Pour Rain Polka Party Birding!

Year 11,

When it was pouring rain at 6:30 am yesterday morning, what was the correct action for the morning? The obvious answer was to go birding! I decided I didn’t want to be house bound and therefore I drove well north of Two Harbors to cruise back roads. This was a great decision.

First, I was able to listen to the Fun Time Polka Party. Thus, as I drove north my car was filled with polka power music. This was a significant episode because the premier polka king of the Northland, Florian Chmielewski, whose granddaughter hosts this show had unfortunately died this past week. I can remember watching the Chmielewski Fun Time Hour with my parents years ago (news report of the passing of the former musician, state senator and dairy farmer … video link for email subscribers)

After enjoying music and interviews with an icon, I was surprised and dumbfounded when my birding was fantastic. It just shows, when migration is in full force it is ALWAYS a good decision to go birding!

Trumper Swans on Langley River

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Broad-Winged Hawk and its Prey … a Ruffed Grouse

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Ring-Billed Ducks on Stoney River Forest Road

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

And from a few days earlier … some Ruffed Grouse seen in the same area. During yesterday’s time with the victorious Broad-Winged Hawk, even though it was raining a grouse was drumming near by. I almost wonder if the hawk was hiding and waiting to see if someone would be attracted by the drumming. During courtship most birds are not very careful. Love is dangerous!

Owlets Fledged!

Year 11

Both Great Horned Owlets have fledged (flown away from the nest)! While I expected the older owlet to fledge, I was caught by surprise when the younger bird fledged the very next evening. Perhaps it did not like living in the nest alone?!

Make certain you see yesterday’s flight training post with lots of images and a video of the older owlet almost taking flight (hanging on for dear life).

Owlet #1: 31 Days Old – Fledged prior Night

Owlet #2: 31 Days Old – Will fledge early this same evening

Great Horned Owlet Flight Training

Year 11

The oldest owlet fledged (took its first flight) last night, but not before it put on a fantastic flight training demo for me yesterday! Make certain you watch both the full video, and the slow motion clip! Throughout today I tried to find where the owlet had flown, but it is not easy. Nobody puts up a sign which says “find the owlet here”. However, I kept watching one of the parent owls, and is glances told me where to look, but it took hours!

The younger owlet is still in the nest cavity, and to date this youngster has not shown much desire to branch, let along fly. Remember, the younger bird was most likely born 7+ days after the older owlet. Regardless, the older owlet made its successful first flights, and is unlikely to come back to the nest.

Great Horned Owlet Flight Training! (40 days old)

Movies (full video and slow motion clip)

  • Full Video (link for email subscribers)
  • Slo Mo Clip (link for email subscribers)

And many still images from yesterday … the Amity Great Horned Owlets

Climbing / Flapping up to the Runway

Test Flight #1

Test Flight #2