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    T.R. Michels'

Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures Natural History Eco-Tour & Travel Magazine 

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Tundra Swans, Canada Geese & Ducks, by T.R. Michels

Report your sightings to TRMichels@yahoo.com - or contact us if you are interested in a Birding Tour in Minnesota or western Wisconsin.

11/4/2009 I spotted several swans (about 20) while driving north on the Cedar Avenue bridge into Bloomington, MN. They were on the lake just south of the Minnesota River and east of the bridge. A late male Prothonotary Warbler was seen in Bloomington, Hennepin County, on the trail that runs west from the Old Cedar Avenue Bridge parking lot. It was seen near the middle of the second boardwalk. A Black-throated Green Warbler was seen along West River Parkway in Hennepin County.

10/23-10/30/2009 Snow Buntings have been sighted near the Twin cities Metro area of MN.

A possible Ferruginous Hawk was seen near the town of Wilmont in Nobles County. A Glaucous Gull was seen at Spring Lake Regional Park, Dakota County. A Great Black-backed Gull was seen at the far end of Park Point in Duluth. A Thayer's Gull was seen at Canal Park. A Long-tailed Duck was seen at the Park Point rowing club. Three White-winged Scoters were seen at 36th Street on the bay-side of Park Point. Seven White-winged Scoters and two Black Scoters were reported on the 23rd at Paradise Beach in Cook Count. Eight Long-tailed Ducks were seen near state highway 61 between mile markers 117 and 118. A Surf Scoter was seen on the 24th at the Silver Bay marina in Cook County, and another at Pickerel Lake in Freeborn County.

A Townsend's Solitaire was seen at the Ann Lake campground of the Sherburne NWR. A few PINE GROSBEAKS have been reported in northern Minnesota,

10/30/2009 There were still about 5000 Sandhill Cranes, and 30 Trumpeter Swans at Crex Meadows in Grantsburg, WI.

4/15/ 2009 It looks like the Great-Horned Owl nest in Lakeville, and the two Bald Eagle nests in Lakeville and Burnsville are doing well. Owlets were seen on the nest in Lakeville. Viewing and photography of these sites will be easy - within 75 yards. The warbler migration has just started, and should be good for the next 3-4 weeks. The Soras are back.

4/10/2009 I have for the past 3 weeks been watching about 200+ eagles spanning all ages. This is my 13th year following the eagles and I had 12 years with the same pair as they never left. But, for some reason they abandon there nest last year, during the nesting season. A lot of people found out where the nest was and I think where going out there and scarred them off. (Please stay well away from eagle nests, especially during the April nesting season.) This year I have been able to get some awesome shots of eagles hunting - they where young ones. It was hard to keep taking the pictures as I really just wanted to watch.

I also got a photo of a banded swan and I can read the number just fine.

Lori, Clinton, Big Stone County, MN

 3/20/09 My wife and spotted 10 different bald eagles along Black Dog Road or on Black Dog Lake, in Burnsville, MN. There were at least two all brown 1 year olds and one light-headed (with a dark stripe through the eye) 3 year old. I've only seen light-bellied 2 year olds here twice. (to see what these birds look like click here) There has been one productive nest there for years, but it appears as if two more are being built near the lake. Looks like we will have plenty of eagle viewing opportunities this year. There is also an active Peregrine nest on the highest tower of the Black Dog Energy plant, and there was a Cooper's Hawk nesting in the area in 2007.

T.R. Michels

2/14/09 Today my wife and I went to Harpers Ferry WVA to spend the day. We currently live in Mechanicsburg, PA and thought it would make it a good valentine's day to go to Harpers Ferry where we could see the potomac and shennadoah rivers come together. On our way out of town driving down the river my wife stated "oh my is that a bald eagle?" I said "wow I think it is" At this time the eagle went lower than what it was and it was clearly an adult bald eagle with a white tail and a white head (white as snow). I turned my car around to get another look and seem to have lost the bird. After turning my car around for the second time to head home it flew right in front of us and we got another clear look from the bridge. This mad out trip unforgetable and one of the great wildlife stories or out lives. Just wanted to share with you.

