Springing to Life in Wabasha, MN 5 May 2013
American White Pelican
Snow crashed in again on May 2nd and May 3rd, dropping tree limbs and covering forests, hills, and fields in another cold, wet blanket. Finally, on the afternoon of May 4th, Spring pushed open the door and announced a firm commitment to stay. I was in Wabasha, Minnesota, and the morning of May 5th warmed and soothed with the songs of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and Baltimore Orioles distant to the ringing of Red-winged Blackbirds. Yellow-rumped Warblers, Palm Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets foraged on midge fly clouds that hung in the rapidly warming air. Green leaf buds popped open, and snow melted rapidly from south-facing slopes. As much as the snow had forced its way across the landscape, Spring now advanced rapidly in every sound, color, and form.
American White Pelican
Spring Ahead, Spring! How we anticipate the march of the migrant birds!
Double-crested Cormorant
Melting snow, reflected sunlight
Double-crested Cormorant flight
Lesser Scaup drakes and hens
Horned Grebe
Great Egret and Blue-winged Teal
Great Egret, detail
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
White-breasted Nuthatch, D.D. Kennedy Park, Polk County, WI
Bufflehead Sunset, end of the day, Polk County, WI
All images were made with a refurbished Canon 7D, and a Canon 300mm f4L IS lens, handheld. I used a Canon fluorite 1.4X converter on some images.
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