Pileated Woodpecker

A male Pileated Woodpecker in our backyard. “Nearly as large as a crow, the Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in most of North America. Its loud ringing calls and huge, rectangular excavations in dead trees announce its presence in forests across the...

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Snow Buntings

Snow Buntings in flight at the White Bear Lake beach “Appropriately named, the Snow Bunting is a bird of the high Arctic and snowy winter fields. Even on a warm day, the mostly white plumage of a bunting flock evokes the image of a snowstorm.”...

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Fox Sparrow in the backyard

“A large, boldly striped sparrow of scrubby boreal forest and mountain chaparral, the Fox Sparrow is most familiar as a migrant or wintering bird. Its vigorous "double-scratching," kicking backward in ground litter with both feet to uncover food, often draws...

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Lapland Longspur–#794

I’ve been seriously birding for about 5 years.  With several trips to South America, by life list is hovering just below 800.  Unless I travel, (or get serious about chasing owls in Northern Minnesota) it is not often that I get to see a new bird.  The...

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Fall Colors (2)

Sorry about the earlier post.  I deleted the post after the RSS email had already been sent. Have you been enjoying the fall colors?  I seem to be seeing a lot of yellow and orange this year (my Dad’s favorite colors)

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United

“By the end of 2011 the world will have reached 7 billion people. The United Nations Population Fund is leading an innovative global campaign to bring awareness to the opportunities and challenges that this milestone presents. But 7 Billion people means 7 Billion...

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3rd Anniversary

On October 17th, Jeff and Christy celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary.  Tina and I took them to the Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter for a German dinner.  Rory was her normal cute self and the evening was a special celebration.

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Thursday Flight Crew

Every morning, volunteers gather at the University of Minnesota to help rehabilitate injured raptors.  This week, our team flew 2 Bald Eagles,  2 Red-tailed Hawks, a Great Horned Owl and a Peregrine Falcon.  As we had an odd number of people this past...

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Sandhill Cranes @ dawn

Saturday morning, friend Russ and I drove an hour north in the cold dark to wait for sunrise.  On the northern edge of the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, there is a small dirt parking lot that makes a perfect spot for viewing Sandhill Cranes leaving their...

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Ben & Tina's World
Vadnais Heights, MN 55127