tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-301664462024-03-07T18:35:19.636-06:00Hasty BrookHasty Brook is the loveliest place in my world. It's a little piece of heaven in northern Minnesota.Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.comBlogger350125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-91942718501634908322011-09-17T16:06:00.002-05:002011-09-17T16:37:51.301-05:00Three Life Birds and Many New FriendsIt's been just a whirlwind of an adventure here at The <a href="http://http://www.midwestbirding.org/networking/">Midwest Birding Symposium</a> in beautiful Lakeside, Ohio. Unfortunately, I am unable to post photos on my iPad so I will have to wait until I get home to my laptop. Ruthie and I went to a bird banding demonstration at the<a href="http://http://www.bsbobird.org/"> Black Swamp Bird Observatory</a> this morning and were treated to great looks at Gray-cheeked Thrush, a female Black-throated Blue Warbler, Indigo Bunting and a pair of cranky Northern Cardinals. The naturalists there gave us terrific information about the banding process and about the birds they netted. After the banding Kim Kaufman invited us to go along on a Birds and Blooms bird walk on the boardwalk at the famous Magee Marsh. I cannot say enough about the generosity of both Kenn and Kim Kaufman. Ruthie and I had the best time! I got fabulous looks at three new life birds: the Gray-cheeked Thrush, the Yellow-billed Cuckoo and a Philadelphia Vireo. Those three birds brought my life bird total to 297! I sure am hoping that tomorrow I will be able to make it to 300!<br />This afternoon we listened to a presentation on attracting hummingbirds and butterflies by one of my favorite speakers Connie Toops. I have heard Connie speak twice before at the New River Birding and Nature Festival in Fayetteville, WV and knew this talk would be great. We've done quite a bit of shopping (no surprise there!) and I'll share photos of my cool purchases when I get home.<br />Tonight's keynote speakers will be a real treat. Julie Zickefoose will speak about her new book (I pre-ordered mine yesterday) called <span style="font-style:italic;"></span>The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds With Common Birds<span style="font-style:italic;"></span>. Following Julie we will hear one of my favorite people, Al Batt. Al is from Hartland, Minnesota. Al is a classic story teller and is also one of the kindest people I've met. Can't wait for tonight!Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-53778368524191455812011-09-16T08:42:00.002-05:002011-09-16T08:54:14.011-05:00We Made It!Ruthie and I left her house at 0530 yesterday morning after scraping frost of the car windows. We had a wonderful drive, with only two near misses. I came very close to hitting a coyote while still in Minnesota, and we almost ran out of gas in Ohio! But after twelve long hours of driving we pulled into Lakeside barely ten minutes before we were to board the boat for the event kick-off. We skipped the birding trips this morning and got some much needed rest. But now we're off to register and explore. There are some terrific speakers lined up, shopping to do and friends to make.<br /><br />I love being here at the Midwest Birding Symposium in Lakeside, Ohio!Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-49388017430827733992011-09-03T18:22:00.003-05:002011-09-03T19:26:52.044-05:00Road Trip!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRWe-LJPss74_rkz-FZnV9lj33LGaLcUnPC7AHqQZU7sCQHFmzd02ZT8Bd4p5XRj8l85fx7HT8XtPwZxudqG0YxyLG36-8bR2YlCYH0YKXkqw9K45xO6TZDWZszThspMYvyP9sQ/s1600/261149_202440853136689_6933247_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5648286787017561746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 180px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 247px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnRWe-LJPss74_rkz-FZnV9lj33LGaLcUnPC7AHqQZU7sCQHFmzd02ZT8Bd4p5XRj8l85fx7HT8XtPwZxudqG0YxyLG36-8bR2YlCYH0YKXkqw9K45xO6TZDWZszThspMYvyP9sQ/s400/261149_202440853136689_6933247_n.jpg" border="0" /></a>
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<br /><div align="center">I haven't been around much this summer. Between changing from part time to full time work, and our major time commitment to our building at Hasty Brook, (and I will admit to spending more time on Facebook), I have neglected this blog. Life gets busy and my good intentions to get back to blogging slipped away. </div>
<br /><div align="center">But- life is good here. So I will pick up where I left off and turn my back on the guilt.</div>
<br /><div align="center">My best birding friend Ruthie Johnson, the <a href="http://http//rjknits.blogspot.com/">Nature Knitter</a> emailed me a while back asking if I was interested in joining her for another girls' road trip to <a href="http://https//www.birdwatchersdigest.com/mwb2011/main2011.php">The Midwest Birding Symposium</a> in Lakeside, Ohio on the shore of beautiful Lake Erie. It only took me a moment to think it over. Described as "America's Friendliest Birding Event", the weekend September 15-18 will be jam-packed with fun. The line-up of speakers is incredible! There are field trips to the area's amazing birding spots and the Birder's Marketplace has 68 vendors offering a wide range of products and services. </div>
<br /><div align="center">It will be an opportunity to reconnect with old birding friends, meet birders that I've gotten to know through blogging and Facebook, and make new friends. </div>
<br /><div align="center">I am excited to have been chosen to be an Official MBS Blogger! Check out the link on my side bar. It will take you to the MBS website and detail all of the great information describing this amazing weekend of birding, birders, entertainment and FUN! </div>
<br /><div align="center">It's not too late to sign up.</div>
<br /><div align="center">I hope to see you there! </div>
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<br />Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-86308872231258076512011-04-30T19:15:00.002-05:002011-04-30T19:40:38.916-05:00Back to West Virginia<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDn4iRAV9ZPrIk0vmCP-suA5cC36rLDt0JAhkLkS9dByGTq-lfFCWe8X-ufA-7kHXtmotX1wfxvV5WE6EL2ifAwkm7DkDPNWq5EtpW_KUMAKJcwdys7Jdz-2-CtLKxnE-jY9iWw/s1600/27535_102744769769628_8453_n.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601535297868017090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSDn4iRAV9ZPrIk0vmCP-suA5cC36rLDt0JAhkLkS9dByGTq-lfFCWe8X-ufA-7kHXtmotX1wfxvV5WE6EL2ifAwkm7DkDPNWq5EtpW_KUMAKJcwdys7Jdz-2-CtLKxnE-jY9iWw/s640/27535_102744769769628_8453_n.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div align="center">I'm leaving early tomorrow morning for West Virginia to attend the <a href="http://www.birding-wv.com/">New River Birding and Nature Festival</a> for the second time. Two years ago I went and had an amazing experience. The festival was <a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/2009/05/new-friends-at-new-river.html">extraordinary</a>, so many wonderful <a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/2009/05/birding-by-butt-day-at-new-river.html">people</a>, fabulous birds </div><br /><div align="center">in <a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/2009/05/my-take-on-cranberry-glades.html">beautiful habitats</a> and so many <a href="http://hastybrook.blogspot.com/2009/05/not-birding-by-boat.html">joyful memories</a>.<br /></div><br /><div align="center">I'll be joining some of the same birder/bloggers and meeting many more. I'm excited to re-visit the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/neri/index.htm">New River Gorge National River</a> and enjoy the hospitality of this lovely festival. The guides are fabulous and of course the birds are almost heaven! </div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-539627167188736022011-04-12T19:26:00.004-05:002011-04-12T21:08:55.293-05:00I Made a Little Bird Wish<div align="center">Art and I made a day trip up to Hasty Brook on Sunday to do some drywall mudding (Art) and birding (me!). It was a cloudy, overcast day but I was really wishing to see my First Of Year Turkey Vulture. When I went out on the balcony to fill the feeders, I noticed that the thistle socks were still about one fourth full. I assumed that my Redpolls had left for their northern home but later a handful of the pretty winter finches attacked the thistle. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center">I watched the regular visitors on the feeders and mentioned to Art that I would really love to see an Evening Grosbeak in the yard. Over the winter, our good neighbor Mark had mentioned that another neighbor had had Evening Grosbeaks visiting his feeders. I had meant to stop there for a look but never got around to it. Was it too much to wish to add Evening Grosbeaks to my Hasty Brook yardlist? </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594865093232306098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjujpKn5sDoeuQLE2GRwN-rUNoiGE8SIjzsriPp8Y5hacg3MuLo5tdYm5vECxeLEOWGB-9ZJiRrtX9cixiPZdqtWsz0z2aRye0que6y8Ad6NNFieCWjAaBiFJuaHgZC47ORSjw47Q/s640/IMG_8903.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">They came! I was sitting by the patio door with my bins, scanning the trees when I saw two larger birds across the creek. One flew to the maple on our side of the rushing creek and I didn't need binoculars any more to know that Evening Grosbeaks were at my Hasty Brook! </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594865085124404946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8_3lKrFJql2Q0soDpMVYf2BbV894MsYQemqBFzAam8fof62Rp1iLXeI9M_fVyXCMUSJzYNXxhs1JQwQAyn9yDYZqpac9_5zKH45GbuhINaG5AaX_upnu9IaqUzq5qh-mlEfEIhQ/s640/IMG_8912.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div align="center">My jaw dropped and I begged Art to grab my camera. I was so close to the bird (5 feet) and didn't want to move and scare it off. Just look at those wings! </div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594865078271679650" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJTgI5xdrYA_lOqG8Yof4xOr0uK6zpGBBjGpoH-58HdGfDM1jMbMokDxJvo-I6moxoL1RN8BXjHGAyjg3gnEZXGtyZTKV125SQXaHoNm_IdanzO1Y7W9MaSQ82473w1UiIChlrQ/s640/IMG_8926.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><p align="center">A bit later the second Grosbeak flew up the the feeder on the railing. They were chomping through the oiler shells like tin snips on butter! The last time I saw Evening Grosbeaks was a few years ago with <a href="http://http//rjknits.blogspot.com/">Ruthie</a> in the Sax-Zim bog. They used to be so common when I was a girl. I remember enormous flocks of them descending on my Dad's feeders, cleaning them out in very little time. I hope they come back again. THAT was amazing.</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594865074915190114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHA-C2J8IbEV3alflYCXV8aFSd9-69-KuOFUnK9bKCGR0fNR7ZJDizwPaRyjyngpdXk4MPXviPNQYp1vErBgz42IuI9etMWDpvLFE479ZROMJxI95DMvqOwdjWtY4m0sL5BZVv5w/s640/IMG_8893.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center">While the huge numbers of Redpolls were gone north, the trees were full of gorgeous Purple Finches. </div><br /><div align="center"></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594858414680410178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGKC7zL1BoXLtmsCPq-N_a3awbT7Z7u7O-_gbZ0hnvA6t75H8FM2gW5t3nzZgW1I6CXBU_DuUFdtSdI1r8FIxHNdJckTsoLLWTxpIdbxzlSvFvDI_DLIwRlOvPZukiDhfZb3FuHQ/s640/IMG_8865.JPG" border="0" /> <br /><div align="center">At one point there were ten on the railing, ten on the feeders, and at least another forty in the trees nearby. Against the gloomy sky, these finches looked like they'd been dipped in raspberry jello. Lovely color, lovely song.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k77BddSsQSjJcAWRgAnbhnEyIMz8B80RfOnWQSjgMUBm9fV68DjYY-fvfb9QOqyhCSCl3ujPBk5sLo5nwHAS34N5Qhyphenhyphen69hwvRNa2YRnxrxbuTjwqrzFTFoq_jBLCy83Z4HNKMg/s1600/IMG_8877.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594858417743400402" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3k77BddSsQSjJcAWRgAnbhnEyIMz8B80RfOnWQSjgMUBm9fV68DjYY-fvfb9QOqyhCSCl3ujPBk5sLo5nwHAS34N5Qhyphenhyphen69hwvRNa2YRnxrxbuTjwqrzFTFoq_jBLCy83Z4HNKMg/s640/IMG_8877.JPG" border="0" /></a> I took a walk toward the creek. The creek was running higher than we'd ever seen it. That sound was what had drawn me to the place the first time we looked at the land. I watched from the top of the hill overlooking the creek and saw the ground below was hopping with Juncos and Fox Sparrows. Movement in the treetops caught my eyes. It seemed early, but I was pretty sure it was a pair of Yellow-rumped warblers! I fired off a bunch of shots, but the sky was so gray, it was impossible to tell much about the birds in the photos. I didn't have any way to edit the photos with me. Rats. <br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuduo8-3sZXEY95wOgCHLFskBgv6sGWni7ze7M_YXBaW3u7J1pQi3m5RAwKqaRf6-JjAfnae06jtsDZXJ01Ml16mogMejXcI2KcMFPQ3V-KpjPbWFAsmHj5-KLucjRRXa8NEZIXg/s1600/IMG_8861.