Today at the AHATS WOA, I had a bunch of firsts

Today at the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area, I saw my first indigo bunting at the site.  I also got my first photo on an indigo bunting anywhere. 



I have lots of osprey photos but this is the first photo with a northern pike.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Goats Beard

I caught the goat's beard open this morning at the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area.  The butterfly weed and black-eyed susans are about to bloom.  I also saw 5 common loons, a flycatcher of some sort, one female eastern bluebird, 6+ tree swallows (think most were recent fledglings), one northern flicker, a wood duck, a trumpeter swan and heard a gray catbird yapping away. 

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw an Osprey

This osprey flew over with a fish...missed that shot. It ate it in a dead tree and then flew over me on its way back to Turtle Lake.  It was moderately windy with cool storm clouds tonight. 

What else I saw:  6 turkey vultures, 3 loons, 1 eastern bluebird, song sparrow, 3 or 4 barn swallows about a half a dozen tree swallows, crows, red-winged blackbirds and one trumpeter swan. 

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Sumac...and Clouds

Saw the bluebird pair and some crows today along with the sumac. The sumac trees are really taking over. Oh and the lupine is blooming!



Here are some clouds:

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw a Song Sparrow

Today at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area, I Saw a Song Sparrow.  I also saw a pileated woodpecker, trumpeter swan, the bluebird pair, osprey with fish, turkey vulture, one loon, lots of red-winged blackbirds, geese and two blue-winged teal.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Barn Swallows

As far as swallows go, the tree swallows usually dominate at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area.  Occasionally, some barn swallows stop by as they did tonight.  This one rested on the wire for a few minutes and let me get pretty close.  Here's another shot of it all puffed out during preening. 

Two turkey vultures landed in one of the dead trees and I saw a green heron in a tree briefly.   A couple days ago two young bucks walked up on me.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Green Heron

Saw two green herons calling to each other at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area.  Also saw: 2 osprey, crows, two bluebirds bringing food to the nest can, barn swallows, tree swallows, downy/hairy woodpeckers, two swans, geese and ducks.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw the Bridge

Today at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area, I saw the bridge, a few birds and some interesting clouds.



Kind of a cruddy photo but I don't think I've posted many shots of a northern flicker at the WOA.



I also saw a squirrel...he/she probably won't last long with all the predators around that area. Saw one osprey. Doesn't look like they're nesting on the Marsden Lake pole, however.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw a Song Sparrow

Saw my first Song Sparrow of the year at the AHATS Wildlife Viewing Area.  I also heard a pheasant rooster and saw some robins and a cedar waxwing.

Yesterday at the AHATS WOA, I Saw a Sunset

Last night, I saw the sunset at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area. It had been awhile since my last visit. It was nearly 60F.

There is still some deep snow around but most of the bridge was clear.  I saw a number of birds:  black-capped chickadee, American crow, mallards, Canada geese, both a male and female northern harrier, heard a red-tailed hawk, some gulls (probably ring-billed), couple downy woodpeckers, heard a pileated and a great blue heron flew by.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Sunrise

AHATS WOA HDR Bridge_48476_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I trudged out to the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area this morning. It was about 3F with a 5-10mph wind. Cold. The snow was pretty deep and the hard-ish crust made it tricky to navigate on the snowshoes.

I heard a bunch of chickadees, saw one downy/hairy woodpecker and a half a dozen crows. No animal tracks within the observation area.

Here is an HDR of the sunrise.

Yesterday Near the AHATS WOA, I Saw One Less Squirrel

Hawk with Prey_48075.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The parking lot at the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area was cleared on Friday!

I didn't make it out with my snowshoes yet but I did notice I have one less squirrel in my backyard.

(I saw a bald eagle in a tree near the WOA on Saturday.)