David Cohan

1/18/09 Bald Eagle sighting in Eagle Lake MN. This morning we were driving on Old 14 into Mankato, standing in a field about 20 yards from the road. It was large and had a old look to it. We were very excited to see it!

Jennifer Odom

12/26/08 My husband and I have had the rare privilege of observing a juvenile Bald Eagle within 25 feet of our front door. He flew from the yard and out over the water many times throughout the morning.He is still here and we are thrilled. We live in eastern North Carolina about 15 miles from the coast on the Neuse River.

Paul and Amy Salter

12/10/2008 At 12:30 PM My daughter notified me that there was a bald eagle perched high in a tree in the Rice Creek Wildlife Sanctuary behind our home in Fridley, MN. It appeared to be "having lunch". I have not noticed any bald eagles in our immediate area for several years (not that I actively pursue looking), but we do see Goldens once or twice a year. Of late, we have also spotted wild turkeys wandering the streets and yards of Fridley. Early in 2008, I also spotted a herd of 13 deer in the Rice Creek Wildlife Sanctuary behind my home. My earlier "record" had been 11. It is truly great to live in suburban Minneapolis and to have such an abundance of wildlife at our doorstep. Scott Secor (and daughter Myranda)

11/30/2008 At the MVNWR along Black Dog Road in Burnsville, MN, we spotted 5 juvenile and 2 adult Bald Eagles, 4-8 Trumpeter Swans, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 4-10 Common Loons and several Wild Turkeys.

10/8/2008: I spotted a bald eagle yesterday morning around 10:30 a.m while driving on Jacks Creek Road in Madison County. I didn't know we had them in KY, but I had a very good look at it - and am sure it was a bald eagle. I was driving past Clay Lane heading to Valley View Ferry at this time. I told my husband about the sighting and he said to contact you. Hope this helps you in some way?! - Gwen Teater

View our recent swan photos.

7/23/2008 While fishing on Nantachie Lake I heard a noise in the pine trees to my left. I was amazed to see a bald eagle about 50 yards flying out of the trees and into the woods. I had no idea they were still native to Louisiana . After a little research I learned that they were being reintroduced. That's wonderful news. This is the first time I have ever seen one. Nantachie Lake is a small manmade lake in Montgomery, Louisiana . I hope this is information you can use. Have a great day!!

4/13/2008 On April 11^th we observed at least 30 Tundra Swans on the Black River just south of the I-90 bridge in Mpls. Looking for the large flock I have heard is in the area. - Roberta

4/13/08 T.R. and Diane Michels spotted 1, 2 and 3 year old Bald Eagles, plus a pair of mature Bald Eagles at the MN Valley NWR along Balck Dof Toad in Burnsville, MN. Also 3 American White Pelicans, and the first Eastern Phoebe, Common Grackles, Great Egrets, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown-headed Cowbird pair and Pied-billed Grebe of the year. Also spotted over the weekend - a mink, a muskrat and a beaver, along with several Wild Turkeys and White-tailed Deer. Check these links for more information

3/29/2008 Heather Halberg states that she has seen a bald eagle behind Rebecca lake in Hastings, MN, just off of the Mississippi River. It has lived there quite some time, and they have spotted a large nest.

 3/28/2008 Lenard Riley reports seeing 5 Trumpeter Swans on the Mississippi River opening as it flows into Lake Bemidji at 7:45 PM. He also states that there have been several Bald Eagles Eagles on the ice of Lake Bemidji for the last few weeks

3/22/08 While touring the Minnesota Zoo in Apple Valley I noticed two swans with salmon colored wing tags. I had noticed birds with these same tags on the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, near the Black Dog Power Plant in Bloomington, MN throughout the winter. After talking to zoo personnel, I suspect they are probably some of the same birds, or birds that were previously banded at the zoo. T..R. Michels

On 1/28/08 there were 22 swans on the Mississippi River between Anoka and Champlin on the Ferry Street bridge. They aren't there until sometime in the afternoon. They were not there at 11 a.m. yesterday, both days they were sighted @ 4:30 pm.