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594858408366255250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuduo8-3sZXEY95wOgCHLFskBgv6sGWni7ze7M_YXBaW3u7J1pQi3m5RAwKqaRf6-JjAfnae06jtsDZXJ01Ml16mogMejXcI2KcMFPQ3V-KpjPbWFAsmHj5-KLucjRRXa8NEZIXg/s640/IMG_8861.JPG" border="0" /></a> Later, as I was trying to get a few last photos of the Redpolls in the maple, this little guy popped up, right at eye level, nicely exposed----</div><br /><div>Yellow-rumped Warbler! How odd to see both a summer warbler and a winter bird like a Redpoll sitting in the same tree. I've always known Hasty Brook was a special place.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It was nearing time to and still no Turkey Vultures so walked up the clearing to our mound by the road and looked up and down the road. To the south- two Turkey Vultures flying right up the road toward me! They flew right over my head, tipping their wings in greeting and floated off. Coming from the north, a Bald Eagle. I stood, counting my blessings and heard the yodeling calls of Sandhill Cranes. I suspected they were gathering in the field a half mile to the west of us. Glancing up, I was thrilled to see two of them flying toward that field. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What a wonderful day, but it was time to go. bad weather was coming from the south so we packed up and left. While stopped for pop in the next town I watched 20+ Turkey Vultures riding the south wind ahead of the storm. about 20 miles later Art spotted a kettle of TUVUs tipping in the wind. I pulled the car over and we got out to watch AT LEAST another 70 Turkey Vultures float low in the bumpy wind, headed north. </div><br /><div>People thought we were nuts. </div><br /><div>I was happy.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I had an amazing yard list for a cold, gloomy day in April.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Common Redpoll</div><br /><div>Pine Siskin</div><br /><div>Black-capped Chickadee</div><br /><div>American Goldfinch</div><br /><div>Red-breasted Nuthatch</div><br /><div>White-breasted Nuthatch</div><br /><div>Downy Woodpecker</div><br /><div>Hairy Woodpecker</div><br /><div>Song Sparrow </div><br /><div>Fox Sparrow </div><br /><div>Dark-eyed Junco</div><br /><div>Purple Finch</div><br /><div>Evening Grosbeak</div><br /><div>American Crow</div><br /><div>Common Raven</div><br /><div>American Robin</div><br /><div>Ruffed Grouse</div><br /><div>Red-winged Blackbird</div><br /><div>Yellow-rumped Warbler</div><br /><div>Sandhill Crane</div><br /><div>Bald Eagle</div><br /><div>Turkey Vulture</div><br /><div>American Kestrel</div><br /><div>Wood Duck</div><br /><div>Canada Goose</div><br /><div>Mallard</div><br /><div>Wild Turkey</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div></div></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-34351632426628953402011-04-05T19:38:00.002-05:002011-04-05T20:38:43.579-05:00The End of March at Hasty Brook<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrRqJDLaQKQ4dNqKCAQPF8G_k6Djy_JJ7QH4S11GwWo7A0tO2kopqoTONLRw0MF9e8I2tIWz1q2l8gjbv5X61_Gh304eqYcOQY1rfPF7EcjGnG2_zA9ccnomF81zLtLCmHyF-Kw/s1600/IMG_8604.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592266716530075442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCrRqJDLaQKQ4dNqKCAQPF8G_k6Djy_JJ7QH4S11GwWo7A0tO2kopqoTONLRw0MF9e8I2tIWz1q2l8gjbv5X61_Gh304eqYcOQY1rfPF7EcjGnG2_zA9ccnomF81zLtLCmHyF-Kw/s640/IMG_8604.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our most recent visit to Hasty Brook was the last weekend of March. We arrived after dark but as always, I went upstairs and went out on the balcony to check the feeders and look about. The first thing I noticed was the sound. I could hear water. The creek was open and running! love that sound. The sound of the creek was the first thing that drew me to that land when we first visited. It was the same time of year when we drove up there with our directions, wondering what we would find in that 10 acres that we could barely afford. We had a list of properties to look at that day, but never looked at another after we saw Hasty Brook. It was the right place for us. It has always felt like the right place. I have a sense of belonging there, like it was waiting for me.</div><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS-T2j_1HOtdTFGuSlZRS3YDsjEV3uPB2L81tcmz3vAhODHbbjxhTsBYCpwnHztYVEj0Pu3aqXcFePEaLY_T5Ug4a3JmbmsbjcNlssM3uDipMHwJL4Xw1pcPk44Q5TpISGlr1aw/s1600/IMG_8655.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592266717363149074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoS-T2j_1HOtdTFGuSlZRS3YDsjEV3uPB2L81tcmz3vAhODHbbjxhTsBYCpwnHztYVEj0Pu3aqXcFePEaLY_T5Ug4a3JmbmsbjcNlssM3uDipMHwJL4Xw1pcPk44Q5TpISGlr1aw/s640/IMG_8655.JPG" border="0" /></a> I am going to miss the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Redpolls</span> when they leave. This winter was the first that we've been able to go up for weekends and I've had a chance to fall for these little birds. I doubt they will still be there when we go back up in April. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni1IKFslPeJPGQ4A5JK386k6K5Fn6TpBa0kD8uffzgZUxaFjc1gon1rq41x7oP2d95v5yyE-qCtfDZeSH5mgbH0RCp5tzZ20589Q1VBy8MPplH9rI_KvGK-KzbHE8xFWRrAPClQ/s1600/IMG_8657.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592266712045723538" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhni1IKFslPeJPGQ4A5JK386k6K5Fn6TpBa0kD8uffzgZUxaFjc1gon1rq41x7oP2d95v5yyE-qCtfDZeSH5mgbH0RCp5tzZ20589Q1VBy8MPplH9rI_KvGK-KzbHE8xFWRrAPClQ/s640/IMG_8657.JPG" border="0" /></a> <br /><div>I got to add a new mammal to our Hasty Brook yard list. I had left the balcony light on one evening while upstairs watching a movie when I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. At first I thought it was a bird. It seemed to fly in, hop about, then fly off again. It had to be a flying squirrel so the next night I left the light on again and waited. Not long after dark it dropped onto the deck of the balcony. We watched as it hopped quickly up to a feeder on the railing. This time I was ready with my camera. I kept my movements to a minimum and took a few photos. after a bit I got up to turn off the light but the movement didn't seem to bother the flying squirrel so I stood at the window to watch some more. Only four feet away, the beautiful little squirrel was a marvel to watch. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592266707934417378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6CO0tKh14rvyUldKTkluME6f5PUadbXflF_yVnBjx2Z26Ngigl9ahyopCI7i_EE1JJr3lhwd7CvaEbeNmU9rPLeUbInHZSTOpfzXt4fCb29nbeox6q_abYhJt6_qYQ6cWhimZ5w/s640/IMG_8733.JPG" border="0" /></div><br /><div>The next morning brought another surprise- a pair of Wood Ducks on the creek. We've seen them up there every year but these were earlier than I expected. That water must be cold!</div><br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq732GRiyElvDfTCUeXud52QqZUENj4N4MORHSkt6HC6Buwt0vCFrPdK-n8b29otUTnDe1FLGAqy35iZXtoeiU_w2GEPMKON4Umptyd-A7RbaemKGfwyP2BFBKAoo_HSF3U5mLFw/s1600/IMG_8757.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592266703405081090" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq732GRiyElvDfTCUeXud52QqZUENj4N4MORHSkt6HC6Buwt0vCFrPdK-n8b29otUTnDe1FLGAqy35iZXtoeiU_w2GEPMKON4Umptyd-A7RbaemKGfwyP2BFBKAoo_HSF3U5mLFw/s640/IMG_8757.JPG" border="0" /></a> I'm not sure when we will get back up there as we have a visitor from Germany arriving tomorrow.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div><br /><div>Thanks for the nudges <a href="http://richard-atthewater.blogspot.com/">Richard</a>!</div><br /><div>Spring is coming and we miss you- </div><br /><div></div></div></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-28649920296119784052011-01-31T19:36:00.001-06:002011-01-31T19:40:58.107-06:00Common Redpolls Visit Hasty Brook<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9asN1CyJp1cK0Xz3MERc_aYp83yATvTGaXww6SNhn9-eec_RsrScMAkhk-2bCzfL-nh2JDunQsXsjJCAoymFoTe-Gz2WjyXG12dcIMfPvmF8u-4OnvOByUw_h7PwoaNCLYkChw/s1600/2011-01-02.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5568529262987800082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig9asN1CyJp1cK0Xz3MERc_aYp83yATvTGaXww6SNhn9-eec_RsrScMAkhk-2bCzfL-nh2JDunQsXsjJCAoymFoTe-Gz2WjyXG12dcIMfPvmF8u-4OnvOByUw_h7PwoaNCLYkChw/s640/2011-01-02.jpg" border="0" /></a> I love these little winter finches.</div><div align="center"><em>(please ignore the streaky window)</em><br /><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-79809125741455627932011-01-21T11:24:00.005-06:002011-01-21T19:46:33.688-06:00A Trip to the Bog<div align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564711395105481826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaTt-Ih9X8DHZUQYrzICyHbue8oSCQ0NAKvIty-yHL30mBQGpeeRC_aPAtfeXTpPQQ1adOuuK1b3tAhu6kBn8pmCgV25XkR7BnWDtkz28E2-my73qNHnhPrb10Wel0OdgZeeWmCA/s640/DSCN4336.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">Last Monday, Martin Luther King Day, Art and I took a break from mudding sheetrock seams and drove up the the <a href="http://moumn.org/sax-zim/">Sax Zim bog </a>area for some birding. </div><div align="center">Maybe I should clarify: Art did all of the mudding. Art also did all of the driving. Driving and slowing down and stopping so I could look for birds. I called him "my faithful driver Kato."</div><div align="center">Art is the BEST. He isn't a birder but will patiently drive through a heavy snowfall on unplowed back roads for hours so I can look for birds.</div><div align="center">Back to the story.</div><div align="center">Hasty Brook is only about 30 miles from the bog. The weather really was pretty crummy- very overcast and snowing. Art had the truck in four wheel drive on most of the back roads and was able to pull a fellow and his little sedan out of a ditch. <br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564711397958392514" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYAe2A4gRhu700j7tI10n6ZP2jPi8uXSQExupI7UCrJeHHZUU4NAPigBE5LG3sCoLaNddgVVsrNHWhX5kWnWaLrsQrsLoqtJrbZREYAOsC8D-1TPy5dWX-pvZGQ6kGs8WhtHebQ/s640/IMG_8362.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">Moving along slowly I spotted a movement off in the distance. Can you see it in the photo above?</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564711400923981858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0DGhR_UERYrTUCmVfxDyYO5J5bKoc1fpB-s2tuketcwcLrVCSHibPOX7mBJENXt_yE-ViqPozBNWyoVAovYi9LcXRksS-wDZWRDx7Et3VqK_mD5754Z9tMwMnzurxecMXQNtdMQ/s640/165180_1658824544812_1063087960_31501366_612854_n.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">A magnificent Great Gray Owl. His head moved back and forth, scanning for a meal. Art stopped the truck (and took out a book) while I grinned, watching the owl in the distance. He lifted off and glided to a tree closer to us. It was a perfect view. </p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564711412838001986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI8I1goH7kInJa6sbf3PPo-VP-KUcPJJ260L7UIXrlhRMvYyzw69F0zKGTtwhmaIg59aMUwShyphenhyphen4ZNXowgkY1WOeE3ecJxY6gaqF4Mss7qDUzm1lFUUlPcFhwrdzWxc1YHf8x1wjA/s640/IMG_8422.JPG" border="0" /> <p align="center">The photo above is far from perfect but I was so thrilled to catch the owl take flight. It flew across the road in front of us and landed in a field on the other side.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dmNu5JPtxlol41NWZ3dNS_h0L1cQYgeZ7biUVj24vRHrN-1QbwwGwwE9mmATbJOY_J5q5-ynHujgKgsEDjTQ4m0Ymu5qn3v96CFMZgWfX5cd9O0JyMw9LFrmsCb3FuOCO5SPeQ/s1600/IMG_8426.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564711414679988002" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1dmNu5JPtxlol41NWZ3dNS_h0L1cQYgeZ7biUVj24vRHrN-1QbwwGwwE9mmATbJOY_J5q5-ynHujgKgsEDjTQ4m0Ymu5qn3v96CFMZgWfX5cd9O0JyMw9LFrmsCb3FuOCO5SPeQ/s640/IMG_8426.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We never approached the owl, but when it flew closer to the truck , I felt we were disturbing its hunt so we slowly drove away. </p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564694678114114850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IuXPlAp2APsFhukpqrYTHLyLEc2NKGE9OKSawGD6O45zBpzBSXh22P_asuEAWM0fsp5BrTchpr-lkpqLXCDa6Ww8I2dEsgwscU2D0OB8Gh5L76L8i-BrZo1UxWsYv3Ypwu1_Tg/s640/IMG_8356.JPG" border="0" /> </p><p align="center">Moving along down the snowy roads I spotted a familiar silhouette T'd up high in a black spruce. It was this Northern Hawk Owl. Again, this bird was quite a way off and my photos are not very sharp, but they they're good enough for me!</p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564694667762197474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYw5OJ6afQBA72gBml9Ii_lE3ou_NMROtgFeCwnJPVGTnVNjPSeMLFr5SlAtmlF1bUPCn24Vqv2fCuWoT-TP28RaLsWguy1CZaliBs_f6hB5bgENkDA3loWMIMsf18bQE7w8JHOg/s640/IMG_8323.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center">As we watched the Northern Hawk Owl left his perch, flew to the ground and snatched up a meal. It flew back up to a snowy branch and ate its meal.<br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PV6sqQ1dN_F3mvwegM6QID25dadrlsstl1F02C8is8qGf_ntkD4ap1YzOqeqK5sr0-BT4CRpaVO_faHXKHN2ngixmjxbTr4WYHrrbTyDeuoXQrmMs7IGWMxjONnXUlgxQX4hYw/s1600/IMG_8446.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564694688680756306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PV6sqQ1dN_F3mvwegM6QID25dadrlsstl1F02C8is8qGf_ntkD4ap1YzOqeqK5sr0-BT4CRpaVO_faHXKHN2ngixmjxbTr4WYHrrbTyDeuoXQrmMs7IGWMxjONnXUlgxQX4hYw/s640/IMG_8446.