We went for a little hike around Wood Lake Nature Center yesterday afternoon, around 2:45. Approximately 1 minute after I moaned to my companions, "Man, wouldn't it be awesome to see an owl?" I looked up and spotted one! I'm pretty sure I'm magic.
This Great Horned Owl (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnutting/2416533546/) was perched pretty high up in a tree on the west side of the lake, about half way between the visitor center and the bridge that crosses the marsh. The tree was between the path and the lake. Other than this owl, the Ring-billed Gulls were plentiful, along with mallards and Canada Geese. We saw a lone Wood Duck, many Red-winged Blackbirds, and an unidentified, yet non-House, sparrow hopping around beneath one of the feeders at the visitor center. A pair of large hawks flew over at one point, briefly scattering the gulls. Earlier yesterday morning, while trying to get a photo of some kind of Thrush that has been hanging around the yard, I heard a loud racket coming from a pine tree in the yard next door -- a loud and frantic mewing of some sort. I couldn't tell if it was mammal or bird or what. Soon enough, a pair of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers flew out and landed on a neighboring tree (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mnutting/2416548636/)! So that was another wonderful surprise! It's amazing what we're able to see right here in the middle of the city. Molly Nutting Uptown, Minneapolis
