Sometimes a missed photo opportunity can turn out to be an interesting picture. This eagle flew just as I was about to take it's picture so I just cropped the photo.

Sax Zim Bog

Sax Zim Bog is one of Minnesota's premier birding areas. Located in St. Louis County, it consists of private, county and state land. Kim Dauer and I went there for the first time not knowing where to go but we still managed to see many birds not frequently seen around our local area.

Our first sighting was of an immature Red Tailed Hawk. We followed it from tree to tree and it did not really seem afraid of us.


We came across a deer carcass along the road side and finally figured out they are put there as bird feeding stations.

Pairs of Gray Jays would fly in, grab a bit of suet and fly off. They too did not seem afraid of us and gave us some great photo opportunities.


A small flock of Pine Grosbeaks were spotted high in the trees eating seeds.
Ice is beginning to form on the small ponds and edges of lakes.

Cedar Waxwings have arrived

I looked out my window today and noticed the midges have hatched out. At least I think that's what they are. Later in the day as the sun was getting low in the western sky, I noticed the Cedar Waxwings had arrived. They were busy flitting from the trees on the edge of the lake out over the ice that is still on the lake. I finally put 2 and 2 together and realized they were eating the midges. I grabbed my camera and walked out on the ice in time to get a few pics before the light got too bad. I caught this guy scratching himself.

(Click to enlarge)