Who are we? We are our stories.

Monday, May 14, 2018

May 14th - Morning Birds

There was also had a Scarlet Tanager in the white flowering crab. No photos, but it was a marvelous sight to behold. It was a cool morning, the light was off and on ... then it started to sprinkle. Because I am a confirmed wuss I came in to warm my hands around a heavy Buffalo China cup of hot coffee. I really like the last Swainson's covered with tiny water droplets. The Magnolia is technically okay too, though the pose is a little stiff. I tend to prefer photos where the bird looks as if it was interrupted on a mission and is a little embarrassed that it was caught. 

Northen Parula


Magnolia Warbler

Chestnut-sided Warbler


Yellow Warbler

Swainson's Thrush


There are other species working the tiny insects in the high oak catkins that will need to come down for a drink and bath later, and I am not satisfied with the Parula and Chestnut-sided pics. Maybe more photographs if the light gets better later in the day. Be well - Gunnar

Thursday, May 10, 2018

A Few Warbler Photos

The folks around Minneapolis have reported a Warbler "fallout" the past couple of days - when weather conditions force thousands of migrators down to rest and feed. We have not seen that this year, but here are some photos from the past few days. Actually, Lorna has done much better, with nice views of Magnolia Warblers and a killer photo of a Common Yellowthroat in the forsythia hedge.

Nothing terribly exciting here. First a couple of Ruby-crowned Kinglets, then some "regular" Warblers, and one wet Magnolia Warbler. 










 




A strange year, still hopeful though. - Gunnar

Friday, May 4, 2018

Directions

Fountain Lake is not a natural lake. It was created in 1855 by a dam at the Ruble Mill. Because of farm silt runoff over the years it has tended to fill in with a mud bottom. This summer The City is going to dredge the mud out of Fountain Lake (again) and soon they will be starting almost in front of 1410. I asked Tom Jones where the tailings from the dredging were going to be deposited. His response was very 'off-google'.  
"If you go out to the bath road and look to your right before you get to the good sam road you will see it."  It reminded me of how directions were given back in The Grove where I grew up.
"It is just past where that big oak tree used to be in front of the site where the Sorensons lived before the storm of '47 took all the buildings except the silo and that crazy brick outhouse. Ya know, you remember Einer Sorenson, he was Knute and Bertha Sorenson's oldest - the kid who rode out that storm in the outhouse. For years he drove that old gravel roadgrader the Township bought from Mower County in '39 -  the one with the chip out of the blade so it left a ridge. Ya gotta remember Einer, he sipped Schnapps all day and ya could tell what time of the day he graded the road by how straight that gravel ridge was  And don't get me started about his sister, Lena - the one who ran off with the gypsy violin player. Uff-da, she was a wild one, and a real dish, ya know."
Always good to know where you are in the world - Gunnar