Happy New Year!

Blue Moon

still more Trumpeter Swans

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Flying with photo gear?

Think again!

more from Monticello

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

toss your camera

’Tis the Season for Camera Tossing -- read about it here

Trumpeter Swans, Monticello, MN

Les & I met this morning for our first return visit of the season to photograph the Trumpeter Swans which winter at Monticello, MN. The local Chamber of Commerce has helped sponsor the site where they congregate. The swans are fed by the "Swan Lady" and, when you visit, please leave a donation to help pay for their food.

   

   

Although the temperature was about 0 when we arrived, I really felt the cold --

 more than last year when on one of my visits it was -24 degrees.

   

   

more to follow

Junco with snowflake

The Last Penguin

Excellent slide show about Adelie penguins & global warming.

Wild Turkey

  

  

  

My kind of Santa!

here

Sophie watching wild turkeys

no birds

iPhone photography

The iPhone camera is quite elementary. 3 megapixels. Fixed lens. Small sensor. Crude adjustments for focus & exposure. However, the BEST CAMERA is the one you carry with you, which is what I did yesterday to the Mall of America. All in all, I'm pleased with the results and wanted to share them with you.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

Where can I hide until Saturday?

St. Lucia

For photos of another genre,

take a look at the December 17 post on my other blog.

via Moose Peterson

more from Sax Zim bog

I think this is the same sassy squirrel that taunted me last winter,

daring me to stay outside in below zero weather.

   

   

This Gray Jay wouldn't sit still, but I assured him I would be back soon when I would have more time to spend making my acquaintance.

   

    

   

   

   

   

   

   

There are many Bald Eagles in Sax Zim.   

   

   

Ron Green

I have admired Ron Green's photography for a long time. Just recently he posted photos from the Great Sand Dunes National Park & Preserve in Colorado. Take a look here and be overwhelmed by the beauty of nature and Ron's talent in capturing it.

new Warbler discovered ...

... in Vietnam & Laos.

Sax Zim Bog

Yesterday I went to Duluth and had the opportunity to visit Sax/Zim Bog for a few hours. As many birders know, this is a unique and wonderful place, particularly in winter when many birds from Canada migrate to this spot for "warmer" weather and food. As we approached Duluth at sunrise, my car thermometer was -16 degrees F. I'm not sure whether it was the weather or some other reason, but many of the birds I hoped to see, especially the owls, evaded me. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the sunny day (which warmed to +7) and the few birds I did get the chance to photograph. 
Many of the residents are preparing for the Sax/Zim Bog birding festival in February and have already set up feeding stations. I will be sharing some photos from those sites, as well as from my quick passage through some of the favorite birding spots. For more information about the area and the Festival, check out Mike Hendrickson's blog and the Festival's site.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

If you stop by the feeding stations, many of them will give you an opportunity to contribute towards their maintenance -- please do so!

more to come

the last of Day 4 at Crex Meadows, Wisconsin

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Whooping Crane shot

As reported by Operation Migration (see December 9 post) and

US Fish & Wildlife, which is offering a $2500 reward.


One of our readers, Kayleen, has referred us to this source about Whooping Crane migration.

your rights as a photographer

explained here

thanks to Bob Atkins

battling for Whooping Crane survival

here

more from Day 4 at Crex Meadows

  

  

  

  

  

  

my friend, Les, waiting for the Cranes to fly toward us