Category Archives: Wildlife

Backyard Oasis

We have not had Orioles like this in the last few years.  Last weekend was an exception.  We have tried a few different style of feeders; perhaps that is what made this difference this year.  The glass tea-cup feeder we purchased at our local art fair and the other orange circle shaped one from Menards.  Maybe it’s just luck.

A friend of ours introduced us to the Audubon Bird Guide App (Thank you Linnae).  This app is very handy.  Pairing your smartphone up with a Bluetooth speaker allows you to play bird calls more loudly than just from your phone.  It certainly didn’t hurt the odds of seeing more Orioles.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon or two.  It is always a good day by the pond, camera in hand with an ice-cold beverage.

Northern Cardinals, Chickadees, Sparrows, Yellow Finch, House Finch and Nuthatch (not pictured) are always in yard at the feeders.  This particular afternoon PaPa Cardinal was showing the kids where to find a meal.

Chippy was out and about as well; so was Lucy.  She watches carefully for Chippy to make an appearance and tries like crazy to catch him, but hasn’t yet.  A backyard version of Wile E Coyote and the Roadrunner.  Lucy is a bit more coordinated than that coyote and comes close to catching Chippy every once in awhile.

The ample rainfall and warm weather has produced beautiful blooms.  The backyard is full of color once again.  This weekend we are wishing for the humidity to retreat so we can enjoy it some more.  Summer is short.  Enjoy what you can as often as you can.

2015-12-20 Where Eagles Soar

Where Eagles Soar

2015-12-20 Where Eagles Soar

2015-12-03 Pileated Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

2015-12-03 Pileated Wodpecker

 

2015-11-26 Gobble Gobble

Gobble Gobble.  Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

2015-11-26 Gobble Gobble

Sciuridaes of Greenwood Street

Not what your were expecting?  🙂

The little critters in the backyard provide hours of entertainment for both Cyndie and I as well as our dachshund girls and now the kitty too.  We go out of our way to invite them into our backyard to eat, play and get in all sorts of bird feeder mischief.  Most of the year they all run about in the wood behind the house.  We see them here and there, but nothing like this time of year.  It is good see that the them are still around, getting comfortable and belly’in up to the feeders.  They are especially fond of casa de la squirrel hut.  Complete with a hopper-feeder full of black sunflower seeds.  If you look close you can see Red Foreman in the corner next to the feeder.  He is an ornery cuss and does not care much for the other grays.

2015-11-22 Squirrels of Greenwood Street-7333

Here are the ladies and gents in no particular order.  There are close to two dozen that will meander around the backyard at one time.

 

2015-11-20 Sandhills

Sandhills

2015-11-20 Sandhills

Return to Fort Snelling State Park…more

Fort Snelling State Park

I neglected to post the sunrise shot from my visit to Fort Snelling State Park yesterday.  This particular landing on Snelling Lake doesn’t afford a direct line to sunrise at this time of year.  It does offer a view of the Hwy 55 Mendota Bridge along with reflections from its lights; with some clouds in the sky, it is a rather picturesque view.

2015-11-07 Fort Snelling State Park-Snelling Lake

I also skipped over posting photos from the previous day when I scouted out Pike Island.  I arrived at noon and the park was pretty quiet.  I met one photographer returning to the parking lot as I headed out.  He said he photographed a few bucks. That’s all I needed to hear.  I found one buck out on Pike Island along with a doe and a several turkeys.  All good signs that the trip tomorrow morning would no doubt be action-packed; it was.  Here are some photos from the 2 hours I spent on Pike Island on Friday afternoon.

 

Return to Fort Snelling State Park #exploremn

Fort Snelling State Park

Today marked another successful trip to Fort Snelling State Park.  To be in the presence of and photograph magnificent Whitetail deer is exhilarating.  Last year was my first time at the state park hunting deer with a camera.  The experience this year was very similar to last.  The weather was much warmer and the timing a week later in November.  I could ramble on about the deer I saw and wild turkeys that where everywhere, but I’ll let the photos speak for the experience.