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div align="center"><em>Boreal Chickadee</em></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> There are a few feeding stations in the bog that are maintained by local residents. As we pulled up to one of them and stopped the truck, I immediately heard the raspy, hoarse version of "chickadee-dee-dee" sung by a Boreal Chickadee. I had really hoped to find one. I've only seen two of them in the bog before. There was no one else to be seen on that road so Art turned the truck off right in the middle of the road and I rolled the window down. There were many Black-capped Chickadees and Pine Grosbeaks. I could hear a Boreal Chickadee out both truck windows- there were two of them! I tried my best to get them both in view at once but couldn't.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564694699598395586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Hq4R3JV2mnx6LyiR7kTcfy56-BdH3qAJRDh9GFSrpIJkMWqpTVPx7-iMr1nVnf_rmGjE8eUKnFNjm8nKomG1DrjOK_aPBOZhng0udS73qpOPtv0SNRlVyYvA9WkJvbHY23hX3A/s640/IMG_8478.JPG" border="0" /> <div align="center"></div><div>I love this picture of a Black-capped Chickadee tapping at a seed held in its toes, surrounded by lichen and snow-covered branches. </div><div>It was such a wonderful day. With the poor weather, I never expected to see so many wonderful winter visitors to the bog. It is such a special place. I've visited several times and the bog never fails to show and teach me something wonderful.</div><div> </div><div>This year, for the first time, I am unable to attend the <a href="http://moumn.org/sax-zim/">Sax Zim Bog Festival of Birds.</a> Registration closes on January 31, so there is still time to sign up. I've always had a great time at the festival so if you're looking for a community based festival with experienced guides, fabulous local food, and of course the special birds of the far north, you really should go. </div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-69540750077887090532011-01-08T15:50:00.004-06:002011-01-08T17:29:39.426-06:00A Hoary Redpoll Story<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN59gswd4i8m7YFT_xFYc085FIK2wTR3got6l8pkT5OACXCLQhj8UxNFTFu0xHDO578X6p7SYx-6oDm9zSRkBJNF8jqZVg5B6KwGaLFNrshDid7XRp9oKvXWGe3ftCpYifNYzIhA/s1600/IMG_7907.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559936989157045634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN59gswd4i8m7YFT_xFYc085FIK2wTR3got6l8pkT5OACXCLQhj8UxNFTFu0xHDO578X6p7SYx-6oDm9zSRkBJNF8jqZVg5B6KwGaLFNrshDid7XRp9oKvXWGe3ftCpYifNYzIhA/s640/IMG_7907.JPG" border="0" /></a> Last Sunday when Art and I made our trip up to Hasty, and the flock of Repolls descended on the feeders, I was so happy to see these little finches. I noticed one fluffy bird tucked down in the bare brush. It was on the slope down to the creek, out of the wind and facing into the sun. It caught my attention because it was so fluffed up and didn't come up to feed with the rest of the Redpolls. For nearly two hours I kept an eye on the bird. When I got my binoculars on the bird I noticed that it was a bit whiter than the others. I had a flash of excitement at the thought that it might be a Hoary Redpoll.</div><div align="center">The little bird in question finally flew up to the feeders on the second story balcony and I sot to check out the field marks. The photo above was taken through a window screen but shows the white, unstreaked undertail coverts.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOotORTNT8oAvVZGCv0VtXBrpX2L7qI8I0zzUp8aLhr9JXsvykIbpAAvGKOjbtjIOvM1TEtsstQj15UJhnVzbO5boiBYfslb7WleJrrzX97U4N47xunGdNwrkP0UgVbUm_OTP_Tg/s1600/IMG_8117-2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559936602654787874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOotORTNT8oAvVZGCv0VtXBrpX2L7qI8I0zzUp8aLhr9JXsvykIbpAAvGKOjbtjIOvM1TEtsstQj15UJhnVzbO5boiBYfslb7WleJrrzX97U4N47xunGdNwrkP0UgVbUm_OTP_Tg/s640/IMG_8117-2.JPG" border="0" /></a>This photo shows the shorter, "stubby" beak, giving the face a pushed in appearance. It also shows the finer, fainter steaking on the flanks.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0VoADH_fPy1W64yTGzd8SaOYQhHHMUZi_euUNIgRhpBlxhhzu8ERnoLBPxcC0v_ecMp-JxUlfWCU2xIBnvfK0AMwPOTf4GzIPrcBL-VsFLJFl5DjkmFdjt_t9PX4QOnKR5ejVA/s1600/IMG_8115.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559936603199176274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0VoADH_fPy1W64yTGzd8SaOYQhHHMUZi_euUNIgRhpBlxhhzu8ERnoLBPxcC0v_ecMp-JxUlfWCU2xIBnvfK0AMwPOTf4GzIPrcBL-VsFLJFl5DjkmFdjt_t9PX4QOnKR5ejVA/s640/IMG_8115.JPG" border="0" /></a> Another field mark is the clear, white rump.<br /><br /><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwkJCjaH-RPANXzwi5GxtY1ZbGqi3aw4CUsS-qbiVBM-RilXTC4Hm0E5Q8ab8b6GI_CzjULU5w3Vz5VzVVlMTtkpwajEc_ksRdfKnuSe0WaJnFXP4ZP2wH5NMwGT3qzCN19TRCQ/s1600/IMG_8087-1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559936585059805474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWwkJCjaH-RPANXzwi5GxtY1ZbGqi3aw4CUsS-qbiVBM-RilXTC4Hm0E5Q8ab8b6GI_CzjULU5w3Vz5VzVVlMTtkpwajEc_ksRdfKnuSe0WaJnFXP4ZP2wH5NMwGT3qzCN19TRCQ/s640/IMG_8087-1.JPG" border="0" /></a>I love this one. It's as if she knows she's being photographed and knows just how lovely she is.</div><div></div><div>I felt <em>pretty </em>sure I had a Hoary Redpoll identified, but I'd only seen one twice before and those times had had them pointed out to me so I sent my photos off to my birding mentor</div><div>Hap in New Hope. He confirmed it! <a href="http://richard-atthewater.blogspot.com/">Richard</a> sent me photos and information from the Stokes Guide too.</div><div>Many birders go for years hoping to see a Hoary Redpoll and now I got to add it to my </div><div>Hasty Brook yard list.</div><div>That's just another reason that I know how lucky we are to have such a special place. <em><br /></em></div></div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-82629201292974156522011-01-05T08:48:00.006-06:002011-01-05T11:05:31.229-06:00A Golden Day<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ecpzeek6BzSv8Lx6h1fr5NXwbT-Ty-C37HJS3nXUwaBx3RpFULjQH3W_Fv56QmQQ2PzosQQkQLn0g2e0AKWQZ6FSnuI6i5YcT1s1KZNjoi7O1ACNYK9xXIucpW1jk9Ak42Pm0w/s1600/IMG_8184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714564102825778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0ecpzeek6BzSv8Lx6h1fr5NXwbT-Ty-C37HJS3nXUwaBx3RpFULjQH3W_Fv56QmQQ2PzosQQkQLn0g2e0AKWQZ6FSnuI6i5YcT1s1KZNjoi7O1ACNYK9xXIucpW1jk9Ak42Pm0w/s640/IMG_8184.JPG" border="0" /></a> Life Bird: Golden Eagle!!<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViFZl3nspdW_N8gFMngZkXg8FIDZeY-gmP-tnpdwxwp56uDmXZUyIxF1Auy1zzvllCsgTV38h7JYp4mlCntCfJ56QARF6mxO8X9Qy85wpP4vi-eaQ9aSSc8gUkBjjgAfxQf83Zg/s1600/IMG_8158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714555678704930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjViFZl3nspdW_N8gFMngZkXg8FIDZeY-gmP-tnpdwxwp56uDmXZUyIxF1Auy1zzvllCsgTV38h7JYp4mlCntCfJ56QARF6mxO8X9Qy85wpP4vi-eaQ9aSSc8gUkBjjgAfxQf83Zg/s640/IMG_8158.JPG" border="0" /></a> Yesterday was one of those unforgettable days. I set out in the sub-zero morning, my car loaded with birding gear, extra boots, hats, mittens and gloves. My destination was the <a href="http://www.nationaleaglecenter.org/">National Eagle Center</a> about 100 miles south in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wabasha</span>, Minnesota. I was meeting my birding friend <a href="http://rjknits.blogspot.com/">Ruthie.</a> We were attending a class on Golden Eagle identification followed by a field trip into the bluffs area nearby to scout for Golden Eagles.<br /><br />On January 15, Scott <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Mehus</span>, the Education Director for the National Eagle Center will be coordinating the Seventh Annual Wintering Golden Eagle Survey. Last year 140+ observers counted nearly 100 Golden Eagles in the survey area!<br /><br />Ruthie and I took notes during the seminar, quickly memorizing the field marks differentiating Golden Eagles form Bald Eagles. We were fortunate to snag a ride with Scott for the field trip so we could get extra information and a narrative during our ride through the bluffs.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RO_tzwmO8xWIn4a7Co6yikX_IBKoXf1XSO8ZGqp1fhJDy22ymCWRHj42i7JfvXLyhBy5bilP6BfOLASbLXA0s3tCXkOojAbXUWtRdXyxxvhC5P7_ZT3duEC0TgkJ9NvLM9L91A/s1600/IMG_8156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714548877150466" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RO_tzwmO8xWIn4a7Co6yikX_IBKoXf1XSO8ZGqp1fhJDy22ymCWRHj42i7JfvXLyhBy5bilP6BfOLASbLXA0s3tCXkOojAbXUWtRdXyxxvhC5P7_ZT3duEC0TgkJ9NvLM9L91A/s640/IMG_8156.JPG" border="0" /></a>A few miles across the river into Wisconsin Scott pulled over to point out an area where he knew a pair of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Goldens</span> had an established territory. He had explained that unlike Bald Eagles, which like to choose perches near the tops of trees or out on the edges of clear areas, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Goldens</span> more often were found within the tree canopy. We scanned the bluffs for dark shapes and spotted a pair, far off in the distance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUofRVXARnnHeuupuEQElPQ85hZs1PNWCOFmu2iOO61rXXzgcKmldFARJKyjEmkp_sXzgR3sdZCfZ0LwNIaQPCZhvkpI9Q6ZelPfN0K2L7M_c4iQQgXA6xhb37gxPGmtKy6f0DFQ/s1600/IMG_8145.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714543682094690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUofRVXARnnHeuupuEQElPQ85hZs1PNWCOFmu2iOO61rXXzgcKmldFARJKyjEmkp_sXzgR3sdZCfZ0LwNIaQPCZhvkpI9Q6ZelPfN0K2L7M_c4iQQgXA6xhb37gxPGmtKy6f0DFQ/s640/IMG_8145.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em><span style="font-size:78%;">A lone Golden Eagle</span></em><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ehNGe4ofYMVU9iEX24HYDk-ULu_1B8VRa-hJAVBBHpWYV0PIFBmZx_00KMUJdypcWUKGVJ-lakmyi0RmC-hw20x3KYWqRMWdtthshyglNVCFZ61JUnA5i0TT8lEWwZbp7rHdHw/s1600/IMG_8204.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714287129131490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8ehNGe4ofYMVU9iEX24HYDk-ULu_1B8VRa-hJAVBBHpWYV0PIFBmZx_00KMUJdypcWUKGVJ-lakmyi0RmC-hw20x3KYWqRMWdtthshyglNVCFZ61JUnA5i0TT8lEWwZbp7rHdHw/s640/IMG_8204.JPG" border="0" /></a>Back in the van we headed off to another pair's territory. Again, they were quite a way off and appeared as lumps to me.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_ra6G5SInZc8hleYKANbqcIEl7_AzIY2pG5MDZu5dWB1h5d18oc7qDts-gL9WERE28pV1LwZawFnG2UG3KmYs0MLspavacaWaioAh9QtacrEoccP7ICnTQAikWCGjBpV7UHqWw/s1600/IMG_8201.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714282052642914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_ra6G5SInZc8hleYKANbqcIEl7_AzIY2pG5MDZu5dWB1h5d18oc7qDts-gL9WERE28pV1LwZawFnG2UG3KmYs0MLspavacaWaioAh9QtacrEoccP7ICnTQAikWCGjBpV7UHqWw/s640/IMG_8201.JPG" border="0" /></a> Our last stop was another pair's territory. We were positioned between two bluffs and Scott told us that the pair routinely would fly from the bluff on the left to the east, across the road and up to a bluff on the west to roost for the night. He said it would be our best chance to see <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Goldens</span> in flight. Within minutes of his explanation he shouted "Here comes the male!" I left my camera in the van and simply watched with binoculars, in awe of the magnificent bird overhead. Just as the male crossed over to the other bluff, the female came out from behind the tree line to to east. She was gorgeous! Again, I purposely left my camera in the case so I could just watch. As both eagles disappeared behind the trees in the west, Scott mentioned that they might come back and roost in a visible spot. Sure enough, the female did. Finally, I took out my camera and grabbed a shot of her silhouette in the far distance. After a few moments, we started back to the van to head back when someone shouted that one of the eagles was back up in the air.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvl12aPpyWRoR7qGk0pC-mg0V3uRqdmv7A2mZcCFpMaCIPxerz_kK9t1XGDoXV2U6ylMUlRsvCXbqDAS8KrLxkiEtfxyze3JcVPH3mFPe6VXR8rxokU19-FXrQMfcpJZ5Q57Lyw/s1600/IMG_8199.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714279742513474" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvl12aPpyWRoR7qGk0pC-mg0V3uRqdmv7A2mZcCFpMaCIPxerz_kK9t1XGDoXV2U6ylMUlRsvCXbqDAS8KrLxkiEtfxyze3JcVPH3mFPe6VXR8rxokU19-FXrQMfcpJZ5Q57Lyw/s640/IMG_8199.JPG" border="0" /></a> It was the male flying back over our heads. The male went on to fly back and forth across the sun exposed face of the bluff to our left. He was actively hunting! We learned that the majority of the Golden Eagle's prey in this area is squirrels and Wild Turkeys. I grabbed my camera (without mittens) and took photo after photo. It was so cold my fingers went numb and my camera couldn't process the photos as fast as I was taking them. Auto focus started to get sluggish and I had to quit.</div><br /><div>But I had enough.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkIDQVN4JijroaeLC3XipKY0VZeQDBIsaoje0UJX3xr6PHA58_eEq5_RUvM3dKm5vCaRBbMA9ZydEehDi7vGrh3TyPpPwn4qZEHWQ_tEzTobQGWLwgw1xAEJ8CNSiUPzXNdGmyA/s1600/IMG_8196.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714276513166178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUkIDQVN4JijroaeLC3XipKY0VZeQDBIsaoje0UJX3xr6PHA58_eEq5_RUvM3dKm5vCaRBbMA9ZydEehDi7vGrh3TyPpPwn4qZEHWQ_tEzTobQGWLwgw1xAEJ8CNSiUPzXNdGmyA/s640/IMG_8196.JPG" border="0" /></a> Life bird!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz7VNCTNIh1Fvy_E37TVkLFRfOBgB4aftlUpwU6UouMcJYM6eGre-gcxmtzszRf5OZ-DfIaXkwZ_n08uInVtdpl53lGkmAV6YhfYtyoDq44KVsPbhV0AdiUsc7199LfF9WUcZ8w/s1600/IMG_8194.