Bird Watching

[Bobcat45]

I was about a mile east of Mora today on Hwy 23 coming towards town when I seen these 4 large birds about 150yrds off the road in an open field . As I was aproching I thought they were probably turkeys. When I got closer I seen that they were 4 Bald Eagles standing around a small water puddle from the melting snow. It would of made a cool picture if I would of had a camera. Bobcat

[buzzsaw]

I hate when that happens!! It would have been a nice picture is correct!

I'll start shrinking down my pics as they take way too long to download.

[Riverratpete]

Noted the first Mourning dove of the year yesterday afternoon at my feeder.

[buzzsaw]

The first one?? I thought they stuck around all winter?

The Robins should be right around the corner!

[The Grebe]

Robins and Doves have stuck around all winter! I've been seeing them off and on since the beginning, although I hav'nt seen anymore Robins since the first part of January.

Seen a couple of Doves dive into the neighbors yard again yesterday and some kind of hawk not to far behind!

[buzzsaw]

Grebe, Are you sure Robins stay through the winter? I've never seen one during this time of the year. Maybe I just need to squint harder right.

[jonny_redhorse]

hey buzz..finally made it to the "right " forum...lol!....here's the great grey pic...owl was taken on hwy #7 by kelsey(and a couple others from my previous weekend outings!)...

bald eagle taken with the fujis5000 this last fall in a tamarac bog in zim

and another bald eagle(this one was with the other eagle......

canadian honker before it headed south last october

the pair

[buzzsaw]

Johnny redhorse, You have posted some of the nicest pictures to date!! Keep it up, hopefully others will also do the same!

[The_Duckslayer]

Johnny, GREAT BIRD PICTURES! Thanks for sharing them with us!!! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[jonny_redhorse]

thanks buzz...i certainly will be back...nice forum to spend time......a place to mix the weeks outings camping/fishing/photography and present them to the people of the same interest.....very enjoyable....

[The Grebe]

Buzzsaw...They sure do, not all of them of course, but some winter over. The first time I seen it years back, I called the U of M and asked them about it....they have the answers to just about anything.

I'm inquisitive, I don't mind poking around for answers to things. They told me that there are even traditional pockets of Robins in certain areas.

I asked what they eat and they said mainly dried fruit on ornimental tress etc. No sooner did I find this out and a lean, winter Robin landed in our Dwarf Apple and scarfed down some of the dried fruit, pretty cool.

This past January, a week or so after the trout opener, I spotted 2 Robins out in Brooklyn Park and later that day, with the wind blowing at about 30 knots, I spotted a group of about 15 or more Robins in a group down in the Camden area of north Mpls.

It was colder then a witches Titmouse, but they were here, lean and mean, getting a leg up on the annual migration.

I don't know, maybe the first ones here get the choice nesting areas and all the babes, so some of them stay!

[buzzsaw]

I appreciate the info Grebe! I was wrong, thats what I get for assuming right? Now I'll be keeping my eyes open for them.

[The Grebe]

No prob dude, I run about 75%-25% and I'm not saying which is which! I just wish I could stay off this danged site...I come down here to do some work and "BOOM" I'm dinking around with the FM site! Cheez!

[witter1631]

Two weekends ago I headed home to do some fishing and it was a pretty slow day for them crappies and what made my day was 2 bald eagels landed 30 ft from me eating dead minnows from the ice. Ill tell you those things are a lot bigger than they look in the sky

Matt

[The_Duckslayer]

Quote:

---

Two weekends ago I headed home to do some fishing and it was a pretty slow day for them crappies and what made my day was 2 bald eagels landed 30 ft from me eating dead minnows from the ice. Ill tell you those things are a lot bigger than they look in the sky

Matt

---

WOW Matt, I would trade that opportunity over a limit of Crappie any day! That would be awesome! Take care and N Joy the Hunt././Jimbo

[Dotch]

There's an eagle drifting around down here between Lonnergan and Beaver lakes occasionally. Haven't seen him for awhile but like you say, they are huge. Last time I saw him/her, it was eating road kill as I drove by.

From this weeks' Fencelines:

"Bird sightings include many horned larks, several flocks of red-winged blackbirds & grackles, a great blue heron on the wing, Canada geese playing in puddles, pheasants, blue jays, downies and hairies, finches, house sparrows and my least favorite, European starlings. There was an article this past week in Outdoor News indicating that starlings can be a problem in wood duck houses. They cause problems either by pecking holes in the eggs or harassing the hens to the point that they leave the nesting box. Use of a .22 with birdshot was suggested as a potential method of leveling the playing field so to speak."

[M.T. Bucket]

Hey Dotch! I'll trade your starlings for my pigeons...whaddaya say?

[Dotch]

At least I could eat the pigeons...lol!

