I had a medical appointment in the Twin Cities yesterday (all fine), but I had heard there was a Northern Saw-Whet owl family hanging out in a dead tree at the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. While the refuge is definitely not on the direct route south from Duluth to Minneapolis, neither is it horribly out of the way. Thus, I made certain I was on the road shortly after 5 am for my planned detour.

Thankfully, one of the owlets made an appearance after I had waited patiently for one hour. While I understand that “the owlet” is the attraction, these three images demonstrate things to consider for photography:

1. While everyone “wants the close-up”. I actually think the close-up image is the most boring photograph. Habitat makes a photograph much more interesting.
2. Given the Northern Saw-whet’s plumage and the tree’s bark (light grays and browns), I chose to underexpose my images by “one stop”. At a fyi, I underexpose most photographs for birds with lighter plumage in direct sunlight to avoid washouts
3. The final two photographs include habitat, and are much preferred by me.

The family gathered in the Twin Cities to baptize our eighth grandchild, but as the younger generation when not at work (or school) tends to sleep in on weekends. Thus early mornings I could go birding and my choice both Saturday and Sunday was to visit the Sherburne National Wildlife Preserve (NW of the Twin Cities). I arrived both days around 7 am, and drove the seven mile dirt road loop. The wetlands and hardwoods makes for a birding Mecca. This time of year different birds are arriving back north from migration daily. This is an excellent place to visit from Spring through Fall. Here is the GPS Google Maps Link.

Just a few of the bird species I saw …

Belted Kingfisher (female)

Eastern Kingbird

Green Heron

Red-Winged Blackbird

Sandhill Crane (and blue-winged teal)

Yellow Warbler

My granddaughter’s baptism! (private ceremony before church)

Oh my what a difference escaping Lake Superior makes in terms of climate. Earlier this week at home we had one day where even at high noon the temperature was 39F, and getting above 50F was impossible. Now I am 175 miles south for a family gathering and early summer is in full swing. Thus, at 5:30 yesterday morning I left for Wildlife Drive in the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. The prairie lupine were in full bloom, and in the early morning sun the fields were alive in purple. Prince would have been happy! The water level is high, and the reeds have not grown high blocking easy birdwatching.

Given courting is in force, the birds were singing and fighting. Some of the earlier nesting birds took umbrage when other birds got too close. The first fight on the card was between Trumpeter Swans and Canada Geese. Normally the swans force the geese to move, but the trumpeters did not take into account an early hatch and brood for the geese. They fought back hard and encouraged the swans to move on.

The Fight!

The Vanquished Deliver a Bronx Cheer!

The next conflict on the morning’s fight card was between a flock of Sandhill Cranes and Red-Winged Blackbirds. Even given the HUGE size difference the blackbirds eventually forced the cranes to move.

Next it was time out from the fighting to enjoy a lifer singing its heart out in front of the prairie lupines … a Grasshopper Sparrow.

And then the real reason I had ventured forth to Sherburne, Yellow-Headed Blackbirds. The males were singing and staking out territories. I don’t think any females had yet arrived on the breeding grounds.