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5558714269852905106" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioz7VNCTNIh1Fvy_E37TVkLFRfOBgB4aftlUpwU6UouMcJYM6eGre-gcxmtzszRf5OZ-DfIaXkwZ_n08uInVtdpl53lGkmAV6YhfYtyoDq44KVsPbhV0AdiUsc7199LfF9WUcZ8w/s640/IMG_8194.JPG" border="0" /></a>I smiled the whole way home.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Note to self: Buy hand warmers to keep in the car.</em></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></em></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Anyone within driving distance to the National Eagle Center should <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">consider</span> attending one of Scott's seminars. There is another coming up this Saturday, January 8 at 1pm. They are always looking for volunteers for the Wintering Golden Eagle Survey, always on the third Saturday of January. If you can't visit this year, think about next year. I would like to go to the seminar again next year. It's terrific <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">information</span> and I would like to try to see an immature Golden Eagle.</span></span> <div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-35830350513701899312011-01-03T09:13:00.003-06:002011-01-03T11:20:16.014-06:00A New Year at Hasty Brook<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhm_CVS-mTurNpJi2N-YE0pjqHoySXZdRKDSFDjnE1CYdrH0T2OjAsvWhpaz6dfNHyhmFnhjONqv-_C8ovUCd0XenAeT80M6hyphenhyphensyX1U-F7QPfw3z4M4mPepSnYxqtnPrWETSElw/s1600/IMG_7851.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997334481038482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhm_CVS-mTurNpJi2N-YE0pjqHoySXZdRKDSFDjnE1CYdrH0T2OjAsvWhpaz6dfNHyhmFnhjONqv-_C8ovUCd0XenAeT80M6hyphenhyphensyX1U-F7QPfw3z4M4mPepSnYxqtnPrWETSElw/s640/IMG_7851.JPG" border="0" /></a> Minnesota weather kept us from our first weekend of the New Year up at Hasty Brook. Severe weather warnings of freezing rain turning to snow as the temperatures dropped to near zero, added to strong winds, kept us home doing house chores on Saturday. Sunday was supposed to be clear and cold so we set the alarm for early and hit the road by 8 am. The temperature was just below zero but we needed a Hasty fix! I bought Art and I snowshoes for Christmas and while I ran upstairs to fill the feeders and check on the birds, Art strapped his on and went for a walk. He said he could hear water gurgling downstream by the old beaver dam and when he punched the ice with his ski pole it broke through! He crossed back over the creek upstream of the dam and decided to walk the creek back to our cabin. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D49MP3tZmH2RWx8uurqkwGSfHffE_HLUUz1H5aybikuJJlMJULutt2EmE1hO8cFpdPkRm7JrxjADGJJhQuZtgZTkETEM9xLfpdLLomR64azX1m-ucZUp6T2tkbybJnIH64Wfbg/s1600/IMG_7853.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997137359990306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7D49MP3tZmH2RWx8uurqkwGSfHffE_HLUUz1H5aybikuJJlMJULutt2EmE1hO8cFpdPkRm7JrxjADGJJhQuZtgZTkETEM9xLfpdLLomR64azX1m-ucZUp6T2tkbybJnIH64Wfbg/s640/IMG_7853.JPG" border="0" /></a> Upstairs at the feeders on the balcony, it looked like all the regulars were there. Chickadees, White and Red-breasted Nuthatches and a sprinkling of Goldfinches. I shoveled off the deck and set to work filling feeders. Even with a hat on I could hear birds coming through the woods. I looked up in time to see a good sized flock flying in from across the creek: REDPOLLS! <br />I love these tiny winter finches. I had heard that this isn't being a good winter for northern finches but sure was wishing hard to see a few at Hasty. I kept my movements slow and deliberate and eventually one Redpoll flew up from the hazelnut brush. Seconds later I was surrounded! If I stood very still they would land on my head and shoulders. What a thrill!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ihdo5QuOvNEnDxYhojLK01VuRTMv5AOonI9RgilPZ6K84S-3EnWnn-blHbMoP_K3cUA6KiOBaE7ZS8bXwqaE25-xKatEKwcmtox76hp_oGnsDW89PPsnxj8b1rPS0f-OlLqSug/s1600/IMG_7882.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997130131641074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-ihdo5QuOvNEnDxYhojLK01VuRTMv5AOonI9RgilPZ6K84S-3EnWnn-blHbMoP_K3cUA6KiOBaE7ZS8bXwqaE25-xKatEKwcmtox76hp_oGnsDW89PPsnxj8b1rPS0f-OlLqSug/s640/IMG_7882.JPG" border="0" /></a> I cleared most of the snow and ice from the railing, spread some thistle and soon they were lined up eating.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_UB0uQgcBUryHd2b1M6qm-_s8PsJR7fr_sTwjk2xwyS2ISTrEsokDajrBGTO0iB2kolvGnvm6MKuhVWaW10R-TDO2G_nKP5JpD39HzHz364nwBhbJupTIjhxpIxzfQCxBl6PWQ/s1600/IMG_7955.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997117543486450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5_UB0uQgcBUryHd2b1M6qm-_s8PsJR7fr_sTwjk2xwyS2ISTrEsokDajrBGTO0iB2kolvGnvm6MKuhVWaW10R-TDO2G_nKP5JpD39HzHz364nwBhbJupTIjhxpIxzfQCxBl6PWQ/s640/IMG_7955.JPG" border="0" /></a>The sun stays low in the sky during January in northern Minnesota so by early afternoon the sun was already shining weakly in the southwest. Even the weak sun made their red caps shine.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q7U2xjijlm1imcLubAF1g1ubQlTMAtdkkU3HD3cIuLogRFf3lKw6wOaApqQAbPVyBPm_8lKcS2J7LQmTV5yQ9M7TFS84Tgz6n5HNDlgxCossGzC-qCJCI4MZxrfZiM2Dda-geQ/s1600/IMG_7996.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997112630026226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Q7U2xjijlm1imcLubAF1g1ubQlTMAtdkkU3HD3cIuLogRFf3lKw6wOaApqQAbPVyBPm_8lKcS2J7LQmTV5yQ9M7TFS84Tgz6n5HNDlgxCossGzC-qCJCI4MZxrfZiM2Dda-geQ/s640/IMG_7996.JPG" border="0" /></a> On such a cold day, the Redpolls were really gobbling up the thistle.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557997127060172082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjan1HO969aw1Y_UdO8S7SJQT9K2CGiD7YWNrUg6hsNmy4l_VcEnExMxX6vdNnm9PfvObhHylw65-q-JUVb6mR-qXS8S_y7TYSPwojb7Sq6GpYemXnCZEcyIp3QntRx99Emt3_weA/s640/IMG_7871.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>A big shadow overhead sent the birds scrambling for cover. It was this handsome Hairy Woodpecker coming to check out the suet feeder.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZQZnqgY5GtPzgY_btFNWtCxdA-OKEQ4gkq2b092aGCTEWmYB5eTP9Cj0WvwPQfR9MFe8li5C845m08yy4Op_Ber7hs2sPhBgKEZyP53Akd9g93w2oyf7A9hITlV9oqJy2xGHRA/s1600/IMG_7979.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557996636127624370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZQZnqgY5GtPzgY_btFNWtCxdA-OKEQ4gkq2b092aGCTEWmYB5eTP9Cj0WvwPQfR9MFe8li5C845m08yy4Op_Ber7hs2sPhBgKEZyP53Akd9g93w2oyf7A9hITlV9oqJy2xGHRA/s640/IMG_7979.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div>This little Downy Woodpecker either needs a comb or is having a devilish thought...<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTrPfOoxz-nC-uh3xoATFfXJZ6Q4qGj__YidC8sq1nsRBne_M88qyK9xa3P_NSzAa6iFKA7Kv9-44r4LZx8brtpuKvO1AjIbUPynHaXlmJUzqXWCvk9a_xpSH5ISU0-MmiJy1Ow/s1600/IMG_7990.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557996630486205458" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTrPfOoxz-nC-uh3xoATFfXJZ6Q4qGj__YidC8sq1nsRBne_M88qyK9xa3P_NSzAa6iFKA7Kv9-44r4LZx8brtpuKvO1AjIbUPynHaXlmJUzqXWCvk9a_xpSH5ISU0-MmiJy1Ow/s640/IMG_7990.JPG" border="0" /></a> I have a few feeders down below on shepard's hooks. This one has been bear chewed and repaired many times. I had to use copper electrical wire to make a new handle and the lid won't lay flat. Red squirrel likes it fine that way.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N92U8dvBpGfWTYvmoLgnQYUBe2J-zNWA6odO3f34e6fpOoSxJzd-gouhMxcIZguRrvtfGVjG3ikDSXj-4sD1vk0BdAxlo-Wk2YdtFN23Pm1P5zKNf9IcUtTdOp191z7Bx4QFcw/s1600/IMG_8026.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557996624242267938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7N92U8dvBpGfWTYvmoLgnQYUBe2J-zNWA6odO3f34e6fpOoSxJzd-gouhMxcIZguRrvtfGVjG3ikDSXj-4sD1vk0BdAxlo-Wk2YdtFN23Pm1P5zKNf9IcUtTdOp191z7Bx4QFcw/s640/IMG_8026.JPG" border="0" /></a> On the drive up I mentioned to Art that neighbors had Pine Grosbeaks at their feeders and that I'd really like to add them to my Hasty yard list. While I was counting Redpolls in the birch I noticed two larger birds. Even with binoculars it was hard to tell, they were so back-lit. One flew down to the ground under the balcony. It was a beautiful male Pine Grosbeak! After a few minutes the female flew down to the maple to check out the feeder action. Isn't she beautiful?<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrxUH2i8EuiKT9wCxiNsvEhDT3-ePm9TmGANjUS8WlpFSht0N1cUrSGTt5nUUs3LMBeq69-w6c4jfCWjSfWiomY4sd1lSO-pRmdmoNLm_oou1NrCxjCr8ECLPTGKT6NyZQQG2CA/s1600/IMG_8065.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557996615683606482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrxUH2i8EuiKT9wCxiNsvEhDT3-ePm9TmGANjUS8WlpFSht0N1cUrSGTt5nUUs3LMBeq69-w6c4jfCWjSfWiomY4sd1lSO-pRmdmoNLm_oou1NrCxjCr8ECLPTGKT6NyZQQG2CA/s640/IMG_8065.JPG" border="0" /></a> The male wouldn't come any closer but the female finally landed on the railing.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMuXnM5fVPwt0pI9bA4ojuN1osDbKc3bVV-LWOmOv00alHIpIX1CjrExIIPiNxFa0qDnu7sSBWOVgOX2MA5Etl9a_1VL4T5KlyTYhN_vevMh4Zfh8xb_hki6t8QgQUVexaKDipw/s1600/IMG_8073.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557996608848040946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIMuXnM5fVPwt0pI9bA4ojuN1osDbKc3bVV-LWOmOv00alHIpIX1CjrExIIPiNxFa0qDnu7sSBWOVgOX2MA5Etl9a_1VL4T5KlyTYhN_vevMh4Zfh8xb_hki6t8QgQUVexaKDipw/s640/IMG_8073.JPG" border="0" /></a> A new yard bird at Hasty!<br />Good Neighbor Mark dropped by and mentioned that there are Evening Grosbeaks at a neighboring farm.</div><div>Maybe next trip!<br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-23704680069220875182011-01-01T18:28:00.002-06:002011-01-01T18:51:16.015-06:00Resolved<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYjvThw9PUzedHOvmup2hvefwQR7_dzVlBdi9WbeoaN9xMiQid8DTpcHR7fUM-R2rxHgC-PNJoO_4BEyRBoqQh7gZ0zQfJTlbn_uf1SHGssSopy1D9a-cMqBb87ZCwrLHt93fMg/s1600/IMG_7821.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5557379129774612834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYjvThw9PUzedHOvmup2hvefwQR7_dzVlBdi9WbeoaN9xMiQid8DTpcHR7fUM-R2rxHgC-PNJoO_4BEyRBoqQh7gZ0zQfJTlbn_uf1SHGssSopy1D9a-cMqBb87ZCwrLHt93fMg/s640/IMG_7821.JPG" border="0" /></a> I'm not much for New Year's resolutions.</div><div align="center">However,</div><div align="center">in the New Year of 2011</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I hope to</div><div align="center">laugh more,</div><div align="center">listen more, </div><div align="center">love better.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I want to</div><div align="center">care for my family,</div><div align="center">my home,</div><div align="center">and Hasty Brook.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I will</div><div align="center">spend time with family</div><div align="center">and friends,</div><div align="center">and show them that I love them</div><div align="center">every chance I get.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I am</div><div align="center">grateful</div><div align="center">for all of you</div><div align="center">and plan to show you </div><div align="center">just how much</div><div align="center">you mean to me.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"> I WILL</div><div align="center">blog again!</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">I have lots of catching up to do especially the progress in the building up at Hasty.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Stay tuned-</div><div align="center"></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-55449531206209554642010-08-19T21:48:00.004-05:002010-08-19T22:28:00.509-05:00Meet My New Friend<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkAE1rU1-yHNCw7NsZYmq6xbyCyPmJsia_MfU8B9k2Ak_uhwmE0OUaUTxFs54hVTql5ZTa2sU-qg2ie4Tg10YzdddWlmb08D8t63yJjQ5rR74orVWlqS3C1_Ic47ReJWupRBeYg/s1600/DSCN4188.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507319717380037778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtkAE1rU1-yHNCw7NsZYmq6xbyCyPmJsia_MfU8B9k2Ak_uhwmE0OUaUTxFs54hVTql5ZTa2sU-qg2ie4Tg10YzdddWlmb08D8t63yJjQ5rR74orVWlqS3C1_Ic47ReJWupRBeYg/s640/DSCN4188.JPG" border="0" /></a> I found the coolest insect at Hasty last weekend. I'd seen another of these a few weeks ago and looked it up in my <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kaufman-Field-Insects-America-Guides/dp/0618153101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1282273095&sr=1-1">Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America</a>. It looked like a relative of the Spotted Sawyer, a longhorn beetle I'd seen up there several times before. With some help from blogging/Facebook friend <a href="http://woodsong.squarespace.com/journal/">Cindy Mead</a> I eventually identified this beetle as a <a href="http://bugguide.net/node/view/71275/bgimage">Balsam Fir Sawyer, <em>Monochamus marmorator.