Blog Archives
The Harrier Ballet
Friends, this hatch year Northern Harrier is leaping from his perch in response to an attack by a hatch year Bald Eagle. I showed the fray in an earlier post. Yesterday I went to Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota in preparation for the upcoming fall migration of raptors and passerines. Not much to report yet, but found some cedar waxwings and white throated sparrows on the hill top so til Tomorrow MJ
Lens Test 150-600 mm
Friends, these are not spectacular decisive moments in nature, but rather a test of my new lens. Tamron 150-600 zoom lens. Years ago in the age of film, i had a 300 mm Tamron f2.8 and it was super sharp. I am not disappointed by this lens so far, a sunny day and was able to shoot at 1/1000 of a second or faster so handholding the lens was pretty doable. More testing is needed til Tomorrow MJ
Balancing
Friends, having a meltdown as our snow was starting to recede, but this morning we had 8 inches of fresh snow. Between snow, cold and a non-functioning vehicle, i am very tired of this winter and anxious for it to be over. On a recent trip to Lake Superior shores, ii found this ice chunk speaking of balance. Balancing emotions like this ice chunk resting on a bigger ice chunk reminds me to trust in something bigger than myself, so today i am again back to the blogging. til Tomorrow MJ
Snowy Owl in Flight, as promised
Friends, as promised this snowy owl is flying toward the sun and sorry about the head, but you have to get what is given, as he leaped from the post perch, he revealed his underside and his killer talons, you may also see that he is banded on his right leg, can’t read the band but appears to contain a circle with a 3 inside it, others with more knowledge may be able to help with this band id. the sky was very gray and just diffuse light so this was the best that i could do that day under the circumstances, the next good day i will again be hunting. til Tomorrow MJ
Snowy Owl, my version
Friends, this snowy owl was found in Duluth and is quite the celebrity. He is in the same place every day and many photographers in this part of the country have taken his picture. Well i am certainly no exception, so yesterday our frigid temps moderated a little and i ventured northward. He was sitting a very long way away when i first arrived, but then flew to this perch above the ball fields. I was able to maneuver my vehicle to within about 30 feet of his perch. I liked this image because his tail feathers were blowing in the wind. He stayed here for about 40 minutes then flew back to his dirt pile perch that was too far for my telephoto lens. I got one image of his underside when he flew away, i will show that image tomorrow. til Tomorrow MJ
More ICE (sigh)
Friends, I think that more ice is rather depressing, but that is what is out there at this season, I have been hunting the Snowy Owl that has been hanging out in Crex, but with no success. I am bummed. til Tomorrow MJ
Lake Superior Icicles
Friends, last year the ice formations at Stoney Point were spectacular and these icicles formed at the bottom of every rock outcropping. I like the contrast between the ice and rocks, need to hit the lake today and see what new treasures appear on the lake shore, til Tomorrow MJ
Over the River….
Friends, on this Thanksgiving eve i am thinking of the old song, Over the river and through the woods to Grandmas house we go. This is not a river but Amity Creek that runs off Hawk Ridge into Lake Superior. We traveled over the plains and thru the hills to get to my grandmas house in the badlands of North Dakota. This time of year I remember being a child and being loved by parents and grandparents but kind of missing the Thankful part, now I am an adult and I realize how Thankful i am for the blessings of family and friends, so Happy Thanksgiving everyone, til Tomorrow MJ
Fall Storm
Friends, the Split Rock Lighthouse again, this time emphasizing the warm fall foliage at the shoreline. I also liked the yellow lichen on the rocks in the foreground. I am a great fan of lichen. This storm was an official gale warning and early in the season, as the gales of November are famous on Lake Superior til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 