual photo contest was an honor.

I hope you enjoy Amity.

Here is just one photo from Amity. This photo of Split Rock Lighthouse was taken shortly before dawn on April 18, 2014. Winter is finally starting to give up here grip on the Northland. (click to view photo at full resolution)

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