</em> </a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">Check out the horny protrusions around its neck. I would guess they would make it difficult to swallow this big fellow. Doesn't it kind of remind you of a studded collar? </div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTzsoRBn_M_nPjauERF9sIqZ0exASuKjlgcDVcB1e0w_FNj17IWcWDy_Bl7_AHS6MnOGmhVNrg6ATcet7PD-hOHp6nzjkuUhKIBbt73A3TwWSSYlrlIel0VdrfKmWlDNPJLU8sA/s1600/DSCN4186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507319708867825218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTzsoRBn_M_nPjauERF9sIqZ0exASuKjlgcDVcB1e0w_FNj17IWcWDy_Bl7_AHS6MnOGmhVNrg6ATcet7PD-hOHp6nzjkuUhKIBbt73A3TwWSSYlrlIel0VdrfKmWlDNPJLU8sA/s640/DSCN4186.JPG" border="0" /></a> I mentioned to Hap in New Hope that I had seen this cool insect and he told me that he'd once gotten a nasty bite from a longhorn beetle. When I zoomed in on its face I could see how that might happen. Look at the size of those pinchy mouth parts! It's probably a good thing I didn't know they could bite as I had held it for quite a long time. Thankfully, no bites.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI038D3IoqpLYy-cMBlmof3GAPhERAQLciVvwxiN76YaXEiTTuan2fFdVGycWF4FbEeoMzAPLm_6oASBImCkj9ADBYJ1cD4RITIMJcLLJaYkeJIvQ3aAw27_Qso2CVEzma5EH6A/s1600/DSCN4182.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507319703819324562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiI038D3IoqpLYy-cMBlmof3GAPhERAQLciVvwxiN76YaXEiTTuan2fFdVGycWF4FbEeoMzAPLm_6oASBImCkj9ADBYJ1cD4RITIMJcLLJaYkeJIvQ3aAw27_Qso2CVEzma5EH6A/s640/DSCN4182.JPG" border="0" /></a> We looked at each other for a long time. </div><div>Click to big-ify this photo. The eyes are really amazing. Kindly disregard the fact that I really needed a manicure and some lotion.<br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507318786963744354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIL9k5St5clvoGr7vqTVDJxU3Ox7oO27gVrJYOEqQblm3Akum4qgbXLeSWVDVRw-nOFsJXMZ_WJk9gnbe7k10O-wLRwgory3Xy1XRjBWX_cg2AjB_guYChlkH4sPsZISCIJgxukw/s640/DSCN4184.JPG" border="0" /> Check out the camouflage colors. The colors looked metallic in the sun.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507318767680685506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ERPDoPhIQ1g-7na68EgBLA4JZT1Yq75OvL9u_hNkv13UTBGDu-GA9LmGXFjDbbzWnnmjfJzRf9a0yPk_i0hE5EJGOD9UKIsHZhPaBIIAob8NKb7CUszVWOJC5_cjU5JeKK3KPg/s640/DSCN4180.JPG" border="0" /> I took loads of photos of this accommodating beetle and felt we were forming a bond but when it pooped on me I knew it was time to say good-bye.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5507319721413568898" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGJa670djf1vpnkKQaKiZXtyJyCzBI0wdBa7Ds6i9JqpeLuuvbjlngZzceAUGUkJE_H99XMquyorhSmZS6TrBRnRMjcsolJlgxepC_LOio0D9oP8-g7e0_STNhcD4aj0kt2Up7Q/s640/DSCN4190.JPG" border="0" /><em>am-scra eetle-ba!</em><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-72905617790018655972010-06-10T16:40:00.002-05:002010-06-10T17:06:17.531-05:00Potholes and Prairie Birding Festival in Carington, North Dakota<div align="center"> I stopped in St. Paul to pick up birding friend Virginia and the at the airport for Katdoc and off we went. About seven hours and a few hundred miles later we arrived in Carrington, exhausted. Settle in, unpack, a bite to eat and off to bed to wait for our 4AM alarm. Kathi's trip was scheduled to leave at 430 and mine at 5AM. We were most happy to find that Wren was here at the festival too. This morning we headed out to tour the Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge with guide Bill Thompson. Thw weather wasn't terrific- cold, windy with rain or drizzle most of the day but I am NOT complaining. The views were spectacular, the birding wonderful and the company was great.</div><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481263839640617714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoWuXN830l4LJD4fBxmEp5HnnaYPr_vNf_YqUNn9PqTmLQTv9-yZQhgYKSTx3z7l2PmEOCUNF9OwUKuVGSYlDN4pDqCW0kU19UvDN5RHZqfomcBDvoT_DEvJ3AoB1vQ3o_6uoTg/s640/IMG_5941.JPG" /><br /><div align="center">We got several fabulous looks at Upland Sandpipers.<br /></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx9DP_ZwmOuWL204KFfNLLCUsvDpns9Y-I2KutT6dBo2C8MsLvfXQL0zJrmEr5M8Ghkf0dJL3gcWmjL1ACILntfN3aFhQIAkl-iWsS6HgsJB1L-Uoi6tPxFpsTEokrfRyB75pBw/s1600/IMG_5915.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481263828821689058" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwx9DP_ZwmOuWL204KFfNLLCUsvDpns9Y-I2KutT6dBo2C8MsLvfXQL0zJrmEr5M8Ghkf0dJL3gcWmjL1ACILntfN3aFhQIAkl-iWsS6HgsJB1L-Uoi6tPxFpsTEokrfRyB75pBw/s640/IMG_5915.JPG" /></a> Western Grebes that were displaying.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMTxZ_GshuPORI8KjIUHZzi_MoheGG3EYOHnq7cQGxwhUyml5RJuJkYjsMDLsGKjbqzw8bIqPn7Z9o_IkGIpB1NJoP8pNDX5U26b_QVyuKmS3Bg6til5quOu8z1r7u5ULPpqY-g/s1600/IMG_5895.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481263824545322674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMTxZ_GshuPORI8KjIUHZzi_MoheGG3EYOHnq7cQGxwhUyml5RJuJkYjsMDLsGKjbqzw8bIqPn7Z9o_IkGIpB1NJoP8pNDX5U26b_QVyuKmS3Bg6til5quOu8z1r7u5ULPpqY-g/s640/IMG_5895.JPG" /></a>We came upon a few pairs of Marbled Godwits throughout the day. They were not as happy to see us as we were to see them.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qma1vPZJozuDk3BJ4Bw0HMBQnauaiyrsXvlA0EYuo5ydh0xBXXXvnfzKH1HXBs7jrPZIOSctncs4to4YepFGKAZIaKQi3FpSu2Vd17awOUfaHxfA4ExGRoy32Mqf4Ibum9RfdQ/s1600/IMG_5883.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481263815821248914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Qma1vPZJozuDk3BJ4Bw0HMBQnauaiyrsXvlA0EYuo5ydh0xBXXXvnfzKH1HXBs7jrPZIOSctncs4to4YepFGKAZIaKQi3FpSu2Vd17awOUfaHxfA4ExGRoy32Mqf4Ibum9RfdQ/s640/IMG_5883.JPG" /></a>Common Snipe were uncommonly beautiful and easy to find.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG4By6XrC5flunmxI_eapl2-3c3cLJuCN3KIFB271itaelNJt4T2fxoIXMT2HhmE5G_P2aV-_AFoXRD5gsGzB0P2kXwULo_Tfryf9701T8T1beKwJEnZbtFhuiJBbhxdZ12O0tg/s1600/IMG_5862.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481263809316520258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoG4By6XrC5flunmxI_eapl2-3c3cLJuCN3KIFB271itaelNJt4T2fxoIXMT2HhmE5G_P2aV-_AFoXRD5gsGzB0P2kXwULo_Tfryf9701T8T1beKwJEnZbtFhuiJBbhxdZ12O0tg/s640/IMG_5862.JPG" /></a>We got to watch a bison heard cautiously move away and then break into a run.</div><div>It was like seeing a piece of history</div><div>I was honored.</div><div> </div><div>I'm short on narritive tonight as I'm really tired. Julie Zickefoose spoke this afternoon and there is a picnic dinner and music this evening. Should be fun.</div><div> </div><div>All told, I believe our group saw 78 species today and I got 16 life birds!!!</div><div> </div><div>~~</div><div>Western Grebe</div><div>Blue-winged Teal</div><div>Canvasback</div><div>American Avocet</div><div>Upland Sandpiper</div><div>Marbled Godwit</div><div>Semipalmated Sandpiper</div><div>Wilson's Phalarope</div><div>California Gull</div><div>Black Tern</div><div>Willow Flycatcher</div><div>Western Kingbird</div><div>Horned Lark</div><div>Sedge Wren</div><div>Clay-colored Sparrow</div><div>Yellow-headed Blackbird</div><div> </div><div>Pardon the typo's...</div><div> </div><div>Tomorrow is Pipits and Pie with Julie.</div><div> </div><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div></div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-64278187210863415502010-06-02T14:57:00.000-05:002010-06-02T14:57:19.126-05:00Wordless Wednesday<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimuhFpcYGU5fxANQowesbYOmHAL1OIFAu7CB-B4e23toSzqY2J4pPtbhEAncMhZNkAv26oqCXv2xzXKZqwHRBtM1I2ipllwWA0RA7_tCa0ZsDXDots9o2vG0Cbm404VVaeosj0A/s1600/DSCN0878.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhimuhFpcYGU5fxANQowesbYOmHAL1OIFAu7CB-B4e23toSzqY2J4pPtbhEAncMhZNkAv26oqCXv2xzXKZqwHRBtM1I2ipllwWA0RA7_tCa0ZsDXDots9o2vG0Cbm404VVaeosj0A/s400/DSCN0878.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style='clear:both; text-align:CENTER'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-47870381592560109732010-05-28T18:08:00.004-05:002010-05-28T20:10:18.069-05:00Spring Changes at Hasty<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qNmK2OZMqx0pU5ChSKJj1_aN5ZB3CPF3pUfTrEj-1fWoVgdgVm4xxrew52PTsEQ2l4-nfs7TTgMbl4WzwzqSKtbOcwIcw3wtaaviloFLlJonvoqMvwYG-QxddXTbCeWGttwn8w/s1600/IMG_5645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476463183890408434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qNmK2OZMqx0pU5ChSKJj1_aN5ZB3CPF3pUfTrEj-1fWoVgdgVm4xxrew52PTsEQ2l4-nfs7TTgMbl4WzwzqSKtbOcwIcw3wtaaviloFLlJonvoqMvwYG-QxddXTbCeWGttwn8w/s640/IMG_5645.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>Lifer Mourning Warbler!</em></div><div align="center"><em></em></div><div align="center">We spent last weekend up at Hasty and spring had brought new colors to our place. Everything had greened up and there were many trees, bushes and wildflowers in bloom. I brought along my copy of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0816640653/bookpriceline-20/ref/"><em>Trees and Shrubs of Minnesota</em> </a>and spent a good deal of time figuring out just what we have growing up there. I was particularly interested in the brush growing along the slope down to the creek just below our balcony. We would like to clear it just a bit to give us a better view of the creek and the critters down there but I really want to be careful to leave the plants that produce fruit for the wildlife. I know we have lots of beaked hazelnut bushes. They grow wherever there is a break in the canopy. Some of them can go. Using the book I was able to identify several choke cherry trees, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">june</span> berry bushes, and two kinds of dogwood. These are all terrific fruit producers and I've seen the birds go after them in earlier seasons. We also have quite a few pretty spruce and balsam trees growing on the south-facing slope. If we thin a bit they'll have more room to grow. As I identify plants that I want to keep, I've been marking them with a spool of red plastic ribbon. We'll most likely wait to start thinning the brush in the fall after the nesting season is long over. Thanks go out to Deb at <a href="http://whitepines.blogspot.com/">Sand Creek Almanac</a> for suggesting this wonderful book.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Saturday we had an exciting visitor- Richard from <a href="http://richard-atthewater.blogspot.com/">At The Water </a>made the long drive up from his home to see our place and give us advice on finishing the upstairs to turn it into our cabin. Richard is an amazingly multi-talented man has kindly offered his <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">expertise</span> in carpentry and electrical wiring! His visit on Saturday gave us an opportunity to get ideas and make some decisions on the placement of interior walls and a kitchen. Most of these decisions need to be firmed up before the wiring can be done. We had a great day, though chilly and <em>very</em> windy. In addition to driving all that way to help us out, Richard <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">brought</span> us a most thoughtful gift: a framed photo that I took from the balcony and posted on this blog last year! It will be the first picture that I hang up there and I'll be sure to post a photo of it. Thank you Richard.</div><div align="center"></div><div align="center">Sunday morning dawned warmer and quite cloudy. I woke early (6am), made a pot of coffee and quietly slid open the patio door on the balcony. Armed with a big cup of strong coffee and my binoculars I stepped outside to be met by a morning chorus like no other: The warblers were here! Ovenbirds, Common <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Yellowthroats</span>, Black and Whites. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZTO0YtaCsOOeJIZXtlgseD8exHQoyNoJpphkoSUmtgFzvhKTViDdDKpFrCTQIlZ6KA_eHWvSVv-5Ip1Mho0Fzcjt64DhtbkvkuCMz1617d-a5CrHwbsoRPl4hZ_SSKVEVOiyGA/s1600/IMG_5579.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476462600494483394" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbZTO0YtaCsOOeJIZXtlgseD8exHQoyNoJpphkoSUmtgFzvhKTViDdDKpFrCTQIlZ6KA_eHWvSVv-5Ip1Mho0Fzcjt64DhtbkvkuCMz1617d-a5CrHwbsoRPl4hZ_SSKVEVOiyGA/s640/IMG_5579.JPG" border="0" /></a> There were Chestnut-sided Warblers everywhere! </div><div align="center">Our building/campsite is surrounded on three sides by the creek and I could hear the</div><div align="center"><em>bee-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">bz</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">bz</span></em><br />of Golden-winged Warblers on all three sides (no pix this time). I saw <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Blackpolls</span>, American <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Redstarts</span>, Nashville and Palm Warblers. I kept hearing a louder song, not familiar. I put on jeans, long sleeves and hiking shoes, grabbed my camera and took off to find the singer. I got as close as I could to the song, settled in and waited. There were two birds singing that song, one on either side of a small clearing. There it was- a Mourning Warbler!! LIFER!! Two males sang dueling songs. I took tons of pictures, none of them great because of the gray skies, but good enough to verify my id. I posted a photo two years ago of a fledgling that I couldn't identify. Hap in New Hope thought it was probably a Mourning Warbler but I didn't count it on my life list because I couldn't make the id myself. </div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8coRIasQOXTD2DOSySWS7YZOVwkfelPi_8Mj-eUcjTgF4ybbHkQeTMxn_rqA9I-yiQJD20AYS9suYp39agCEOK8xz86iY08trqJoahnyCSaujDruhAHExS5MiL9pDiz3zg5Eevw/s1600/IMG_5438.