BACK TO THE BIRDS

After a day off, today I returned to the birds. An early start had me waiting for the sun to come up and as it did, I positioned myself at Elm Creek Park's Eastman Nature Center. It was loaded with Purple Finch!! That was fun. There was a male that seemed to be strutting his stuff for the females. On the way out I got a wonderful view of a beautiful male Ring-necked Pheasant - a new one for the month. 21 bird species today. Some misses but also some that were surprises. I ended the day of birding at home with a Brown Creeper.
Stay connected to our Lord.

                            We'll soon get out of this cold. Transition on the way.

NOT 3 DOG NIGHT - 3 OWL DAY

It's a good thing that tomorrow will be a day of rest. I am taking the day off from work to go apply for my passport. I'll be needing that for the upcoming trip to Germany. So with the day off from work - follows a day off from birding too. Good thing. Today's 32 species shattered Friday's Big Day. These numbers fall in line with what I have experienced from last year. Although I only have one documented Big Day in April - last year's 44 seems almost reachable as the warmer weather moves in (along with more bird species). And it was a 3 owl day. Today I saw the Barred Owl at Elm Creek Park, the Snowy Owl in Ramsey, and was treated to a nice looking Great Horned Owl at Springbrook Nature Center. Wow!! Other non-owl highlights were: First of the year Horned Lark, Black Duck, Mourning Dove, and an elusive Purple Finch. Here's the complete list:

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

American Tree Sparrow

Bald Eagle

Barred Owl

Black-capped Chickadee

Black Duck

Blue Jay

Canada Goose

Cedar Waxwing

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Dark-eyed Junco

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

Great Horned Owl

Hairy Woodpecker

Horned Lark

House Finch

House Sparrow

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Purple Finch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Rock Pigeon

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Snowy Owl

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

NEW MARCH HIGH

Blogging for Friday, March 7th. I was waiting patiently for a Bald Eagle figuring this time I would concentrate and get the pair by Lowe's. Didn't need to. As I left the Coon Rapids Dam yesterday, I spotted one flying at tree level - being chased by a crow. Like in the times of Paul's ministry - always seemed to be chased by the Jews that didn't like what he had to say. Hey - don't shoot the messenger. Oh, that we could all be as bold as Paul. I for one know that I am not. I do enjoy God's beautiful birds. I enjoy their color, shape, sound, and their correspondence to freedom. At least freedom to take flight. Highlights from yesterday - Black Duck, American Tree Sparrow, and Pileated Woodpecker. How awesome is our God!!! 24 species yesterday.

A TOUGH 20

Moving into St. Paul today with only 15 birds on my list. I absent-mindedly forgot to look for the Bald Eagles - easy to see - nesting by Lowe's on Highway 10. With that in mind, I still needed 5 birds to reach 20 but this just made it a bit more difficult. There is a nice home across the street from Como Park in St. Paul that has many bird feeders. It's like a magnet in conjunction with the park itself so I am often times found there looking for birds. My destination was a hot spot for 3 of my needed birds; Dark-eyed Junco, American Goldfinch, and Red-bellied Woodpecker. As I was walking toward the home with the feeders I heard the sound of many Cedar Waxwings and then found the flock. Wow!! What a beautiful sight. That was a bird I was not counting on and so then I just needed 4. The Dark-eyed Junco and the American Goldfinch came quickly to leave me only 2 shy of 20. I figured the only other bird I could find in the area was the Red-bellied Woodpecker and I searched in vain but could not find one. I did a quick walk around the block as I have often times picked one up at the end of the block or at the edge of the park. No luck this time. I was about to give up when I thought that I would try one more time at the "birdy" home. Then approaching at tree level quite a distance past the lake..........what's this? Unbelievable!!! A Bald Eagle flying over Lake Como making up for my previous mistake and making the list 19 - 1 away. And then not even a minute later, like clock-work, a Red-bellied Woodpecker flies right over my head and lands in a tree next to me. Thank you Lord - you are so awesome. Thus ended the tough search for 20 bird species. 

After going through last month's bird finds, here is a list of the top 10 birds spotted. It is pretty much what one would expect - except for one surprise. The list is some-what skewed by the fact that I was up north at the bog and birds like the Northern Cardinal are a tough find.

Out of 13 attempts in February

Black-capped Chickadee - 13 out of 13
Blue Jay - 13 out of 13
Downy Woodpecker 13 out of 13
Hairy Woodpecker 13 out of 13
American Crow 12 out of 13
European Starling 12 out of 13
Rock Pigeon 12 out of 13
White-breasted Nuthatch 12 out of 13
House Finch 11 out of 13
Bald Eagle 11 out of 13

DAM GOLDENEYES GONE

Coon Rapids Dam that is!!! After many weeks of visiting the Coon Rapids Dam and spotting the Common Goldeneyes, it appears that they have moved on. Although I hear from my wife that the Mississippi is open at her work and the Goldeneyes have found some refuge there. I was able to locate some Common Mergansers at the dam and that helped me get to 21 bird species on Wednesday, March 5th. I was at the Mississippi River by the U of M later in the afternoon Wednesday searching for the much needed Brown Creeper. After about an hour of searching, I finally found 3 of them. And a nice Pileated Woodpecker rounded off the day's nice birding. I was blessed again today. And now Lord I pray that you help us through the change of season and give us strength to endure the upcoming pothole season. Amen

MARCH BIRDING BEGINS

Wie Gehts - Learning German is very difficult especially when I really want to get out and bird watch. So I have been dividing my time a bit but still able to see good numbers of birds. Logged a total of 21 bird species on Monday, March 3rd. Then today's total reached 23. Elm Creek Park seems to be the place to be. The birds are really active there. And I think it is one of the few places to find the American Tree Sparrow and the Purple Finch. Where ever I go, I try to make the most of the situation. With the addition of trying to learn German, I seem to never have a dull moment. So if the birding is not good, I can read and or learn, but I always seem to be on the move. Thankfully God is everywhere we go. I am thankful for the protection He has provided on the roads this winter. It's been tough driving and there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Lord keep us composed. And help me to appreciate what I have. 

Biding My Birding Time

Hello-
March has arrived. But it doesn't look like it. I realize that March is one of the snowiest months but where is the warmer weather? Still below zero and still biding my time; hoping I can get out and bird without freezing my extremities. February's biggest Big Day was also my son Ian's 22nd birthday. I managed to ID 29 bird species. The list is below in a previous entry. A total of 51 bird species for the month of February and that included 1 new Minnesota Life Bird (and a North American Life Bird); the Northern Hawk Owl. 13 more to go before I reach the 300 Club; 300 bird species spotted in Minnesota. We are confirmed to go to Germany this August so now I suppose I will need to have a new list - a European bird list. Back here in Anoka - we have been getting regular visits from the Brown Creeper. Also we had a nice looking American Robin visit our bird bath while we sat and played Scrabble. 1 tie and 2 wins this time - my luck may be changing. It's just a game though. And luck comes and goes, but God's love for us remains the same and constant. I am very thankful for that.