I saw plenty of quiet and friendly people along the road, and at feeders, sharing bird sightings and stories. And then I happened upon this little guy–a Boreal Owl–my first (birders call this “A Lifer.” C.B. calls this “a kick-ass sighting!”). Folks stopped by, took pictures, quietly marveled at this little Owl, and then drove on. He was there at least two hours before I arrived, right by the road, in a dead tree, as if saying “Sure, see how beautiful I am. But be peaceful and quiet, so I can nap a little. Then make room for the next people who want to see me.” I wonder how long he’ll stay around, making himself available to birders & photographers and nature lovers?

I find it quietly fulfilling to be in the presence of a creature that is a bellwether for peaceful, clean places in which to live. The http://sax-zimbog.com/birding-festival/ was under way, and I understand from the birders I spoke with that seven different species of Owls were seen today–that’s about as many as are in Northern MN in February.

Many people signed up for the weekend, and I think maybe about five different school buses were taking groups around The Bog’s back roads to see Hoary Redpolls, Northern Shrikes, Boreal Chickadees, Evening and Pine Grosbeaks, and Magpies. It was a FINE day in northern Minnesota–calm, clear, bright, and crisp. Many folks added Lifers to their lists.

this morning i saw a bald eagle flying over our fields.

chickadees, nuthatches, eveining grossbeak, several different woodpeckers including the pileated woodpecker, red polls, a hawk flew thru today, a small one (not sure which one it is) magpies, eagles, bluejays, pine grossbeaks

a quote from a birder today was “this feeding station is a walk of discovery”