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476462583742982162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8coRIasQOXTD2DOSySWS7YZOVwkfelPi_8Mj-eUcjTgF4ybbHkQeTMxn_rqA9I-yiQJD20AYS9suYp39agCEOK8xz86iY08trqJoahnyCSaujDruhAHExS5MiL9pDiz3zg5Eevw/s640/IMG_5438.JPG" border="0" /></a>It was a very <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">birdy</span> day even without the warblers. Purple Finches and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks fought for time at the feeders. </div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476462553230091746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWT3G9YzHRHrVW46F4GNTsFIv9hikX8C7PaAjM6L5S3381tYXJwMqTqwv0fnEPkW8WUptsofVl_a8ehpLRrYQQfwtLomSQAW13ndc-83SaJZzg7_cdnQIh1ARhAn71vX012dS6HQ/s640/IMG_5419.JPG" border="0" /><br />These Purple Finch ladies were bickering.<br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476463194999020562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikVu7ZyV3jmi9lME5Gkf8YKS10xhMbxY78UU8JSydXADrN1NnrcfM-AwXA-CLeM0h4r3x3c5lOwlx-6LVvjb5VoDFjMICP66FOtBGdC9i_HRfD927EPkl5UL4M5UYCI4L3SJdtjg/s640/IMG_5698.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div align="center">This little Chipping Sparrow sat still just long enough for a quick snapshot. Song Sparrows, Hermit Thrushes and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Veeries</span> sang along the creek. White-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">throated</span> Sparrows skulked around mostly hidden in the thick hazelnut bushes. A brilliant flash of red in a treetop across the creek- a Scarlet Tanager is new for my Hasty yard list.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC02Tjk20wazPzYg-VsOR1I8-R7JEIXmwpBBM-0XH614nh_7wnkCWZzC8pjuu1Kntq4_gTG4SXrmKu8ZAOhls9ApVWI0oVmQUHWY1MWPgtsOB4Nv4IAg7b-U2UfhoadDb4vlqotA/s1600/IMG_5377.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5476462536586548818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC02Tjk20wazPzYg-VsOR1I8-R7JEIXmwpBBM-0XH614nh_7wnkCWZzC8pjuu1Kntq4_gTG4SXrmKu8ZAOhls9ApVWI0oVmQUHWY1MWPgtsOB4Nv4IAg7b-U2UfhoadDb4vlqotA/s640/IMG_5377.JPG" border="0" /></a> <em>My first decent (sort of) photo of a Kingfisher.</em><br /><em></em><br /><br />Sunday was the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">birdiest</span> day I've ever had at Hasty Brook.<br /><br />~~~~~~~~~~<br /><br />We'll be buying lumber, light fixtures and wiring supplies for our next trip up north. With Richard's help and advice we will be making great progress in turning our "upstairs" into a comfy cabin/loft. As soon as it's finished we'll be able to open the doors and invite you all up to the <span style="font-size:130%;color:#ff0000;"><strong>Hasty Brook Birder's B&B!!</strong></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-22610602810755438782010-04-19T20:19:00.004-05:002010-04-19T21:42:05.445-05:00Has it Really Been Two Months?<div align="center"> No excuses, I was gone and now I'm back!</div><div align="center">Let's see...where was I...</div><div align="center">I went to Miami for a week in March. It was a work-related trip, training on two new laboratory analyzers (coagulation analyzers for the science lovers out there). There was very little extra time so most all of my birding was done on the shuttle bus riding back and forth between the hotel and the training center. Even so, I got six life birds!</div><div align="center">Common Myna</div><div align="center">Cattle Egret</div><div align="center">White Ibis</div><div align="center">Eurasian Collared Dove</div><div align="center">Monk Parakeet</div><div align="center">Loggerhead Shrike</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">The first morning we filed into the training center one of the instructors spotted my Cape May bag and asked if I was a birder! She wasn't my instructor but we chatted every day about the birds of the area. In the middle of the week she asked me if a Loggerhead Shrike would be a lifer for me. Yes! The next day she took me through the training center, out the employee's entrance and across their parking lot, down the road a couple of blocks to a little airport. There, sitting on a barbed wired fence at a traffic light with four lanes of heavy traffic sat a Loggerhead Shrike! She watched traffic for me as I scooted across to the center lane divider to get a photo (on my other camera) I'm telling you- birders are the BEST PEOPLE.</div><div align="center"><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462026005568937426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYnA1uADHbapmZ4h1bM5tqL40l9wRLan1ScmkOd_ygOAmVWRh_hCQliaK-mHHr2BY3eSSPKHyV0lUCTJI8bu3wZeVJR3BmWpZipe42f-6eu1x-3he0tr5ov37GBa3R-f0zYoZSuA/s640/IMG_5165.JPG" border="0" />Except for the very coldest weekends, Art and I have visited Hasty Brook for day trips every two weeks on my weekends off. Now that spring is here we're really gearing up our plans to get our upstairs/cabin finished. I really can't wait to get the well hooked up so we can have running water. It's been a long wait. The last visit I saw this pair of Turkey Vultures dancing on the wind. They eventually landed across the creek and nuzzled each other. I know this is a lousy photo but these were the first Turkey Vultures that I've seen perched at our place. I assume by their behavior that they are a mating pair. Love it.</div><div align="center"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462026002678331250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4xUS7-Lb-TH5qprNvxdqDDhjnDxh-VmW0WEhNnNOHEfDaXhIl3CIjt4quozAePenxzUiz0EP1p74rEzHq89eBBLROEuAZ0V7p0JwSajOCbhNe6r3XYMli5yXivQ6A8ZPpP7jTYw/s640/IMG_5155.JPG" border="0" />The Chickadees seem to get tamer up there every year. I've fed them in my hand a few times now.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462025993032879618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1eTgHq4C_azsjwliesv0vDb_6VqbWw8ysKScxcKjGte_hoh5w6LujGwMOBWDHmqb5rAwCimK2qG1Yrz6eOg06ZgVIjtUSFcXsa26_ImVLgkH43sjPrtxpY2Th5iRQafp_qN2zw/s640/IMG_5147.JPG" border="0" />Red-breasted Nuthatches breed at Hasty so they're around all the time. I love watching their antics. Such cheeky little things.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462025978100440994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-DfGp-XF9kPQHrLvIiYC-Uhb50ZFcSZ2NezPpRFRmkiE94fA2YJvhmlTL45XEFu-lCVOOHhyphenhypheniXOY2tNluIrj79Go8jZ0R2ixywxSasvrC6FCXJ2e1fQeZxgFS5wtm726sWOOsPg/s640/IMG_5108.JPG" border="0" /></div><div align="center">I call this <em>"Moon Over Hasty Brook"</em></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462025987236181954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj9p9pnMYFN2Z91CGIJkuTXVXotq0dS-77QTvO0obkwITCnSozu0wbYKN6MCDJkTy79a822978431jIudOY2m3eZ9FEyWSSR-1Ioz9lo-5Hl1rQtdiEa9SH0Qoy9o9ljYDJIxyrg/s640/IMG_5134.JPG" border="0" />A couple of weeks ago I saw that <a href="http://www.birdchick.com/wp/">Birdchick</a> was going to be at <a href="http://www.minneapolisparks.org/default.asp?PageID=4&parkid=419">North Mississippi River Regional Park</a> scoping out the heron rookery. I hadn't seen Sharon in a while and had the morning free so I headed over. It was a cloudy chilly morning so my photos are pretty poor but it was great to see Sharon. She looked pretty darn adorable in her ranger duds too. </p><p align="center">Last evening was the Woodcocks and Whiskey edition of Birds and Beers out at <a href="http://www.co.dakota.mn.us/LeisureRecreation/CountyParks/Locations/LebanonHills/VisitorCenter.htm">Lebanon Hills Regional Park </a> I picked up <a href="http://hellziggy.livejournal.com/">Hellziggy, aka "The Other Sharon"</a> on the way and took off to see woodcocks. It was a pretty good sized group but I think everyone go a terrific look at a woodcock. Thanks Birdchick for organizing another fun evening.</p><p align="center"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462023663709902354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsHoWvCwmaXngR9aBuUmzmIsbmjtz4_eQrEzYaBbScPAkEeIAjnaCDuTOmDi0YQ-tDUmT7uJwD6hZg9iAOPBKPhVMiwQHEiTl0IBrotgbEuHC6HaJLTADwjrAXVCbTHLQmnRsUvw/s640/IMG_5333.JPG" border="0" />Yesterday afternoon a work friend (Hi Jayne!) took me out to her friends' house to see this Great Horned Owlet at a park across the street. <br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462023662466913426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD07KwVraDa2KuSfRZHcvISUniOuNb9dm4c7WvuZKi_VbRxvNOBdpeDddMREYp3cALtT3pybCAPucttTzynBwvkGbOgOO1Qjz1nqQOebyw0-R_81Dtp9aAx9aLupm83Eqc4-SCWA/s640/IMG_5199.JPG" border="0" />Just look at this face!</p><p align="center">Even though we plan to be spending all of our free time and money working up at Hasty this summer, I did manage to save a few dollars for one festival:</p><p align="center"><a href="http://www.birdingdrives.com/POTHOLESPRAIRIES.html">Potholes and Prairies</a> in Carrington, North Dakota, June 9-13. I'm so very excited that <a href="http://katdocsworld.blogspot.com/">Katdoc</a> is coming too. She'll fly in to Minneapolis and then we'll drive out together. I've wanted to attend this festial for a few years and I'm thrilled to be going this summer. I'll post more about the festival soon.</p><p align="center">Thanks for your patience and for the nudges to getting blogging again too. </p>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-26291781551702555162010-02-16T08:39:00.007-06:002010-02-16T16:10:25.527-06:00Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Festival<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEtjESaWiraGu_OreNh1m1TEUsCoN8ppBeJujTj9vPrvHir3eRD8-Kj-r3-FUOO9wEkg0oLWbtoi5uUwLtm4JdRALrVCbHxsSpfdRpnCXI3HJjtwQCYBijnF5y5Mkirkp4adKKQ/s1600-h/2010_02_15_014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852648346833634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHEtjESaWiraGu_OreNh1m1TEUsCoN8ppBeJujTj9vPrvHir3eRD8-Kj-r3-FUOO9wEkg0oLWbtoi5uUwLtm4JdRALrVCbHxsSpfdRpnCXI3HJjtwQCYBijnF5y5Mkirkp4adKKQ/s640/2010_02_15_014.jpg" border="0" /></a> Last weekend was the Third Annual <a href="http://moumn.org/sax-zim/">Sax-Zim Bog Winter Birding Festival </a>in Meadowlands, Minnesota. Ruthie the <a href="http://rjknits.blogspot.com/">Nature Knitter </a>and I had been looking forward to it for a long time. Meadowlands is a small town with a big welcoming heart for birders from all over looking for the special northern birds that winter in the unique bog habitat surrounding the area. It was Ruthie's second time at the festival and my third. We came prepared with a copy of WildBird magazine to pose with in the woods. </div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T3bzijOzqu6JBS-jOEBg3Gj2iRXlMIG0AQV57fRCSbwZCXG4IjmdaliwTphzcfxouLth-aM4B4ZzTuG8KswxDdWavaG-vc2UtHeIznxXXoDw0rDJpjThRJ0WVQDvmze3O4sFeA/s1600-h/IMG_4720.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852641708207586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_T3bzijOzqu6JBS-jOEBg3Gj2iRXlMIG0AQV57fRCSbwZCXG4IjmdaliwTphzcfxouLth-aM4B4ZzTuG8KswxDdWavaG-vc2UtHeIznxXXoDw0rDJpjThRJ0WVQDvmze3O4sFeA/s640/IMG_4720.jpg" border="0" /></a>On our way "up north" (as we Minnesotans call it) we had to make a stop at Hasty Brook. I wanted to fill my feeders and especially wanted Ruthie to see the progress we'd made since her last visit two years ago. Good Neighbor Mark had kindly plowed the driveway and yard area so we were able to drive right in. As soon as we stopped the car we could hear the birds. We heard an unfamiliar song, one neither of us had heard before. There were the regulars, Black-capped Chickadees, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskins and just a handful of Common Redpolls. We heard the new song a few more times and then glanced up to see three Snow Buntings circling over our heads. I had never seen Snow Buntings on our property before and we were surprised to see them in such a wooded area. To watch them in flight circling just over our heads was joyous. Bright, pure white with black wing-tips against the blue sky- it was fabulous! I expected them to fly off but amazingly they landed high up in a maple. We got good long looks of them until they circled the clearing a few more times and then landed at the top of birch snag about ten feet away.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UGziyXztEul_VF3zRIx5tpsokJ5KG-srrDGaPfWJ4Imhr7zM6kpD8a022o9U290jCb4YWMg8Xbv2E4EpFTr0PJ-B30SoSiazRjiCOEttmATuqbOfKaL2pSLKPMRWCu31gA1Ufg/s1600-h/IMG_4728.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852639382746802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2UGziyXztEul_VF3zRIx5tpsokJ5KG-srrDGaPfWJ4Imhr7zM6kpD8a022o9U290jCb4YWMg8Xbv2E4EpFTr0PJ-B30SoSiazRjiCOEttmATuqbOfKaL2pSLKPMRWCu31gA1Ufg/s640/IMG_4728.jpg" border="0" /></a> I took photo after photo knowing I would probably never have this kind of opportunity again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7plKPmTSGwuOBSIhXJGjLGMHiuv_8jk_ecyzrnxfr2yv7wM4k1OX8dYSARLbU4dlrcig8q5v3b8zTS9xYFcQjcvHQ1fX7J4w5iXhZf3NEZjorKj5EiXQ03Ta5TKvh71RcFANLA/s1600-h/IMG_4738.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852631858608818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7plKPmTSGwuOBSIhXJGjLGMHiuv_8jk_ecyzrnxfr2yv7wM4k1OX8dYSARLbU4dlrcig8q5v3b8zTS9xYFcQjcvHQ1fX7J4w5iXhZf3NEZjorKj5EiXQ03Ta5TKvh71RcFANLA/s640/IMG_4738.jpg" border="0" /></a> The third Snow Bunting peeked its head out for just one photo.