OUT AND ABOUT IN MINNESOTA

 The next day visiting Phil and Patrica, we took a roadtrip.  On our way out, we toured Boutwells Landing, the senior community where they live.  I took pictures of their apartment deck, full of beautiful flowers and birds.  I fell in love with the Peking lilac tree, which seemed to be everywhere.  Our first stop was Stillwater, where I captured the city skyline and the lift bridge over the St. Croix River.  We slid over the border into Prescott, Wisconsin, to Freedom Park and the sacred confluence, where the waters of the Mississippi and St. Croix rivers mix.  You can see the muddy Mississippi waters on top and the clear St. Croix on the bottom.  I also grabbed another shot of Phil and Patricia by an outdoor sculpture.  Our last stop was through Afton State Park.  Right away we saw a deer munching greenery by the roadside.  But the biggest surprise was seeing another osprey.  When I came to Minnesota to visit my friends, I hoped to photograph one of these beautiful birds.  How lucky I was to see three!   

LAKE ELMO PARK RESERVE

 

We did a lot of story telling on my trip last week to visit friends Phil and Patricia in Minnesota.  We also shared time outdoors hiking and taking pictures.  I’d hoped to see the osprey Phil had photographed in the winter at Lake Elmo Park Reserve, a 2000 acre park of hills, prairie, woods, birds, more hills, trails, and wildlife.  Near the end of our hike, we were rewarded with seeing two osprey on their nest.  It was my first time photographing these huge raptors and they were amazing to watch.  We wondered whether there were babies in the nest but couldn’t tell.  It was a memory I’ll cherish.

TRAVERSE CITY AFTER SUNSET

 

I just returned from a wonderful trip to Minnesota to visit my dear friends Phil and Patricia. I took thousands of pictures, some of which I'll share with you next week after I've had the chance to go through them. Meanwhile take a look at these nighttime photos. 

COLTS ARRIVE

 

About ten days ago I spotted two young Sandhill Crane colts with their parents.  It’s unusual for both chicks to survive so I felt pretty lucky.  I’ve been out photographing them every day through rain, in fields where only their heads showed, and then in the open a few times.  I’m guesstimating they are about 3-4 weeks old from their size, feather development, and inability to fly.  It’s always a delight to see these gawky-looking youngsters.

WEST BAY SUNSET

 The sky began to clear Friday evening and I headed out to catch the sunset.  I was late deciding this, so I went to Sunset Park for the first time.  Located between the Delamar Hotel and NMC’s Great Lakes Campus on Front Street, I had to navigate the road construction to get there.  The park was pretty with a large beach and grassy area.  Because we are near the solstice, when the sun is farthest north, I hoped for a sunset over open water.  But the northwest tilt of the land at the base of the bay made the sun set over southern Leelanau Peninsula instead.  And that was as good as it would get from Sunset Park.  Still, a pretty sunset with lots of folks enjoying it too.  

EAST BAY SUNRISE

 

One of the “perks” of waking up too early is being able to catch the sunrise.  So at 5:30, after already being up an hour, Gracie and I headed to East Bay Park.  I do love the peacefulness of the early morning.  No traffic, waves calmly lapping at the shoreline, lots of ducks and geese preening on the beach.  As the minutes ticked away, the sun brightened the sky and the streaky clouds made for an interesting dawn.  I could hardly believe it when multiple rooster crows broke the silence…in the city.  I can always nap later.

SPRING’S LUSH LEAFY SCENES