This is the name of Alex's website -- and today I finally saw one of mine, well actually I saw @135 of them! But not until lunchtime...
We spent the morning looking for Spruce Grouse (just a few Ruffed) and Woodpeckers (Black-backed and Three-toed). Only had Hairy & Downy. Windy & Snowy!
Greenwood Creek Feeders
We had a challenging Outhouse walk – lots of ice and uneven ground because it was blowing and snowing! Fortunately, it was clean.
Lots of trees with white or whitish bark -- Most are Aspen, but there are more than enough Birch as well. Alex tells me that if you are from the east you think they are Birch & from the west Aspen. I thought they were Aspen - perhaps I am learning something...
Birch Tree
Aspen
Spruce Grouse Territory...
My Cohorts "In Cahoots"
Coming into town -- a well behaved deer uses the Crosswalk! (Photo by Alex Lamoreaux)
We went to Ely (pronounced eel-y) I spotted a flock of @135 Bohemian Waxwings – here is what I wrote about my experience.
1) I spotted them (Woo Hoo – not easy – Alex is a great/quick spotter) Always fun!
2) SO active but very backlit – moved around to try to get a better angle
3) Somehow the switch on my lens got flipped and was not Autofocusing – grrrr missed some stuff
4) The flock move down and we got closer –lots of great shots
My Nemesis Bird - Bohemian Waxwing
These birds use snow as a water source & to bathe - so much fun to watch!
Had a wonderful lunch (best Chicken & Bacon salad so far) & Wifi. Alex spotted a single female Pine Grosbeak in an Ash tree…and I never had to get out of the car. I was in awe!
Pine Grosbeak - female
We headed back over to the bog and ended the day with 2 Great Grey Owls (not together), one on a wire that hunted dinner, one on a pine!
Sax-Zim Bog
Great Gray Owl
It dove and we thought maybe it had missed its prey...
It is working on the Meadow Vole under the snow with its serious claws
There it is...
Looks satisfied...
Gone...
Great Gray Owl number 2
It was less successful -- but love the pose - Photo Credit: Kent Anderson
Thought we might try to see the Northern Lights, but the Aurora forecast shifted and it was very overcast. We were shut out of the Asian restaurant we hope to have dinner but ended up at Outback. I was happy – really wanted a steak & veggies after days of Salad with Grilled Chicken of varying quality. Lots of brew pubs in Duluth that have the same thing on the menu – Burgers, Tacos, salads and lots of fried things. A struggle for me. We all had too much food and Alex (who is a vegetarian) had a fairly plain pasta, so we all donated some of our excess veggies to him.
We got back late, but at least we had water tonight!
Comments