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcW8bk3rsXrqo1aEsCE4Q0tgZrqrUX3vDYKOFD_YJZc40l9qzMKhKXTmGcgFb74tKGnqkQq8FAi46onrHnTpSYWEKUQKxfPh581-6YQm4UzsKi3jCDiXQTEy9rEyL-jGugQoiA/s1600-h/IMG_4744.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852624854646434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HcW8bk3rsXrqo1aEsCE4Q0tgZrqrUX3vDYKOFD_YJZc40l9qzMKhKXTmGcgFb74tKGnqkQq8FAi46onrHnTpSYWEKUQKxfPh581-6YQm4UzsKi3jCDiXQTEy9rEyL-jGugQoiA/s640/IMG_4744.jpg" border="0" /></a>I felt they put on a show just for Ruthie and I and I knew it was going to be a special weekend.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPHmySDqrhAzCuTBT959IioQZaiPJUDVvJV2me56heGmXm80b9SArLhQ_DrUPu3hAvZJHA47gDeqbS_N6cMcVfePTJpVGnyX7Jkprmuy5wIs2C1TlTyLincgZ7lAfqqGnyMkibg/s1600-h/IMG_4787.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852228387813762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaPHmySDqrhAzCuTBT959IioQZaiPJUDVvJV2me56heGmXm80b9SArLhQ_DrUPu3hAvZJHA47gDeqbS_N6cMcVfePTJpVGnyX7Jkprmuy5wIs2C1TlTyLincgZ7lAfqqGnyMkibg/s640/IMG_4787.jpg" border="0" /></a> Our Saturday field trip took us to Duluth. We tried two different locations to spot a Snowy Owl but had no luck. I was really hoping for Bohemian Waxwings but unfortunately no luck with them either. The winds had blown the ice further into the harbor which made the waterbirds move farther north. Driving up toward Two Harbors we did get good looks at some Common Goldeneyes. We stopped for a tail-gate lunch at the Lester River park. It was a particularly lovely February day- low winds and temps reached thirty. We got some good looks at White-winged Crossbills while we ate. <a href="http://colderbythelakebirding.blogspot.com/">Mike Hendickson </a>our trip leader for the day got a call about a Rough-legged Hawk near the harbor. It was being hassled by crows and finally gave up and sailed away.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx7iG9GhW5KZ_YPe5S8KjWzVVf5z8L99etw3E6iEqRG-T_PVxF3KSCnT1urf8HQz2Pbh_A7e0xPt8CM8KNKMn0VWzA8Ie4fLynUa1VJJsdAlcV5IJ0bXUQPLgMDnmiVdjCwQ9nQ/s1600-h/IMG_4757.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852226598166690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirx7iG9GhW5KZ_YPe5S8KjWzVVf5z8L99etw3E6iEqRG-T_PVxF3KSCnT1urf8HQz2Pbh_A7e0xPt8CM8KNKMn0VWzA8Ie4fLynUa1VJJsdAlcV5IJ0bXUQPLgMDnmiVdjCwQ9nQ/s640/IMG_4757.jpg" border="0" /></a> We saw several Northern Shrikes over the weekend. This one actually put on a hunting show for us. </div><div>We spent the afternoon at the Superior landfill (on the Wisconsin side) looking at gulls. Peder Svingen, another Duluth area birder and a friend of Mike's was all ready there scouting the birds. I'll say it out loud: gulls are not my thing. They are lovely to watch in flight. I can appreciate that. I just don't have a good eye for identifying them. It's overwhelming. There is so much variation in appearance as they mature. I don't think I can learn it so I don't try. Enough excuses? We watched as flocks of them circled over our heads. With Mike's encouragement and Peder's help I was able to single out a Glaucous Gull. All white, no color on the wing tips. Larger than the rest. Wings wider where they meet the body. Got it. In the next flock that rose up from the hill I was able to spot the Glaucous myself. (eventually...) Next Peder spotted an Iceland Gull. Boy, that one was harder for me to pick out, but I did. Twice! Lifer! Maybe there's hope for me. I'm trying to talk Mike into doing a gull workshop up in Duluth. If he does, I'll be there. After our full day of birding we headed back to Meadowlands to get on the bus for the evening owl prowl looking for Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls in the bog. There weren't any Great Gray Owls seen all weekend. I felt bad for the birders that needed this beautiful owl for their life lists but in birding, that's the way it goes. I believe everyone at the festival got to see Northern Hawk Owls. We saw one on the owl prowl but it was waaaaaay cross a field and my photo looks like a dot.</div><div>Back at the Meadowlands Community Center for a wonderful dinner of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pasty">pasties</a>, our evening speaker was humorist/birder and Hartland, Minnesota native <a href="http://www.albatt.net/AboutMe/index.cfm">Al Batt</a>. I've been lucky to hear Al speak twice before. He has a gentle sense of humor and is honestly the best story teller I've ever heard. A fine human being. </div><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438852237146502962" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEgnJ3p4yJCyiOnRSgB-ywQ5EOgpXMk8pwp8vKzaNJChZZ6qcc-xmVBE02TAgeP_kQzj46vJeuhQegGqM2NO81i9yt_SYxnK0sZOiOMm_JgOGoy3YPjJrSLIi22gHF2WQRn-HFQ/s640/IMG_4805.jpg" border="0" /></div><div></div><div>The alarm rang at 430AM on Sunday morning. I had a momentary thought:</div><div>Why do we do this birding thing??</div><div>The question receded as thoughts of the coming day- the people, the birds, the experiences and the laughter got me shuffling off the the shower and then to the layers upon layers of every imaginable thermal garment I could find. It was going to be a cold one with sharp winds from the north. I checked to be sure I had the 24-count pack of hand warmers in my bag.</div><div>Ruthie and I were thrilled to find that Al and Judd Brink, another great birder and very nice guy, were our trip leaders in the bog on Sunday. Off we go!<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5-0XVvUJ9H0TSx82QX-O76yX-oldgTU4X9ed8qcDkGLobYgMsJKE922eXWRbopO47FJUK8o0DnWzn5yBR6aUpcUksYJthihkF0quJHxRXR9J7EUWnrhkQEHWK_GWkZZeyY8hBw/s1600-h/IMG_4825.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438851977873324818" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL5-0XVvUJ9H0TSx82QX-O76yX-oldgTU4X9ed8qcDkGLobYgMsJKE922eXWRbopO47FJUK8o0DnWzn5yBR6aUpcUksYJthihkF0quJHxRXR9J7EUWnrhkQEHWK_GWkZZeyY8hBw/s640/IMG_4825.jpg" border="0" /></a> Gray Jays are one of my favorite birds. I got my lifer Gray Jay last year at this festival. They are total personality with feathers. Someone had put out dry dog food at one of the feeding stations and the Gray Jays loved it. These birds are fearless of people and have actually been known to follow campers looking for handouts.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpI9iZBNs7-Mj_ZNKFBA7gL0YCwTXNGSPSi0T60a0kfVi-VnA_lFkXDhS05QVezzdXnDuKLsSTt4mM56sPhKMC5NChChbWNr-sOqYYNS7P7yrNyTyQLnLlhvKivkhLWJY_emK5w/s1600-h/IMG_4828.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438851969742433442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLpI9iZBNs7-Mj_ZNKFBA7gL0YCwTXNGSPSi0T60a0kfVi-VnA_lFkXDhS05QVezzdXnDuKLsSTt4mM56sPhKMC5NChChbWNr-sOqYYNS7P7yrNyTyQLnLlhvKivkhLWJY_emK5w/s640/IMG_4828.jpg" border="0" /></a> A photographer watching at this feeding station had placed peanuts on the branches of this tree. Look at how this bird is prying the bark up looking for a nut. Unfortunately, our group wasn't able to find any Boreal Chickadees. I got my lifer here last year. </div><div></div><div>Here is a trip list (incomplete) for the weekend:</div><div>Snow Bunting</div><div>Red-breasted Nuthatch</div><div>White-breasted Nuthatch</div><div>Black-capped Chickadee</div><div>Purple Finch</div><div>Goldfinch</div><div>Common Redpoll</div><div>Pine Siskin</div><div>Bald Eagle </div><div>Common Raven </div><div>Ruffed Grouse (many)</div><div>Rough-legged Hawk</div><div>Northern Shrike</div><div>Common Goldeneye</div><div>Common Merganser </div><div>White-winged Crossbill</div><div>Northern Hawk Owl </div><div>Pine Grosbeak </div><div>Glaucous Gull</div><div>Iceland Gull - <span style="color:#ff0000;">LIFER!</span></div><div>Downy Woodpecker</div><div>Hairy Woodpecker</div><div>Pileated Woodpecker</div><div>American Robin</div><div></div><div></div><div>I got to add another blogger to my Blogger Life List!</div><div>Dee from the <a href="http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1484">Crane Lake Nature Blog </a>was at the festival. I've been reading her blog for quite a while and I was delighted to finally meet her. Be sure to check out this <a href="http://visitcranelake.com/blog/?p=1493">post </a>and read about her MOOSE sighting in the bog!</div><div></div><div>Thank you Ruthie for traveling up north to the bog with me again. </div><div>You are such a good friend.</div><div></div><div>Thank you Mike for all of you hard work in putting this festival together. </div><div>Your love for the Sax-Zim bog is a wonderful thing to see.</div><div></div><div>Thank you to the fine townspeople of Meadowlands. </div><div>Your warmth and hospitality made us all feel welcome.<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrua6l41CAbCgCx4uCvZZoxvfzHQr5Bk6ilQ5jjMIxL8nD9f8E2txPe6MsMvRBKf_gJAU5qioVgHN9dCyg2wx8185iNT81Psfm8J-JoYUUnPlrNLVEASTGKFeyutGsagOkDkkopw/s1600-h/IMG_9457.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438851682504590706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrua6l41CAbCgCx4uCvZZoxvfzHQr5Bk6ilQ5jjMIxL8nD9f8E2txPe6MsMvRBKf_gJAU5qioVgHN9dCyg2wx8185iNT81Psfm8J-JoYUUnPlrNLVEASTGKFeyutGsagOkDkkopw/s640/IMG_9457.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Northern Hawk Owl</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Taken last year 2/14/2009 in the Sax-Zim Bog.</span></em><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KWiVWLP3ifrxs6jhq15cH7WR8IT8Pc5QgeEq7DVg383dvQnI0Av7rQ2qDupU884vWseYlZq1CYXp6HUvwkA5aArieTjaO2e6WHWEpi0HkgSS_LVONgG_B4u4LUbfLAYwa9PaJQ/s1600-h/Owl+Trip+January+29,+2005+009.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438851675131842370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KWiVWLP3ifrxs6jhq15cH7WR8IT8Pc5QgeEq7DVg383dvQnI0Av7rQ2qDupU884vWseYlZq1CYXp6HUvwkA5aArieTjaO2e6WHWEpi0HkgSS_LVONgG_B4u4LUbfLAYwa9PaJQ/s640/Owl+Trip+January+29,+2005+009.jpg" border="0" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Great Gray Owl</span></em></div><div><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Taken during the irruption year 1/29/2005<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></em><div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-91696575484510458392010-02-01T10:03:00.002-06:002010-02-01T10:06:20.889-06:00Crabby Chickadee<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tb1ipb_pCKdYEibOqK4hchzMUkk3TsihyphenhyphenGhDKd3O1yYTFBlM5nmAJSftb-_Qnw9gyoAH5pKQoUPrB6vrPu0aeaUYRxkiGgf7ivySOu_lot2I1lW3S8cwZ5CNQ_IChNdP6SurUQ/s1600-h/IMG_4637.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1tb1ipb_pCKdYEibOqK4hchzMUkk3TsihyphenhyphenGhDKd3O1yYTFBlM5nmAJSftb-_Qnw9gyoAH5pKQoUPrB6vrPu0aeaUYRxkiGgf7ivySOu_lot2I1lW3S8cwZ5CNQ_IChNdP6SurUQ/s640/IMG_4637.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center">Check out the eyebrows on this Black-capped Chickadee!</div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-45694636815246610092010-01-31T21:28:00.002-06:002010-01-31T21:43:50.864-06:00I Love Redpolls<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEisu-ysrsU1G0xLOLPtxnNrJEsX5kbm0T9NVw86T7SuTkUkXpNPd-znf7HhNSOcpk3SEUM5R63-cw4XViiZDTchtB-Tp70lCj_DCBycOG0k_79ZirlbSOY7G1w15j_GiQkHP-qg/s1600-h/IMG_4623.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEisu-ysrsU1G0xLOLPtxnNrJEsX5kbm0T9NVw86T7SuTkUkXpNPd-znf7HhNSOcpk3SEUM5R63-cw4XViiZDTchtB-Tp70lCj_DCBycOG0k_79ZirlbSOY7G1w15j_GiQkHP-qg/s640/IMG_4623.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center">We spent another day at Hasty Brook on Saturday. The temperature was still only 11 below when we got there. The birds were going crazy at the feeders and the four full thistle socks I had left a week before were empty. While Art went into the building to get the heaters going I started to fill the feeders. There was a good sized flock of Common <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Redpolls</span> on the ground. When I approached they flew up into the trees but as soon as I opened the thistle bag they dropped back down and 4-5 of them landed on my head! Chickadees have landed on me before but these little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Redpolls</span> are usually more skittish so these little fluttering birds caught me by surprise. It was brutally cold so I finished filling and scattered plenty of thistle and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">oilers</span> on the ground and headed indoors. </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center">The photo above was taken upstairs through the patio doors. I sprinkled seed on the balcony railing and within minutes the birds came. This pretty little <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Redpoll</span> was all of five feet away from me. Come on up and sip coffee with me and watch the birds. </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-56702655593232642082010-01-22T19:27:00.005-06:002010-01-22T20:48:51.718-06:00January Rocks in Minnesota<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCctyXNT0Ndw-8QS2Z1By-4br3uLYoTzAjK65WGxGZIR2-pP5Hiu77yQJArGqNF6NndSA_vk7horvC64XU1uasWyo9mddH1Pay7voGAMoOerxrYOPHPCuhdPm_TPJZwe6civJI2Q/s1600-h/IMG_4223-2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429742595665200370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCctyXNT0Ndw-8QS2Z1By-4br3uLYoTzAjK65WGxGZIR2-pP5Hiu77yQJArGqNF6NndSA_vk7horvC64XU1uasWyo9mddH1Pay7voGAMoOerxrYOPHPCuhdPm_TPJZwe6civJI2Q/s640/IMG_4223-2.JPG" border="0" /></a> I'm not a New Year's resolution gal but I am going to try to change a few things. One of those changes to to get out and DO more. Another forward change is that we're going to get up to Hasty Brook more. We've got this wonderful building but it has no inside finished. We have LOTS of work to do to get the upstairs comfy and livable. Our Good Neighbor has been kind enough to keep our long driveway plowed so every other weekend, regardless of the temperature, we've gone to Hasty. Last Saturday we got up there in mid-morning. The first bird (other than the bazillion Chickadees) that I saw was a Northern Shrike. Shrikes are easy enough to find in northern Minnesota but this one was the first here- Yard Bird! This Shrike was not bothered by our presence and stayed in the area all day. It would fly between the other side of the creek and a birch snag over the feeders. I guess there were plenty of little snacks for the Shrike!