Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Ghost.

Happy Halloween from the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Northern Shrike

Northern Shrike DSC_7296, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

This is my first sighting and first photograph of a northern shrike. I was out at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing area despite the flat light and dim conditions.



I also saw a couple northern harriers. The male (bluish gray) dropped something (presumably prey) into the water so the female made a radical maneuver and snatched it up.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw at Least 4 Otters

At Least 4 Otters DSC_7008, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I got to see the otters again this evening at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I saw them at dawn today. This is the first time I saw them twice in the same day.

Not my best photo. Terrible technically. Poor gray light and cropped severely.

There are four river otters in this shot. I saw at least five today. They swam from one of the lake to the other and back again. It looked like they were feeding. They would breach not unlike whales. Very fun watching them.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Dark-eyed Junco

Dark-eyed Junco DSC_6906, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Sunrise at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area was chilly this morning. 30F. Here is another bird on barbed-wire I've added to my best of birds on barbed-wire collection.

I also saw five river otters. Unfortunately, they were in the shade so the shots are that great. I think you can still tell they are otters. Let me know.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Gold Water Tower

Gold Water Tower DSC_5697, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of the old water tower from the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Don't forget to like my Facebook page to view exclusive content and make comments.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Pretty Much Everything.

Nine Point DSC_5644, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

This nine point bucked walked up to me at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area tonight. He could hear the shutter clicks. Notice his ears locked onto my position. I was very still so he didn't appear to see me and I was down wind.

I also saw one of the river otters. For the first time I saw a downy woodpecker land on the barbed-wire...added that to my best of birds on barbed-wire slide show.

There are still some great fall colors out there.



This was my 5th shot of the night. This coopers (I think) hawk flew off just as I approached the bridge viewing platform.



And here is another one of the nine point buck.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Chickadee

Chickadee DSC_5171, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of my favorite bird, the black-capped chickadee.

Yesterday at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Vines, Berries and Wire

Vines Berries and Wire DSC_5387, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of the vines on the barbed-wire at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Sunset and Water Tower

Sunset and Water Tower DSC_5435, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It was mostly cloudy all day with some spotty rain showers. I really didn't feel like going out to the Wildlife Viewing Area but I did anyway. The clouds mostly parted near sunset. In fact, things really got colorful just after a woman left the area. She showed up for a couple quick snapshots with her fancy DSLR and left before it got really good. I noticed her flash going off so I assume she was in auto mode. Too bad for her. She really missed show.

The shot on the right was made a few minutes after official sunset. Gotta stick around after sunset!

I really like this shot of the vines on the barbed-wire.



And this one of some grass caught up in the barbed-wire:

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Chickadees and Juncos

Chickadee DSC_5158, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

This morning I went out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area for sunrise. Last week I saw a deer jump over the fence. Today, I saw a flock of black-capped chickadees and dark-eyed juncos. I love watching how they work an area for seeds. They slowing migrated in my direction so I stayed very still. This guy on the right noticed me once he/she got about 15 feet away.

The light was much better a few minutes later when I caught this dark-eyed junco on the barbed-wire. Except for the shadow across the top of its head, I think this is a pretty cool photo.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw great light

Bridge DSC_4990, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is a shot of the bridge (viewing platform) at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. The sign on the right details the introduction of the Trumpeter Swans to Lake Marsden back in the early 90s.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Burning Water Tower

Burning Water Tower DSC_4888, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Well, not actually a burning water tower... I'm glad I made it out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area tonight. The days are getting shorter and pretty soon I'll be spending all the daylight at work.

Not many birds within the WVA but I managed to get a couple shots of the only ones I saw.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Frozen Bridge

Frozen Bridge, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It was in the 40Fs today and should be under freezing tonight. Here is the bridge/viewing platform at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I made this photo with my new (at the time) Nikon D5000 the day after Christmas in 2009.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Water Tower

Fall Morning Water Tower DSC_4650, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here a fall shot of the old water tower from the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I made this photo on 10-16-2011.

Previouisly at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Fur Flying

Fur Flying DSC_4684, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of the buck I startled at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Note the white hair from the buck's belly.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Buck Leaping

Buck Leaping DSC_4667, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I made it out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area for sunrise this morning. For the first half hour, there wasn't much going on. I could heard eastern bluebirds, song sparrows and American robins but they didn't get close enough for a shot. I was getting ready to leave when this buck got up. What you can't see in these shots is that he had a bloody mouth.  I'm not sure why.  I heard his antlers hit the fence so perhaps he scratched his mouth against the sharp fence.  I examined all my shots and didn't see any wounds anywhere else on him. 

He ran back and forth along the fence a couple times and then jumped over the barbed wire fence. I estimate it's about a seven foot leap for this guy.




