Blog Archives
Redtail Release
Friends, after receiving a band on his leg, this wild red tailed hawk was released from the cliff above me at Hawk Ridge. Now my flying practice is starting to produce results. My heart did a thumpy thump when he looked down at me or maybe it was the short hike downhill to get below the release site. He then pumped his magnificent wings and flew away over Lake Superior, this is the upstroke of his wing and below is an image of the down stroke. Enjoy til Tomorrow MJ
Red Tailed Hawk
Friends, this beautiful red tailed hawk is in hand at Hawk Ridge on a Saturday morning. Lots of people around so he is a little excited which is why his tongue is hanging out. They have a little tunnel on the back of their tongue which helps them to breathe better when eating or when excited. The images below show his beautiful red tail and his outline while in flight. Tomorrow i will show this bird as he is released back into the wild. til Tomorrow MJ
Other Entertainment
Friends, sitting in my easy chair at Hawk Ridge is extremely entertaining for a bird person, not only is the ridge a funnel for hawks and other raptors, but other migrating birds also pass here. Like these white pelicans on their way to the southland. What a thrill! These birds in a v formation against the blue sky and warm temps this made a perfect day outdoors. Below the ridge the fall foliage is turning and the maples are very nice this time of year, below is an artistic rendition of sitting under a fall maple. til Tomorrow MJ
A very special bird-Peregrine Falcon
Friends, not only is this a juvenile peregrine falcon, but it is a juvenile tundra peregrine that was raised in the far northland. This subspecie is smaller and lighter in plummage than the normal peregrine. Peregrines have recovered from near extinction in the 50s with the help of dedicated bird lovers. I have watched the regeneration program in Rochester Minnesota where the bluer and darker peregrines raise their chicks in nests atop the Mayo Clinic buildings. I have watched them feed their young on building ledges but i have never seen one in the wild. The experts on Hawk Ridge were quite excited to show this bird in hand and educate the public. They have survived due to the diligence of those who legislated to ban ddt, resulting in the saving of many bird species, til Tomorrow MJ
MY Goshawk
Friends, this is my goshawk that i adopted on Hawk ridge yesterday, actually my husband adopted him for me. What a thrill to hold her in my hands and release her back to her element. The banders had captured two juveniles at the same time and since there is always a competition for food in the nest, the hawks were objecting to being so close together again. This is how they plead for food from the adults, lots of screaming. When i held her she was quiet, and patiently awaited being released above the cliff over Lake Superior and flying off to hunt her own food. Below is an image of me with my bird, thanks Jimmy, til Tomorrow MJ
Natural Watercolors
Friends, Hawk ridge yesterday, but no birds. The sky was almost clear when i got there, but a storm blew in and covered my car with pea-sized hail. After the storm, i shot some fall foliage cause the sumac was gorgeous up on the ridge. More experiments with moving the camera during the exposure. I think this looks like a watercolor. Below is an experiment with the under layer moved and the top layer more sharp, a paper birch changing its clothes. til Tomorrow MJ
Broad-Winged Hawk
Friends, this beautiful baby is a broad-winged Hawk and they are migrating in great numbers over Hawk Ridge. The day this was taken over 5000 passed over the ridge, and on the ninth of september over 15000 were counted over the ridge. They tend to leave the nesting area in large flocks and can form “kettles” as they circle in the air. Their diet is a varied one ranging from frogs and lizards to small birds, even on occasion they may eat a large insect. They are very numerous in the air, but they rarely visit the lower reaches of hawk ridge so this was a rare treat at the educational area. Hope you enjoy this pretty bird, til Tomorrow MJ
Hawk Ridge- Sharp Shinned Hawk
Friends, A visit today and yesterday to Hawk Ridge in Duluth Minnesota, a place about an hours drive from our home. In the fall the hawks and other large birds migrate southward along the west shore of Lake Superior and often soar over Hawk Ridge. The observatory group there counts the birds every year and they band many birds . They also educate the public about these wonderful birds that are often not seen close up and personal like this bird. An educator is holding this bird and after a chat with us, the birds are turned loose to return to their migration. This bird is a female sharp shined hawk and i was surprised by the small size. When she matures, her chest feathers will get horizontal banding, her eye will go orange then red, and her back feather will get more of a gray than the chocolate brown that she has now. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Dreaming
Friends, when i am dreaming i am sitting on the shores of Lake Superior watching the waves. This was a combined image using three different wave images shot in quick succession in order to capture all of the crashing wave action. I didn’t use a slow shutter speed, but used a radial blur in photoshop to create a half sharp and half blurred image. Do you like this approach or prefer the all blurry effect of a slow shutter speed? I will await your opinions, til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Down
Friends, last summer on a trip to our seaport, Duluth Minnesota, we were photographing the giant lupines that grow on the bluffs over Lake Superior. Looking down at my feet, we found this Luna moth who begged for attention. These moths are very large with a wingspan of 4-4.5 inches and they only live for one week. I had never seen one in the wild so this made my day. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 