23 AGAIN

I've been corresponding with a member from the MOU and he really wants to see a Snowy Owl so tomorrow I will be meeting him in Ramsey to see the one present there. I saw it again today. Here's today's list of birds:

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Brown Creeper

Common Goldeneye

Dark-eyed Junco

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

Gadwall

Hairy Woodpecker

House Finch

House Sparrow

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Rock Pigeon

Snowy Owl

Trumpeter Swan

White-breasted Nuthatch Another chilly day today. But God's love was keeping me warm. God Bless.

23 TODAY - ALL FROM BEHIND GLASS

Today was a very bitter cold day. How do I know that? Well, it wasn't because I went outside looking for birds. I just needed to look at the thermometer. All 23 of my bird sightings today were from either the comfort of my home or from behind the windshield of my Medi-Van.
Missed the Dark-eyed Junco again today but was blessed with a change in my schedule which landed me back in Ramsey, MN to see the Snowy Owl. And again God surprised me which the fact that I could actually see a lot of bird species - and not even take a hike! The God of our world is alive and well and in control. Amen. While driving my last client home today I saw 2 Ring-necked Pheasants in a field. But what was really interesting was while waiting for her in the Walmart Pharmacy parking lot in Elk River, I spotted a Trumpeter Swan fly by. How cool is that!!!!!!!!

BOTH ANOKA COUNTY SNOWY OWLS STILL PRESENT

A new month total (I know- it's still early). Ended the day today with 25 bird species. Yesterday's Dark-eyed Junco drought brought a flurry of action today. I got a chance today to show one of my Medi-Van clients a Snowy Owl (both were present in Ramsey today). On Monday I saw 9 Red-tailed Hawks and yesterday 0. Late in the day today I finally found 2. I was able to take a nice long walk at a park in Ramsey called Lake Itasca and flushed a Ring-necked Pheasant and saw 5 Mourning Doves (that was odd). But like I have said, God has a lot of surprises in store when you get out and about. He made it all and is in control and I am just breathing it in. Thank you Lord - You are my rock and my redeemer. Walked around the Mississippi River Park behind K-mart today looking for an American Robin or a Cedar Waxwing. No waxwings to be found and what I thought to be a robin on closer inspection (via binoculars) was indeed a Northern Flicker. Wow. What a fun day.

 

BARRED OWL MAKES 20 FOR THE DAY

Another long day at work!!! But a huge gap in my schedule today allowed for looks for the Snowy Owl in Maple Grove - No luck. A conversation with another gentleman who was also looking revealed that the owl is still in the area as he said he saw it yesterday. I ended the day with the Barred Owl but not the Barred Owl at Springbrook. I saw this one at Elm Creek Park, which was the jackpot today. Other notables were the Purple Finch and 3 flocks of Cedar Waxwings; one rather large flock. I indeed was blessed. The day was cut short by an add-on run to my schedule that directed me to Buffalo, Minnesota for a 5 pm pickup. The added hours will come in handy as a week from this Friday I will be on the road for the Sax Zim Bog Birding Festival. The festival is booked (150 participants) and there will be folks attending from 24 states and the UK. It is a blessing to be able to do that and God guided me safely home today from Buffalo to St. Paul and then Anoka. Thank you Lord. 

2 ACCIPITER DAY

Back to work today with a nice long 13 hours!!! I ended my birding today with the 2nd of 2 accipiters. There are 3 in North America; Northern Goshawk (which I have yet to see), Sharp-shinned Hawk, and Cooper's Hawk. It was the Cooper's Hawk that ended my day at 22 bird species. I was wondering why there were no birds hanging around Harriet Alexander Park in Roseville. That hawk must have been hungry. Earlier today I got a nice surprise after viewing a beautiful adult Bald Eagle. I followed the trail at Bruce Vento Nature Park in St. Paul all the way to the end where there is an open water sewage pond. Among the many Mallards were 2 Gadwall. God always seems to bless me with something fun. 2 days in a row now I have not re-found the Barred Owl at Springbrook. I am sure it is still there but yesterday I did find the American Tree Sparrows but no Wild Turkey. Today Wild Turkey but no American Tree Sparrows. And it required some searching, but I did manage to find a few Dark-eyed Juncos today. 

When I got home today Melinda said, "boy-there sure were a lot of Juncos in our yard today. Only I got home after dark. Life is funny that way sometimes. God Bless!!

SNOWY SUNDAY FOR FRIENDS

It was a beautiful morning. We had a wonderful service and fellowship. My friend Duane (from church) mentioned that he and his wife recently looked for the Snowy Owl off of Armstrong Blvd. and said that they didn't find it. That broke my heart! So I told him that I would go over and look today and if I find it, I would call. After I found the owl it was only about 20 minutes that had past before Duane, Karen, and Danny were sharing a sight to see; the beautiful Snowy Owl. I am glad that they got to see it - and it was a blessing again for me to be able to help folks see something so special. Thank you Lord. Keep us safe and in your care this week. 

JANUARY'S TOTALS

The end of a brutal month!!! Again snow, cold, having a cold, tough road conditions, and less light make for lower numbers (sometimes). That isn't always the case as January's biggest Big Day was 29. I ended the month with a total of 36 different bird species and I averaged 22 bird species per day of birding. I was out on Wednesday and even though it started out as a good birding day, I ended up with only 17 species as I got sent on a Medi-Van run to Park Rapids, MN. That was a long day. Then we had the big snow on Thursday - no birding. Ending the week at Springbrook Nature Center I was pumped to add the Barred Owl, the Wild Turkey, and the American Tree Sparrow; all regulars this past few weeks. Well, I think it was the curse of the camera again because I didn't see any of those species. But I did end the day on Friday with a total of 21. Whenever I bring my camera to get a shot of the Barred, I usually don't find it. So even though it is an old photo, I am including in this entry a photo that I took last year of the Barred Owl at Springbrook. It's a blessing to be alive and given the gift of eternal life through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through Him all things were made. That includes all the beautiful birds of the earth.

Barred Owl

Thank you Lord.!!!