TRANSITIONS ARE A COMIN'

Mourning Dove at our feeders today just before pishing for the Brown Creeper

My last entry seemed somewhat sure that I was going to get a new work van because mine had some toxic fume issue. Now I find myself humbled as it is almost 100% sure that the fumes that I was smelling were coming from my work boots. I must have stepped into some oily muck and it seeped into my boots - only to be activated upon using the blower fan on the floor setting (warming up the rubber of my boots and activating the smell). Wow! what a relief. I figured this out yesterday while driving in a large snow-flaked storm.  It was a terrible day to be out birding yesterday but today was a different story. I once again tied the March Big Day total of 32; a 3-peat if you will. I was stuck on 31 sitting at home and dreaming about Texas birds when I decided to give my eyes a break. I pished out the window -mocking a Brown Creeper - and lo and behold one appears. Boom - 32 species for the day. And yea I could go search for a Trumpeter Swan or a Cedar Waxwing and break the record with the last remaining daylight hours but I am tired and feel like the day is complete enough. Honestly I hadn't even planned on counting birds today at all - so from that perspective it was a grand day. Thank you Lord. Always something interesting in store. And Your Love reaches to the heavens. Thanks for keeping us safe and in your care (even if we don't feel like you are). One of the first birds of my morning was a Great Blue Heron. I only saw one today at Courage Kenny but I am sure the others are around. Along County Road 81 in Osseo across from the DOT building there are 2 American Kestrel Falcons taking up some territory. And I once again located the Barred Owl at the Springbrook Nature Center (back behind the visitor's center). One of the other neat sightings of the day - 3 Horned Larks in the same spot as last year along the Highway 10 frontage road that runs on the north side and west of Hanson Boulevard. There is some open land there and they love it there.  Oh and one more thing - I should be getting Van 203 back and the old work boots are in the garbage.

Here is today's list:

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Barred Owl

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Brown Creeper

Canada Goose

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Dark-eyed Junco

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

Great Blue Heron

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

Horned Lark

House Finch

House Sparrow

Mallard

Mourning Dove

Northern Cardinal

Purple Finch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Red-winged Blackbird

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

Sharp-shinned Hawk

White-breasted Nuthatch

A MARCH BIG DAY TIE

Hello - I am now re-riding in Medi-Van #202 - a van that I initially had but had to trade out because of air-conditioning problems. That was in the summer (may have even been 2 summers ago). I was given van #203 (identical vans). This is the one that had the toxic fume issue. Initially it was said to have been mold but the jury is still out on that one. All I know is that it was making me sick. Now that I don't have that van, I should be feeling much better (and I am!). And oh yes........... I have been able to get out and birdwatch too. Now with more vigor. Today I tallied 32 bird species which ties the March Big Day number. There are lots of waterfowl species out and about with Canada Geese in every city. Red-wing Blackbirds are starting to hang out and Ring-billed Gulls are circling the parking lots. Over by Courage Kenny there are 4 Great Blue Herons just hanging out at the edge of the lake where the stream bed starts. You can't miss em. I am so thankful that God has given me this desire. It's really enjoyable. And I get to do it while I help people who are in need of transportation services. Thank you Lord for your awesome love and your presence in my life. 

male Hooded Merganser - these birds were seen today on the Mississippi from Champlin

BACK TO WHAT I LOVE

On Monday I was back to what I love to do; birdwatch. And counting birds too. I was able to locate 2 FOY birds on Monday; the Red-winged Blackbird and the Ring-billed Gull. Today I had a list totaling 28 bird species. Highlights included 2 American Kestrel, 4 Great Blue Heron and a Northern Shrike. And what was thought to be mold in my Medi-Van may actually not have been. Unfortunately I am still getting toxic fumes in my van. Tomorrow may mark the beginning to a whole new way to bird watch. Please pray for God's will to be done in regards to my van situation and for protection of my health. And I thank you Lord that you are watching over me. Thank you for loving us!!! Amen

