random Trumpeter Swan shots from Monticello

 

  

Monticello Canada Geese

the storm is subsiding

It didn't start to snow here until noon; we've accumulated about 4 inches with a strong wind blowing the light snow in all directions. The birds are doing OK at the feeders; there's fresh water in the heated bird bath. 
I must be complaining a lot about the winter since Tammy of Our Neck of the Woods  tweeted to my Twitter account: "This too shall melt!"
Thank you for the encouragement!

The Trumpeter Swan Society

I was unaware of The Trumpeter Swan Society until Peg Abbott posted a comment about it in response to some of my photos. This evening I spent quite a bit of time perusing the Society's site which contains a wealth of information. If you are interested in swans, and Trumpeters in particular, the site is worth your attention -- you may even want to join!
For up-to-date information about these beautiful birds, take a look at the Society's blog.

Canon TS-E 17mm lens

Maybe not too interesting for bird photographers,
but it sure would be fun to fool around with one.
details 

a neat new blog

A few days ago Lynne of Hasty Brook and I were talking about all of the wonderful people we have meet among fellow bloggers. Through our mutual interest in photography and Benedictine spirituality I recently had the privilege of meeting Ron. He has just started a new bird and nature blog dedicated to his native state. Check it out -- Colorado Shots .

wordless wednesday at Monticello

Monticello Trumpeter Swans

Now that I'm done with my Sax Zim pix, and until my next outing, I'll be posting some photos from the Monticello, Minnesota, swan park. They were taken about a week ago.

juvenile

"Show off!"

Sax Zim muskrat

 

nice coat

 

a little more from Sax Zim

"Are you sure Gov. Palin doesn't live here?"

 Rocket Bar & Grille in Meadowlands, Sax Zim bog

Redpoll tree

Redpolls at Sax Zim

one of the many feeding stations

snow was falling though the sky was blue

the squirrels were competing with the Redpolls

1 Blue + Gray Jays at Sax Zim

 

"extinct" quail found, then eaten

according to National Geographic News 

more from Sax Zim bog

 Isn't this where Gov. Palin lives?

Common Redpoll in falling snow

Gray Jay feeding on deer carcass

European Starling offering to help

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY

Sax Zim Bog

Since I was not able to attend this weekend's 2nd annual Sax Zim Bog Winter Bird Festival ,
organized by Mike Hendrickson , I did the next best thing and went up there today
while my daughter was teaching at the U of M, Duluth. 
Excluding driving time, I had about 4 hrs. to spend at the bog --
clearly not enough. But here are some photos, 
to be followed by more during the next few days.

When I arrived at Meadowlands, the center for the festival,
it was snowing at a good clip.

As the snow began to diminish and the sun came out,
the bright light caused havoc for my iPhone camera.

Redpolls everywhere

and to my delight, Gray Jays, which I had never photographed before --
here feeding on a deer carcass

American Crow