[buzzsaw]

Was out behind my house this morning in Murphy Hanrahan park (between Lakeville and Prior Lake) and saw a few Trumpeter Swans and a loner deer.

[buzzsaw]

What the heck, here are a few more from my backyard today as well... a squirrel in the birdfeeder, and a red bellied woodpecker.

[M.T. Bucket]

Nice photos guys but...this thread is getting too large to open quickly! Nice problem to have.

I'm getting the impression that noone's seeing much lately? It's been pretty slow up here. I've seen some Red Crossbills and a Black-billed Magpie west of Big Winnie on Friday. I saw 2 Great Gray Owls and 2 Ruffed Grouse near Splithand Lake in 3 hours of birding yesterday. Still lots of Bald Eagles around. I'm looking forward to the rivers opening up so I can watch the waterfowl return.

Various organizations and individuals have lots of birding tours and events happening all over the state this spring and summer; some free, some not. If you like watching birds and you really want to broaden your knowledge, I'd encourage you to participate in these. I've participated in a couple and I hope to again this year.

[Dotch]

This past week has been a transition week. Our typical early spring birds are showing up in force. With the recent snowstorm, bird activity at the feeders has been on the on the upswing. Was amazed that during the storm itself there were a few goldfinches braving the elements. More from the column when we get that done. (always leave 'em wanting more...

[Dotch]

Bird watching was spectacular this last week and brought with it the reminder that life and death are an integral part of this old planet. Up until the Friday storm, there were signs that spring was just around the corner. On the 16th, there was a large flock of robins sitting in the sumac and flocks of geese were overhead just about everywhere. More large groups of red-winged blackbirds raucously announced their arrival in the soft maple trees, the red epaulets on the males showing distinctively in the early morning sun. That same day, noticed a sharp shinned hawk in the Mall for Men lot dining on a pigeon it must’ve plucked off the elevator in town. Was about my lunchtime too!

Friday afternoon during the storm, there was a robin gobbling down crabapples off our tree and rooster pheasants taking their turn at the ear corn feeder. Saturday, as I went to the mailbox, there was a small group of geese hightailing it to the south as if to say the heck with it, it ain’t spring yet. Sunday after lambing a ewe, I took a break and put on the snowshoes for the first time in what seemed to be eons. Somehow, it’s much easier & more fun with snow.

Crossed over the fence and followed what appeared to be fox tracks into the CRP. The snow was still pretty soft in the heavy cover and I broke through several times, making for some tough going. Still, was able to follow the tracks onto the pond and noticed what appeared to be a pile of feathers around a divot in the snow. I shoed over to the spot and sure enough, the fox had taken a pheasant. That was discouraging but there was little could be done about it.

Made my way back towards the house & cleaned out the 3 remaining bluebird houses to get them ready for the upcoming season. Had to bend down to clean a mouse nest out of one of them as the snow was almost covering the fencepost. I trudged back up the hill and spooked 3 roosters that had snuck in behind me at the feeder after I started my journey. The “3 Amigos” were smart enough to stay in the cover close to the house where the fox knew he’d better watch his step. Chore time once more and mud was everywhere, especially on Gus. As the sun was getting low, another flock of geese set down across the road on a knoll that had melted off that bright afternoon. Maybe spring is here to stay after all I thought as I crossed the yard, called Gus out of the quagmire and went inside for supper.

[jonny_redhorse]

not sure why but up here where i live on the iron range of minn (hibbing) ,i've seen very few song birds (or any birds for that matter)....years ago i used to see tons of winter birds..black capped chicadees,different juncos....arctic buntings......(i live in town ,maybe there isn't that many birds in hibbing.lol!)...i have 3 smaller bird feeders in my front yard that i purchased last december... filled them with a millet (combo) black sunflower seed mix....weeks went by before even one bird started using the feeders.then a couple sparrows landed and pecked away........ i haven't had any birds at my feeders since early january!.i may as well have put those feeders on the head of a comet!.lol! ...guess i should try straight black sunflower seeds...maybe a chunk of suet...as far as birds returning up here....nada!.......crows are back......(ravens were here all winter)....as i said..a few sparrows of some type....every year i have a purple finch that tries to build a nest on my front porch light each spring...not sure how long purple finches live but they've been doing this for years....only purple finches.lol!...looking forward to the return of the birds..but not much this far north that i can see yet as for the spring migration....on a couple weekend outings ...i did see a couple "whiskey jacks"...and of course the pidgeons never leave town and winter over all year...another 3 weeks will make a difference up here on bird sightings...

[delmuts]

here in northern iowa the flocks of robins moved in about 10 days ago. sunday i saw two rather large flocks of black birds.( grackles. didn't see any red wings yet)lots of ducks, and seeing some geese on shores of the water.( picking out nest? maybe!)