Today at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area, I saw a sunset. I also saw a couple common loons, an eastern bluebird, a couple black-capped chickadees, only a couple Canada geese and lots of red-winged blackbirds.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw Clouds

Storms rolling into tonight at the Arden Hills Army Training Site Wildlife Observation Area.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I saw clouds.

Today at the AHATS Wildlife Viewing Area, I saw clouds. Not many birds yet. I did see two trumpeter swans flyby, but they didn't stop. The lake is still frozen. Saw four chickadees, two downy or hairy woodpeckers, one crow and a couple mallards.

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:

Previously near the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area, I Saw Fog

Dark and Foggy_46047_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I got up for sunrise on Sunday and saw some fog on my way to the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area. I decided to pull over and get some landscape shots before I got to the WVA. This black and white one is my favorite of that morning.

Today at the AHATS WOA, I Saw a Rainbow over Bridge

Rainbow over Bridge-47993.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I got up for sunrise today and was rewarded with a rainbow over the bridge at the AHATS Wildlife Observation Area.

Previously at the AHATS WOA, I Saw a Sunset

Sunset-4562.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another sunset from a while ago.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Clouds

Clouds_4240-.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

We had some severe thunderstorms this afternoon so I headed out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area when it was over.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Clouds

Clouds_46098-.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I saw a lot more than clouds today at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. After work, I stopped by with the 50mm lens and the D4 because the clouds were looking pretty cool. We had short burst of snow here and there.

Clouds make for great black and white images, in my opinion so I focused on that in my minds eye.

After a few minutes, I noticed fast movement on the ice between the cattails. Within a few seconds, I determined it was a coyote running hard. There was a second one either following or chasing it. They ran all the way across the lake, by "the tree" and onto the road. They didn't stop for nothing. A few minutes later, I saw another coyote follow the trail of the previous two through the cattails but it didn't cross the frozen lake. I'm kind of bummed I didn't have the big glass but it was still fun watching them.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw the Bridge and Clouds

Bridge and Clouds_44766_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Lots of great texture in the clouds yesterday.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw No Sign

No Sign_43728.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I found out today that the MN National Guard took the sign for the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area up to Camp Ripley to update it. Since the area hasn't really been the Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant for a long time, they are going to change it to the Arden Hills Army Training Site.

I suppose my blog name needs to be updated when the sign changes.

Yesterday Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Fiery Tree and Prairie

Fiery Tree and Prairie_42704.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

The land around the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area was covered in hoar frost yesterday.

Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Foggy Sunrise

Foggy Sunrise_42337_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is another shot of Lake Marsden covered in fog. The tracks in the foreground are from wild turkeys mostly. There might be some deer and coyote tracks mixed in there too.

Today Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Fog

Fog and Trees_3938.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

We had a low hanging fog around the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area this morning. Here are a few shots.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Leftovers

Leftovers_40496.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

There are very...very few rabbits near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area. In fact, I haven't seen a rabbit track in the snow anywhere near the area for quite some time. I suspect the rabbit that used to own this leg fed a thankful red-tailed hawk. I've seen hawks perching on this sign in the past.

I went out there tonight for the sunset.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw a Sun Halo

Halo_D7K_3761_.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

It was single digit Fahrenheit temps over the weekend with some well below zero wind chills when I shot this photo near the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area.

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 10-24mm DX lens.

Previously at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Square Frost

Square Frost D7K_5703, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

About a year ago at the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area I made this image of hoar frost. It was very cold that day.

I didn't make it out to the area yesterday because I was official media for the Red Bull Crashed Ice US Championships in Saint Paul. Here is a link to my other blog with a slide show of the first day of qualifying runs.

Previously Near the TCAAP WVA, I Saw the TCAAP WVA

TCAAP WVA_6127.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

Here is a sunrise shot of the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area from the other side of Lake Marsden. The sun just started lighting up the grass in the foreground before hitting the fog.

Today at the TCAAP WVA, I Saw Clouds

Cloud_0936.jpg, a photo by Mully410 * Images on Flickr.

I saw the clouds all day and couldn't wait to get out to the TCAAP Wildlife Viewing Area to shoot them.