Blog Archives
Summer revisited
Friends, this adult common loon is feeding her eight week old chick, up close and personal. This image was taken in late summer and reminds me of the warm days of summer that are now gone for this year. These birds are sitting very low in the water showing how they can raise and lower their bodies by inflating and deflating an airsac inside their body. The wings squeeze the air from the air sacs allowing the bird to dive or sink into the water. They hunt their food under water and their body is streamlined for underwater life. Feeding the young is a high priority for both adults and they often can raise two chicks each year on main dike in Crex Meadows. til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:Renewal
Friends, The bald eagle and other birds get a renewal of feathers every year and some molt twice a year. When I see a wild bird up close and personal, I am renewed by an interaction with the wildness within me. Driving on a two track road back to middle north fork, I was following a mystery bird. When I reached a clearing near the lake, i saw this immature bald eagle perched in a tree. He is almost mature, probably about 3 or 4 years old, as his head and tail are almost white, but still containing some brown. I took this image as he flew from the perch, he circled the lake and landed again in the same tree snag. Must be a good fishing spot, below is the second photo as he departed. I was renewed and continued on my human way. til Tomorrow MJ
Blue-wing Teal
Friends, this beautiful duck is a blue-winged teal in Crex Meadows. His blue wing is hidden deep in the feathers, but his head shows a little blue cast. This was a cloudy day but his white was a beacon on the dull colored water. This time of year, lots of cloudy weather gets people down and we have to look far and wide for some color to photograph. Some say to photograph in black and white, but I see in color so I long for any shade of color to brighten my day. Today I am going to Crex, maybe I will find color as the Meadows are full of Greater Sandhill Cranes gathering for the migration south. Or maybe I will find the mature Northern Harrier that i saw last week, that would make a great photo for my hawk book. One can dream and previsualize, but divine intervention is necessary for this to occur. til Tomorrow MJ
A Painting
Friends, this image of a Sandhill Crane spoke to me, the detailed feathering and the green background were very artful, so i played with my photoshop and converted this to an oil painting effect. I am studying feathers and the Sandhills have left their feathers all over the Crex Meadows due to seasonal molting. We have picked up several feathers and they are natural treasures that will help us to remember the autumn days on Crex and look forward to the return of the Cranes in the spring. If you are interested in feathers, I can recommend a good book, Bird Feathers, available at Amazon.com. Lots of info and well illustrated, but scientifically dry, but if you are into research (me), it is an excellent reference book. til Tomorrow MJ
The Chase
Friends, this is Trumpeter Swan 47E and i think he/she woke up cranky. As these swans were settling into their nightly roost, there was lots of chasing and jostling to vie for space. After about ten minutes of this activity all were quietly preening and tolerating the presence of others. Not your typical swan image but tells of behavior not often shown, I love the feathering on the underside of the wing, til Tomorrow MJ
Mother and Child -Trumpeter Swans
Friends, this is not a mating pair of Trumpeter Swans, but an adult (in front) leading a youngster from this years hatch. The young swan is gray with a pink bill, while the adult is white with a black bill. There are many Trumpeters on Crex Meadows right now, gathering for their migration. This family of five didn’t like all the noise that the Sandhill Cranes were making, so they departed. til Tomorrow MJ
Snow?? No Just Snow Buntings
Friends, this beautiful bird is visiting this winter having migrated from somewhere up near the Arctic circle. This snow bunting is in non-breeding plumage and note the feathers around the top part of the legs that protect them from ice and snow. He is walking along the edge of Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows on a beautiful sunny Sunday. til Tomorrow MJ
On the Meadows
Friends, this morning we are back at Crex Meadows in Northwestern Wisconsin, where the Trumpeter Swans are passing through on the migration. This beautiful bird is preening her feathers and admiring her fine figure in the lake water. A ballerina balanced on one foot, all she needs is a tutu, this week has been a bit gray in the meadow and we are out walking the young dog and mourning the passing of our old dog. The Meadow colors make life a bit more bearable. Below is an image of the grass colors and the pond where thousands of Sandhill Cranes and Mallard ducks are also gathering to help with the harvest of wild rice. til Tomorrow MJ
The Big Guy-Osprey
Friends, while sitting on Hawk Ridge watching the leaves turn into fall colors, and waiting for the occasional hawk, this big bird gave us a fly-over. We told him there aren’t any fish on the ridge but he was curious and gave us the once over. This is an adult osprey with a bright yellow eye who was flying northward when all the traffic is southerly. Guess he didn’t get the memo. When ospreys glide their wings are bent slightly at the wrist, as shown in the image below. til Tomorrow MJ
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
MJ Springett 