Spent the day in the bog yesterday, started out at -8 and raised slowly to +35 before we left. Highlights were the Northern Hawk Owl in the normal spot on 7, north of the sod farms, and 3 Black-backed Woodpeckers, two on Admiral Road and one on McDavitt. We found Boreal Chickadees at four locations, totaling six individuals, and I was able to film one near Melrude at a feeder. This spot also had another chickadee I filmed, a Black Capped Chickadee with a big white face like a White Breasted Nuthatch! The links are below, as well as posted to the MOU gallery. We had great fortune at the feeders on Blue Spruce Road, with two Hoaries in with the Redpolls, along with many Pine and Evening Grosbeaks. No Rough-Leggeds seen at all, seven shrikes seen, but all flew quickly a distantly away. No Great Grey Owls seen, but a huge snow angel on Owl Avenue seemed to show they may be around. WE followed moose tracks along Admiral for about two miles, and found where a grouse was taken, it looked like it may have been a Goshawk. Since it has been awhile since fresh snow, the tracks tell many stories right now! Wolf tracks are always fun, and it must be a good year for Snowshoe Hares, we didn't see any, but their tracks were ubiquitous.
White-faced Chickadee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkkBn-5thGU Boreal Chickadee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KZRUZ1krDo Mark Alt Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Project Resources Group Best Buy Co., Inc.
