Trumpeter Swan on Vadnais
Sunday, we counted 36 Trumpeter Swans on Vadnais lake, along with 100’s of ducks. “The largest of North American waterfowl, the Trumpeter Swan is resident throughout much of its range, but migratory in other parts. Its was reduced to near extinction by the early 20th...
Flight crew @ the Raptor Center
Every Thursday, I volunteer at the Raptor Center on one of the flight crews helping with the physical conditioning of recovering raptors, exercising the birds and assessing their abilities as they regain their flight skills. This usually means catching a wild hawk or...
Violet-tailed Sylph
The Violet-tailed Sylph, Aglaiocercus coelestis, is a species of hummingbird found in Colombia and Ecuador. Males average around 7 inches,(18 cm), in height, while females average around 3.8 inches (9.7 cm). They are are easy to identify not only by their...
Booted Racket-tail
The Booted Racket-tail is one of the finest looking birds I’ve ever seen. With it’s puffy white legs and long tennis racket tail, this hummer is unlike any creature I’ve ever seen. This guy quickly became a favorite on our birding adventure.
Swordbill Hummingbirds
The distinctive bill of a Swordbill Hummingbird is longer than its body which makes for easy identification from any other bird or hummingbird. When feeding, the tongue of a hummingbird extends beyond its bill and contracts about 13 times per second, allowing it to...
Coyotes in Como Park
I stopped by Como Park this morning to see if I could find reported Cackling Geese in the midst of hundred’s of Canada Geese. I was surprised to see about 200 geese get agitated and lift off simultaneously. In scoping the Golf Course, I saw a coyote...
Happy Ending
On Oct 22nd, Tina and I were asked to drive a barred owl to Balsam Lake, Wi for a release. On the way to Wisconsin, we received a report of a bald eagle injured in Burnet County and asked if we would drive it back to the Raptor Center. We met a volunteer...
back from Ecuador
I am in the process of downloading and keywording over 2,000 images from last week. Tina and I joined my folks for a spectacular birding/photography trip to northeastern Ecuador. Over 200 species of birds were seen including one day where i group of 14...
Fall Migration in Chicago
In early October, Tina and I visited some friends in Chicago. The 4 of us spent a delightful weekend hiking nearby nature preserves and viewing some of the fall migration. Great Blue heron, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Magnolia Warbler and Palm Warbler were...
Update on the Grandchildren
Several people have reminded me lately, that 99% of my images and posts are of birds. Once in a while, I should post images of the real reasons I am in Minnesota… 3 wonderful grandchildren. All three are growing quickly and it brings us great joy watching...