THANKS TO OUR HOUSE SITTERS

It was a fabulous birthday party and now we prepare to visit Texas. I want to express my deepest thanks to our house sitters who have chosen (out of the kindness of their hearts) to give of their time. Feel free to enjoy the feeders and even look for owls. Enjoy your stay. No posting of birds from yesterday or today but I would like to post this nice picture of some baby House Wrens to honor our incoming guests. God Bless 

newborn House Wrens 

THE WAVES KEEP COMING BUT WE WILL BE LEAVING

The migration of birds is getting fun now with new birds coming every day (it seems). Today I logged my FOY (first of the year) Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow. A total today of 56 different bird species - a nice number. It was a beautiful and blessed Easter Sunday service at our church only to be matched by a wonderful meal at my in-laws home in Chanhassen. Now we are gearing up for the big surprise party for my mother-in-law - her 80th birthday party tomorrow. I have the next 2 days off from work so I will not be counting birds. Then back to work on Thursday - the jury is still out on whether or not I will log birds that day. Friday morning we leave for Texas. There will be fun birds to see there and hopefully an enjoyable 50th birthday party for me.
I am praying for safe travel and healing of my body in the meantime. I've had quite the ride of late dealing with multiple things. But I know the Lord will watch over and protect me. He is also the great Physician. God Bless.

A few years ago this pair of Brown Thrashers nested in our yard

POST FOR TUESDAY APRIL 15TH

Another huge April snowstorm has left us all thinking........."when will this end?"
And I agree - it is getting old. We have been patient Lord - just keep us safe.
I've been not feeling well again but seems like this time I may have a handle on things.
So that is partially the reason for the lack of posting. So this post is for Tuesday, April 15th when I logged 48 bird species. That count did not reach the April Big Day of 61 so I believe that will be the record. I am currently on sick time and then will have some much needed vacation coming - where there will be no counting birds (always watching though). Yesterday (Wednesday) I didn't do any counting either but did find a new bird for the year; the Black-crowned Night Heron - back again for another year at Courage Kenny in Golden Valley. Tuesday I was blessed to see all 5 of the common metro area woodpeckers; Downy, Hairy, Red-bellied, Pileated, Northern Flicker, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Also present were both kinglet species. Thank you Lord for your awesome love for me. Love, Pete

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON SEEN AT COURAGE KENNY IN GOLDEN VALLEY

FROZEN FACE FINDS 61 TODAY

And indeed it was........... At one point today while enjoying gorgeous views of the Red-breasted Mergansers on Lake Calhoun, my face was so cold that I thought it would fall off. That's sometimes what it takes. I couldn't believe that when I actually counted my list for the first time today, that I already had 55 bird species recorded. I added 5 more before coming home and then 1 lone (and first of the year) Chipping Sparrow in our feeders. Other FOY (first of the year) birds today were: Red-breasted Merganser, Osprey, and Hermit Thrush

HERMIT THRUSH

Again, my all time Big Day was set in May of 2012 with 65 species. I have a feeling that I may break that record this year - if not in April then hopefully in May when the warblers start moving through. 

God was good to us yesterday and blessed us with a new pastor. We continue to praise our living God. Thank you Lord for all that you do for us. P.S. - we could use some warmer weather. 

AN UNBELIEVABLE DAY

Today I was blessed beyond belief!!! Not only did I get to share a new bird with 2 friends, I also found a Big Day record 57 bird species for April. One of the first birds I saw this morning was an American Woodcock and the day got better. I was at Springbrook Nature Center searching for the Barred Owl so I could inch closer to the Big Day record when I stumbled upon a Long-eared Owl. This is only the 2nd Long-eared Owl I have seen in my life. I did not find the Barred Owl, but my what a day. And as I look at my list of birds, I see that there are quite a few that I missed. (oh - and I did see my first warbler of the year - yeah)

Yesterday I also had an outstanding bird count of 44 bird species.

Thank you Lord for sharing your wonderful creatures with us today.

Keep us safe and in your care.