He left a little fur on the wire:

At the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area, I see Birds on Barbed-wire

The TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area is surrounded by a chain linked fence that is topped with barbed-wire. I've seen thousands of birds on the wires over the years and I always try to get a good sharp shot...with interesting light...and interesting background.

Here is a slideshow of my best and favorite shots of birds on the barbed-wire at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I intended to pick the highest quality photographs while also showcasing the diversity of birds that enjoy using the barbed-wire. You'll see a number of interesting birds in this slideshow including, but not limited to: Palm Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Eastern Phoebe, two kinds of Swallows, Eastern Bluebirds, Common Yellowthroat and a Turkey.

Don't forget to click the four arrow-y box like icon in the lower right of the slideshow frame to a full screen view.



Notable birds missing from this collection are: Osprey (I've never seen an osprey on any kind of wire.) Male red-winged blackbird (Can't believe I can't find a shot of that in my archives.) Water Fowl of any kind (Don't think they can hang onto wire with those webbed feet.) Raptors (Haven't see any sort of raptor on wire at the TCAAP WVA.) Blue Jay (They don't land on the wire but do land in the trees.) Cardinal (Don't see many of these around the WVA but I hear them in the area.)

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Big Bluestem

Big Bluestem DSC_3592, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

This is Big Blue Stem also known as turkey's foot. It's a native grass that used to cover the plains. The stems in this shot don't exactly look blue but in certain light at some times of the year it looks very purple.

The sign says:
"Big Blue Stem

The bluestem family is found throughout most of the world. Big bluestem was once the dominant plant in the tallgrass prairies of the upper midwest. Ranging from 2-8 feet in height, big bluestem has ribbon like leaves that usually droop at the ends.  The clusters of green to purplish-bronze spikelets give it the nickname turkey foot. A good grazing plant, big blue stem also produces high quality hay."

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Harvest Moon

Moon and Wires DSC_4553, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Made this snap on Oct 11, 2011 as I was leaving the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Yesterday at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Geese in the Sunset

Geese DSC_4544, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of last night's sunset. I still hate geese.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw another Boring Sunset

Sunset DSC_4534, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Stopped by the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area before my Gallery96 meeting tonight. Not much going on at the WVA tonight. Here is a quick snap of the sunset. The sun keeps getting closer to the water tower. Some like the lens flare and some don't. What do you think?

Here is another shot from tonight. Can you find the warbler?

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Snow

la la la, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It rained tonight just as I was about to go out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. It's been a good month or more since we had rain so it's been very dry.

Here is a photo from February 2010. I think these are mouse tracks.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Sandhill Cranes

Two Sandhill Cranes DSC_5185, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

A pair of sandhill cranes nested within the Arden Hills Army Training Site this year. Here is a shot from May 2011 when they flew over the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. I didn't see whether they were successful or not with their nesting.

The reason I chose to mention the sandhills today is because I spent all day yesterday at Crex Meadows in Wisconsin. "The Crex" as it's known locally, is where thousands of sandhill cranes visit during their migration.

Here is a link to a set of my favorites from that day.



Click on the lower right hand button to watch in full screen.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Red-tailed Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk DSC_3083, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It was super windy at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Winds averaging 25-30 mph with much higher gusts. This red-tailed hawk briefly, just barely, landed on the dead tree.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Monarch Caterpillar

Monarch Caterpillar DSC_3415, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It's been a long time since this caterpillar turned into a butterfly.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Pink and the Sunrise

Pink and the Sunrise DSC_2387, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot from my sunrise expedition to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area last Saturday. It was 34F which created a nice fog rising from the lake.

Yesterday a received my big 13x30" metallic print of this shot. Wow. I love it. The framer has it now. Should get it back next week.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Bucks

5 Bucks DSC_4895, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

There are 5 big whitetail bucks in this shot. I saw them in July 2010. I haven't seen as many deer around the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area this year. About 60 deer were harvested in the property last winter but the populations is estimated to still be around 100.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Goose in the Fog

Incoming Goose DSC_2411, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

There was lots of noise between the geese and the swans in the early morning last Saturday. This goose flew right over me.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I saw a Blue Jay Searching for Pinenuts

Jay in Pine DSC_2781, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I watched this jay work on finding nuts in the pine trees at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. Here and here are two more shots.

I spend most of my time tonight watching at least 5 maybe 6 river otters frolicking in the water. Way too far for a decent shot.  Anyone want to loan me a 1000mm lens?

Some more damn geese flew by here and here.

This Morning at the TCAAP WVA, I saw Swans in the Mist

Swans in the Mist DSC_2434, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I got up early for another sunrise at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. It was about 34F with lots of fog rising from Lake Marsden. Here is one of the shots I got of the swans. I heard them well before I saw them emerge from the fog. I'll have some more shots from this morning either tonight or tomorrow...things to do today.