</div><div align="center"> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741190304037058" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaLCBwi2-pHjld5LZZlc5UwjzWdg-QeSmca0VongpuXfP8vv70MG9SGzusekhCvnZcqPQEINqDnCY3Drdxao54G_j0kWlfSFYb7M_Wcj0K_2dRkX1QP_0Z4FAawBgd2nwYl4Nlkg/s640/IMG_4230.JPG" border="0" />I love this photo even though the background makes my eyes wiggle.</div><div align="center"><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741199919388370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUBvQwZ9mPQXjMlcfBwnuQwds2X53PizX9UoVDLgqFiLDUFTULHjYhc890ItvG60ODCfKHCGDCkUBoRLWZRoXq4Gpn5ABpZTabyounhrfxwdL0EXZhGxdcPnI37Uox4-VAXleqyw/s640/IMG_4421.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div>My next new yard bird was this Bald Eagle. I see Eagles most every trip to Hasty but this was the first one that was "parked" there.<br /><br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IDtu9_PYzsr3LUMLG_pQxmR5jlUPTzCuXkeDb4fqX7AVzTFVRPNZSif-lmltnxYLiVSgGDWymWkf1zC9D43c68J7lF-bI0MTcmlQW5fJAtJFcYQYFBDdXB42HRfdnrpq9eksjA/s1600-h/IMG_4281.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741662588938690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0IDtu9_PYzsr3LUMLG_pQxmR5jlUPTzCuXkeDb4fqX7AVzTFVRPNZSif-lmltnxYLiVSgGDWymWkf1zC9D43c68J7lF-bI0MTcmlQW5fJAtJFcYQYFBDdXB42HRfdnrpq9eksjA/s640/IMG_4281.JPG" border="0" /></a> Last Tuesday evening Good Neighbor Mark called to tell me that they had a Varied Thrush coming to their feeders. I made a quick plan to drive up on Thursday. Wednesday morning when I heard the crummy freezing rain forecast for Thursday I knew I just had to drop my plans and get up there right away. When I got up there Renee was home and graciously invited me in! I spent the next two hours warm and comfy, sipping coffee with Renee, watching the Varied Thrush and waiting for the bird to drop down into the sun so I could get a good photo. </div><div>Lifer! And such a pretty bird. Thank you Renee and Mark.</div><div><br /> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741669513558178" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8t9AsXYRdoaq2jtNxTkcc-bkdiDkIvATMzNYAXCCszKx4Fbcf_9CPHFHONAglGJXx29NS7IxEQz8VHBjTrmDdqqyQUjr09mNLiUhyphenhyphen2XAP-mK9H9yMshuyvUEwBYGhSSHUA4DGqg/s640/IMG_4393.JPG" border="0" /> </div><div><em>This picture needs a caption.</em><br /><div><div><div><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741676916365890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiBv0Ib73VMldBcg7GqM3t4wmjOhSnG8WhS6UGDRt9HwCMZ9Ko5LkY9t26xLNTrDhP7oWyZFD8jMvNJmZFn9aWsNpQfO7yAzHSpiBPxaT26wQE39eBRyrbwQDVnkh9a0EBaFIqA/s640/IMG_4478.JPG" border="0" /> I had about a million things to do today but a quick check on Facebook led me to a black bear den web-cam at the <a href="http://www.bear.org/website/visit-us/lily-den-cam.html">North American Bear Center </a> in Ely, Minnesota. Lily the black bear mama was in labor and I was hooked. I watched her belly contract and listened to her huff. After a bit I heard the tiny squeak of the baby! I don't know which sound moved me more- the teeny tiny baby bear sounds or the soft huffs and grunts of mama. Finally I put the laptop down so I could get moving on my chores and errands. I glanced out the window to check the bird status in the back yard and something different caught my eye. It looked like dry leaves were spilling out of the Wood Duck box entrance. I kind of assumed that the army of gray squirrels had finally moved in but grabbed my binoculars anyway. </div><div>It was a Screech Owl!!</div><div>LIFER in my yard!</div><div>I grabbed the camera and fired off some shots.</div><div>(I have GOT to wash the windows.) </div><div>The photos were grainy at best.</div><div>I threw a quick post onto Facebook and called Art.</div><div>(I think he though I'd had a stroke or something...)</div><div>I called <a href="http://susankwilliams.blogspot.com/">Susan</a> and fluttered and babbled on about this amazing owl.</div><div>She understood me.</div><div> </div><div>I NEEDED a better picture.</div><div>So I quietly slid the window up a few inches-</div><div>and cut a big hole in the screen!!</div><div> </div><div>I've never heard a Screech Owl in this neighborhood before.</div><div>Maybe I'll try and call it in with my <a href="http://www.birdjam.com/">Birdjam </a> (Hi Jay!)</div><div> </div><div>So what do you think? Two lifers in January in Minnesota!</div><div>I think it's going to be a very good year.</div><div> </div><div> </div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429741687555140418" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SX579Ph4lRQAjBQVZ6YpQwTm2xU8bBRWV8InOabG8x6rYjGw_cDjyCe6YsrhIMSH4nj8yhOb7gQ_dJGXCtaQ3rLa888OA30zm2CHxJslVtWAxzWwqYpeApMQyC0Ji3blWnBa7Q/s640/IMG_4056.JPG" border="0" /><em>Sunset at a tamarack bog.</em> <div></div></div></div></div><br /></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-58381885032993714222010-01-06T13:30:00.002-06:002010-01-06T13:45:33.720-06:00Great Gray Owl Video<div align="center">Check out this amazing video of two Great Gray Owls in northern Minnesota. The video was taken by Sparky Stensaas yesterday evening in the Sax Zim Bog.</div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.vimeo.com/8568813" target="_blank">http://www.vimeo.com/8568813</a></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="center">It's another great year for owls in northern Minnesota.</div><div align="center">I am registered for my third trip to the <a href="http://moumn.org/sax-zim/">2010 Sax Zim Bog Festival of Birds</a>. <a href="http://rjknits.blogspot.com/">Ruthie</a> is joining me again this year. There is still room for all of the field trips so if you're tempted, check out the festival website. </div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-42152361670668660052010-01-01T06:38:00.001-06:002010-01-01T06:40:02.076-06:00Happy New Year<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3z_5JGfgmI1YqXMRGUVHvgwdzUvAxPDDkSkNSR-G_cQY1Fpqs0TOx7B2fNteFzsRmtfg3p-mik2r_17io4FgCwpge1bhcSwSyN1ZTiCwqUFFeiAeMrq2am7LO8lP9_1z5O4Gyw/s1600-h/IMG_4047.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3z_5JGfgmI1YqXMRGUVHvgwdzUvAxPDDkSkNSR-G_cQY1Fpqs0TOx7B2fNteFzsRmtfg3p-mik2r_17io4FgCwpge1bhcSwSyN1ZTiCwqUFFeiAeMrq2am7LO8lP9_1z5O4Gyw/s640/IMG_4047.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-71954419365078816682009-12-31T20:03:00.003-06:002010-01-01T06:01:57.120-06:00First Christmas Bird Count and a Lifer!<div align="center">I went on my first Christmas Bird Count on Monday. Deb my Minnesota birding/blogging friend from <a href="http://whitepines.blogspot.com/">Sand Creek Almanac</a> invited me to join her group in Pine County where she lives. Since the day would be starting very early, I drove up the afternoon before and stayed in a hotel so I could get to the meeting spot by 0700. Steve Weston and Jim Ryan, two very experienced Minnesota birders were the other two members of our group. I can't remember the counts but I believe we came up with 20 bird species. We spotted a flock of about 50 White-winged Crossbills eating cones in a tamarack bog. A single Snow Bunting right outside the car gave me the best look I've ever had of this beautiful bird. We saw many species that I expected we'd see: Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, Red and White-breasted Nuthatches, Goldfinches, Purple Finches, Black-capped Chickadees, Starlings and about a bazillion Blue Jays. Bald Eagles, crows and many Ravens were counted. One farm house on our route had three surprises. The first was a female Red-winged Blackbird, very common in summer but unusual in winter. The second was a male Cardinal. Cardinals aren't very common that far north in Minnesota. The third bird was a total surprise. Jim spotted a Towhee fly away from a platform feeder to a dogwood thicket. Both Steve and Deb were able to get looks at the female. I missed it! By field marks it was id'd as a female Eastern Towhee- VERY unusual here in winter. I wasn't able to get my binoculars on her. I was disappointed but I asked Deb to write down the directions back to the farm and I made plans to return the next day. It was a fun day of birding but I knew I wouldn't want to drive two and a half hours back home after a long day so I went back to the hotel. Actually I really wanted to watch the Vikings play Chicago on Monday Night Football! I was exhausted and falling asleep before half-time. I was just about to turn off the light (the Vikings were losing anyway) when an enormous bus-load of high school hockey players checked into the rooms on both sides AND across the hall from mine! It sounded like stampeding elephants and slamming doors untilpast midnight! Grrr...</div><div align="center">Tuesday morning I checked out and headed up to Hasty Brook about 25 miles away. I planned to fill the feeders and have a look around. I was thrilled to see that our Good Neighbor Mark had plowed out our driveway! I quickly filled the feeders and hustled back the the warmth of the car- it was six below zero outside! I plugged the directions from Deb into my Garmin and headed back to the Towhee farm to see if I could get a look. It was COLD waiting for that bird with the window open and the car turned off. I spent and hour and a quarter sipping coffee and trying to keep my toes and fingers from going numb when finally the Towhee popped up in the brush! I got my binoculars on her to get a good look and then started firing off pictures. I was so excited to see the Towhee. I've never seen one here in Minnesota. My lifer was last spring in West Virginia with the Flock. </div><div align="center">I headed home looking forward to seeing how the photos turned out. When I got them on my laptop I got out my Sibley to help me reinforce the field marks. The longer I looked the more I thought the bird looked like a Spotted Towhee and not an Eastern. I sent the pictures off to my birding mentor Hap in New Hope to see what he thought. Hap agreed! It was a Spotted Towhee!! LIFER!! I forwarded the photos to Steve, Deb and Jim and all agreed it was a Spotted Towhee- a Pine County record in Minnesota!! </div><div align="right"></div><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pe22H-Q4Kf8osjGKjRFadf9Rhi97VK2OcNcyF5YMpuZRn1pu5dN8gHHrwFhBebjkTSH6q4Wrcqyxn0_hQy8pc0B4eQpChNW2wwxHSMw8ZcB9rgdtIw8qJZ69IH9UsatH1MUydw/s1600-h/IMG_4092.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421586557742338658" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Pe22H-Q4Kf8osjGKjRFadf9Rhi97VK2OcNcyF5YMpuZRn1pu5dN8gHHrwFhBebjkTSH6q4Wrcqyxn0_hQy8pc0B4eQpChNW2wwxHSMw8ZcB9rgdtIw8qJZ69IH9UsatH1MUydw/s640/IMG_4092.JPG" border="0" /></a> My patience and frozen toes paid off!! My last lifer of 2009 was the Spotted Towhee. </div><div align="center">I wonder what 2010 will bring?</div><div align="center">I hope you all have good health and much happiness and peace in the New Year and</div><div align="center">I thank you all for your friendship and kindness here. yYu've all made this blogging adventure so much fun.<br /></div><div align="center"></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30166446.post-83233121902854782402009-12-25T08:05:00.002-06:002009-12-25T08:23:00.232-06:00My Christmas Prayer<div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvgLVDuE3LZGGZt-4jV3eXnXlL72IkD1A_Wqde0d7J0n2K8jULIlfPBwiJ33hMRaEPVH7XiWzqVwS7YO8WdLUJYV3RXaxK4-ec5SiO4TD5AmWSwGOUASjIlf2pB8CcBnXRjP0JA/s1600-h/IMG_9274.JPG"><img alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikvgLVDuE3LZGGZt-4jV3eXnXlL72IkD1A_Wqde0d7J0n2K8jULIlfPBwiJ33hMRaEPVH7XiWzqVwS7YO8WdLUJYV3RXaxK4-ec5SiO4TD5AmWSwGOUASjIlf2pB8CcBnXRjP0JA/s640/IMG_9274.JPG" border="0" /></a></div><div style="MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span style="font-size:130%;color:#cc0000;"><em><strong><span style="color:#990000;">Dona nobis pacem</span> </strong></em></span></div><div style="CLEAR: both; TEXT-ALIGN: center" align="center"><a href="http://picasa.google.com/blogger/" target="ext"><img style="BORDER-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; BORDER-TOP: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; BACKGROUND: 0% 50%; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; BORDER-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px; BORDER-BOTTOM: 0px; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial" alt="Posted by Picasa" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif" align="middle" border="0" /></a></div>Lynne at Hasty Brookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09187035706322695138noreply@blogger.com21