Monday, November 9, 2015

Sunday Afternoon Birding

    I lead a Sunday afternoon birding group. I call it a field trip as I am interested in more than birds. Each afternoon is a surprise. There aren't many species around at this time of year. We also make too much noise as we're walking and the birds hear us and take off. However, it's always a fun afternoon. The hand fed chickadees were from one of the field trips.

    The area we walked through today should easily have 15 species. The problem is to find them. The surprise today was to find Pine grosbeaks. They are here for the winter and will share their charm with us.

   Another surprise today was to see many muskrats. The lake is called an oxbow as it's an old river channel.  It's about 150 m(165 y) wide and 800-900m(880-990 yd) long. The muskrats are very active as most of the lake is ice covered and they will now be busy building push ups which are breathing holes as well as food supplies.

   
Most of the lake is ice covered.


Those darn reflections showed up again. I'm going to have to check my camera!

Warmly dressed birders.

33 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. I usually don't see the reflections until I look at the pictures after. If I looked for a reflection photo I probably couldn't find one.

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  2. What a nice group of birders!!?so the weather is icy at your place?We have only storms and rainy storms again.The birds are all hiding in the trees.Love the lake shoots:))))

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    1. It was minus 12 C last night so this little lake will be completely frozen over.

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  3. I see you already have ice in the water, we are not that far yet, in fact we have high temperatures now 16 degrees C!

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    1. Last night it was minus 12 C so this little lake will be completely iced over.

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  4. Weather is looking challenging. Ours is on its way in the weeks to come. We are not down to the 50s. Not sure what reflections from the camera had you bummed.

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    1. I don't see the reflections until I look at the photo so it's always a big surprise.

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  5. Brrrrrrr I haven't even thought of cold weather clothing

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    1. It's coming. This week we have highs of 2 or 3. My Chicago daughter still has lots of stuff in her garden.

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  6. Gosh, it's almost cold enough to cover your lake! We haven't even had a proper frost yet, but I hear it's coming next week, just after I get home. :-)

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    1. Last night was minus 12 so the lake will be completely frozen over.

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  7. haha. :) lovely reflections. and ice-covered! that caught me off guard. yup, winter is upon you.

    like the new blog layout!

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  8. Wow Red your really adventures. I like the reflections. You should enter on Reflections on one of the gals sites she comments on yours.

    Today is cold here but your area looks much colder.

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  9. It certainly looks like late fall there!

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    1. We could have minus 20c and snow so this is a bonus.

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  10. Your pictures show winter is nigh. I'm surprised every time I see photos of my grandsons in Minnesota and they are wearing gloves, hats, and coats. I think I will have a shock when I get there for Christmas!

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  11. Even though you didn't see all the birds you expected, it still looks like a great excuse to be outside enjoying the brisk weather. :)

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    1. Going out in a group to find birds is pretty dumb. You have to be quiet and it's best to sit in one place and the birds will go by you.

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  12. I would enjoy a birding group. I would probably learn a lot more than I do now.

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    1. You learn every time you go out. It's fun.

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  13. I need to go on a picture taking day. I miss taking pictures especially of birds.

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  14. I enjoyed that. I like birds and I like reflections. And I'd say you enjoyed yourselves despite the scarcity of birds.

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    1. It was pleasant to be out and although I was surprised to see the reflections they are kind of nice.

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  15. A fun way to spend the day. Being outdoors is the best!

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  16. Hi, Red! It's nice to "see" you again! Wow, the lake is already nearly covered in ice? We have had a warm period and I am wishing for colder weather. I bet it is nice to get out in nature like that, even if you don't see many birds. Just seeing nature as she changes with the seasons is beautiful.

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  17. Brrr. winter comes fast in your neck of the woods.

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  18. Sounds like a good way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

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  19. A nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon and thanks for taking the camera along and sharing some of that with us.

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