Rolling....

This week Maura and I found 007 on Tuesday or Wednesday. The next day I saw a 008, and today (due to three trips to the hardware store) I have seen 009, 010, and 011. Amazing.

The First Owl - Minnesota Bird #16 for 2009

Moonie and I found this cute owl at Fort Snelling State Park today.

A Few Birds and a License Plate

Hunter, the Great Horned Owl. In rehab after some accident that left him unable to be on his own.

Acadia, a female Saw Whet Owl.

Here is my best shot. These are a flock of Pine Grosbeaks at a feeder. The male is red and the females are bronze headed. I caught one flying into the feeder. Lucky.

Last weekend I had the privilege of going up to Finland, Minnesota and taking lots of pictures. My Nikon got too cold and didn't come through, but the Panasonic nailed some good ones.



Here we have a Red Chested Nuthatch.

Next up is Common Redpoll.

Since the beginning of the year I have started playing the License Plate Game. Tonight on the way home, Maura and I saw "005". Excellent. It only took two weeks to get that last plate.

January 5 - Plus Two

On the way home from school, Karyl spotted this guy out on the ice eating someone's catch-of-the-day. In the horrible picture to the right the eagle has just finished his meal. He then flew around and landed in a tree just above me, but the light was so faint I didn't get a quality shot.

Earlier in the day I saw a pair of Northern Cardinals grazing at a feeder. That puts the old Minnesota bird count up to 12 for 2009.

According to the folks that know, there are 435 species of bird in Minnesota. Yahoo....

Fort Snelling with The Moonie

Shot of the Day: Wild Turkey

After I took the first shot, all of these guys came over to the car. Someone must be feeding them.

Deer crossing the ice.

Four Trumpeter Swans enjoy a hole in the ice.

A Downey.

A White-Breasted Nuthatch

A horrible shot at a very cool Red-Bellied Woodpecker. Honest.

Day Two - Up to Five Birds

I believe this is a Hairy Woodpecker, as opposed to the Downy. This guys singing sent me running for a camera.

Here are Mr. and Mrs. House Sparrow, looking for some sunflower seeds.

This is Mrs. Hairy. Quite shy. I could not get a side shot.

Here is Mrs. House Sparrow. Best shot of the day.

This is a Black-Capped Chickadee on his/her way to the feeder for some seed. Moving too fast for me to get the focus too sharp.

Day One at Fort Snelling

This afternoon I had the unmitigated joy to go walk around Fort Snelling State Park with Karyl and Moonie. We saw deer, robins, crows, and a few other suspects who escaped being identification. This was the first time out with my Panasonic LX-3. We shall see.

The Moonie.

I didn't realize I was shooting in black and white at the beginning, and it wasn't until the end that I got some better shots.

Today was a great way to usher in the New Year.

Two deer.

American Robin