Amen

Long-eared Owl seen today at Springbrook Nature Center in Fridley

Birds from April 11th 2014

American Coot

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Robin

American Tree Sparrow

American Woodcock

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Common Grackle

Common Loon

Cooper's Hawk

Dark-eyed Junco

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Phoebe

European Starling

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

Horned Lark

House Finch

House Sparrow

Killdeer

Lesser Scaup

Long-eared Owl

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Northern Flicker

Northern Shoveler

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Sandhill Crane

Song Sparrow

Tree Swallow

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

Wood Duck

Yellow-rumped Warbler

THE MIGRANTS CONTINUE TO FLOOD IN

Hello - I got busy last night and did not post my bird list from April 8th. Yesterday I identified 41 bird species. Today's total was 49. Hard to believe that 49 doesn't cut it for a Big Day in April. To date - I have seen 92 different bird species this year. And it's been busy around here with plans for a surprise birthday party for my mother-in-law who will turn 80 this year. Also we have a wonderful Texas trip planned at the end of the month. I am glad that I was able to get out and log some big bird numbers. The month of May should be the biggest month of all. My all time high for a Big Day is 65 set in the month of May. But............that was not while I was working so we'll have to see what I can come up with. Biggest Big Day 55 in April will be hard to beat. Also - Easter is fast approaching. We are getting a new pastor at our church and so transitions are in the works there too.
He is risen - He is risen. Thank you Lord for accepting the sacrifice. Amen

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 of the 49 species I saw today

ATTEMPT FOR EURASIAN WIGEON - CAME UP EMPTY

I was blessed to be able to make a drive an hour south of here and look for a new bird; Eurasian Wigeon.
But I did not find it. I still need 13 to make the 300 Club. The past 2 days have been great for bird watching.
Yesterday I logged an April high of 55 bird species. Today - id'd 40. Here is a list of what I have seen so far this month.

American Coot

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Robin

American Tree Sparrow

American Wigeon

Bald Eagle

Belted Kingfisher

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Blue-winged Teal

Brown-headed Cowbird

Bufflehead

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Common Goldeneye

Common Grackle

Common Merganser

Dark-eyed Junco

Double-crested Cormorant

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Bluebird

Eastern Meadowlark

Eastern Phoebe

European Starling

Fox Sparrow

Golden-crowned Kinglet

Great Blue Heron

Greater White-fronted Goose

Green-winged Teal

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

Horned Lark

House Finch

House Sparrow

Killdeer

Lesser Scaup

Lesser Yellowlegs

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Northern Harrier

Northern Pintail

Northern Shoveler

Northern Shrike

Pied-billed Grebe

Pileated Woodpecker

Purple Finch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-necked Duck

Ring-necked Pheasant

Rock Pigeon

Sandhill Crane

Snow Goose

Snowy Owl

Song Sparrow

Trumpeter Swan

Turkey Vulture

White Pelican

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

Wood Duck GOD BLESS

BIRDING TODAY BUT NO BARRED FOR JOE

Hello Hello
A fun day today. After our awesome bible study I was able to guide my friend Joe from Japan on a quest to see the Barred Owl. 

No Luck!!!!

We did see many bird species but today I did not count them. I was just trying to find that Barred Owl. We checked some of my favorite spots; ones where I have seen the Barred Owl before and came up empty. 

Springbrook was fairly quiet but we did drum up a nice looking Pileated Woodpecker - Joe got some nice photos. At Elm Creek Park we saw another Pileated and then I got to show Joe his first Purple Finch. It was a female so not much for color. And a possible American Kestrel Falcon. We weren't able to put a positive ID on that one. Loads of American Robins and Cedar Waxwings swarming the park. It felt good to get back out again. I hope that Joe will see the Barred Owl someday - even if I am not the one who takes him out. It is really fun to be out guiding and birding. Glad that I have legs to walk and eyes to see. Thank you Lord. 

Pileated at Sky's Home

A SLOW START FOR ME

Typically I am very gung-ho to get out and birdwatch. But it has been a slow start for me in April. I have yet to get out and do any serious counting. A couple of cruddy weather days and then one day I just plain didn't feel like getting out. And then sometimes my work schedules are just not conducive to getting the job done. 

In April of 2012 I tallied 44 bird species in one day. I guess that would be the number to beat. 

I am still in van 202 but I hear that van 203 is just about ready; I may get it back this week. 

A minor set back for the birds today as they had to manage about 8 inches of snow and I had to fire up the snow-blower at 4:30 am. Only in Minnesota!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

As I write this entry, there are literally about 25 American Robins flying around our house and a few digging at the base of the house on the south side. It gets quite warm there. 

Tomorrow I may go to help a friend Joe look for a Barred Owl. I know of a few hot spots but with owls it's always hit and miss. 

Definitely will be opening God's word tomorrow morning and engaging in more discussion from the book of Acts. We'll see what sort of mood I am in next week. Hopefully I will get a few days of counting in. God Bless

Sandhill Crane