Here's the list of today's birds:

American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Kestrel

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Brown Creeper

Canada Goose

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Dark-eyed Junco

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

Great Blue Heron

Hairy Woodpecker

Hooded Merganser

House Finch

House Sparrow

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Northern Shrike

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Ring-billed Gull

Rock Pigeon

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

ANOTHER NEW MONTH BIRD

3RD DAY IN A ROW NOT OUT COUNTING BIRDS. SINUS INFECTION IS BEING ATTACKED BY PRAYER AND NOW ATTACKED BY MEDICINE AS WELL. HOPE TO GET OUT BIRDING AGAIN SOON. I FEEL I MAY TAKE ANOTHER DAY OFF THOUGH. TODAY I DID GET ANOTHER NEW BIRD FOR THE MONTH THOUGH. 42 SPECIES NOW THIS MONTH. I WAS CALLED TO ZIMMERMAN WITH THE MEDI-VAN THIS AFTERNOON. ZIMMERMAN IS SYNONYMOUS WITH THE SHERBURNE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE WHERE MY LOVE FOR BIRDING WAS BORN. ALSO HOME TO MY FAVORITE BIRD OF ALL TIME; THE RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH.

                                              THERE IS POWER IN PRAYER. AMEN

FOY = First of the Year

Yeah - a lot of birders use FOY - as meaning First of the Year (bird). So today I added 1 to my month list (even though I wasn't counting birds today). In January I logged 36 species. February's Sax Zim Bog trip added a lot of northern specialties and so that month's total was bigger; 51 species. So far this March I have tallied 41 as I now can add my FOY Great Blue Heron. Please pray for healing for me as I have a mild sinus infection; caused by mold in my Medi-Van. The van problem is said to have been taken care of. Now I need to take care of myself and rid myself of this stuffiness, etc. 2 days off of counting birds. Tomorrow may be another non bird counting day as I have only 2 runs with an allergy shot sandwiched between. Things are progressing nicely as there have been more and more Canadian Geese flying around and it has been reported that there are also Red-winged Blackbirds about, although I have not yet seen one. At Silverwood Park in St. Anthony, the Great Horned Owl is sitting with young ones. Get out and check it out. And God Bless you

                                                and keep you safe in the coming week. 

PRE-SNOW 25

A look at today's bird list below. A few wrenches will more than likely cause 2 days of non-birding. Snow coming leads the pack of nuisances. Lord please keep us safe and continue to help us with our patience. American Crow

American Goldfinch

American Robin

Bald Eagle

Black-capped Chickadee

Blue Jay

Canada Goose

Common Goldeneye

Common Merganser

Dark-eyed Junco

Downy Woodpecker

European Starling

Hairy Woodpecker

House Finch

House Sparrow

Mallard

Northern Cardinal

Purple Finch

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Red-tailed Hawk

Rock Pigeon

Trumpeter Swan

White-breasted Nuthatch

Wild Turkey

March 13th & March 14th - 2 day total of 32 species

On March 13th I logged 23 bird species; pretty much the regulars but missed spotting the American Goldfinch. I did come across a nice Barred Owl at French Lake Regional Park and that was the highlight. Today (March 14th) I tallied 25 species but had a bunch of misses. I did not see a Blue Jay, a Red-bellied Woodpecker, or a Red-tailed Hawk. Again - "the right place at the right time" is key. I was able to position myself this morning in Monticello and made my way to Swan Park. It was a given that I would see the Trumpeter Swan, but this can also be a hotbed for different duck species. Today was no exception. I saw Black Duck, Redhead, Hooded Merganser, Lesser Scaup (Bluebill), Common Goldeneye, Wood Duck, and Mallard. Later in the day I located a Common Merganser at a different location making it a total of 8 duck species. That was fun. My 2 day total was 32 species. Currently I am averaging 23 species per time out birding. What a fun hobby! We hit the Bibles tomorrow morning. God is good!!!