On 1/28/08 there were 15 Trumpeter Swans near the canal of the sluice gate at the east end of the Black Dog Lake, in Burnsville, MN. They are becoming accustomed to humans, and I got within 30 yards for some good photos. One Northern Shrike was spotted near the power plant, and a 3 year old Bald Eagle along the road.

Tundra Swans, by T.R. Michels

November is the best time to see migrating Tundra Swans along the Mississippi River in southeast Minnesota. Mid-January through early March is also a great time to view wintering Trumpeter Swans and Bald and Golden Eagles, in east central Minnesota. We will be offering tours and photography trips most weekends in November for Tundra Swans, and from mid-January all the way into March for Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans and other wintering and vagrant birds such as Golden Eagles; Snowy, Great Gray, Northern Saw-Whet, Boreal, Barred and Short-eared Owls.

Tundra Swan

Between November of 2006 and March 2007 of we saw fewer bald eagles between Red Wing and Wabasha, Minnesota than in other years, due to a mild winter, which left lots of open water for the eagles to fish in other parts of the country. But, there were several sightings of golden eagles in the area, and they seem to be becoming more frequent in the winter in this area. There were also sightings of snowy owls and gyrfalcons in southeast Minnesota.

T.R. Michels Photo

As an aside, between November and mid-March, 2007, we saw more bald eagles regularly, at closer ranges, and got better photos in Minneapolis / St. Paul than we did in southeast Minnesota. We regularly saw 6-13 eagles per day, including a one year old and a 3 year old. And we often got decent photos of them. The above photos were taken with a Canon PowerShot S3 IS, which has a 430mm lens - so you can see that the birds were often within 50 yards of the vehicle.

From November through mid-March of 2007 we regularly saw 6-13 bald eagles and a variety of waterfowl in Minneapolis/St. Paul.

From November through March we saw up to 1,500 wintering Trumpeter Swans near Monticello, MN; at ranges as close as 30 yards. In Mid-March I photographed and videoed trumpeter swans flying, feeding and for the experience of a lifetime - saw mating displays and breeding behavior.

Unfortunately we missed the spring Tundra Swan migration, which normally occurs between late February and early March. However, between late October and mid-March there were up to 1,500 wintering Trumpeter Swans in the area,

We also saw Hooded Merganser and Mallard mating displays.

As of late March we have four different bald eagle nesting sites with birds nesting, two of these are within 300 yards of where we can get photos, and I expect by late April we will be able to photograph bald eagle nestlings and their parents feeding them.

Contact us if you want to join us on a bald eagle viewing or photography tour of these magnificent birds.

We've seen dozens of nesting trumpeter swans in several different locations of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. We will be viewing and photographing trumpeter swans all summer and fall. Contact us if you are interested in joining us on a swan viewing or photography tour.

 If you would like to join us e-mail us at TRMichels@yahoo.com. $30 per person; two person minimum.

View Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures North American Natural History Eco-Tour Schedule.

View a Schedule of the best times to see Minnesota / western Wisconsin Birds and Animals.

View Schedule of when to view the Wildflower Species of Minnesota / western Wisconsin.

View and listen to the Birds of North America.

View and listen to the Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

View the Mammals of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Go to Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures Natural History Eco-Tours & Travel Magazine.

T.R. Michels is a nationally recognized wildlife researcher and naturalist, who has spent several years roaming the woodlands, meadows and wetlands of west-central and southeastern Minnesota, and several state and national parks. He is an avid birdwatcher, wild flower enthusiast and outdoor photographer. In his efforts to better understand the big game animals of Minnesota he researched the daily and seasonal activities of white-tailed deer from 1994 to 2001, wild turkeys from 1997 to 2003, and North American elk from 2001 to 2004. View T.R. Michels Outdoor Photography.

T.R.'s passion for the outdoors, and his willingness to share their knowledge of the birds, animals, flowers and plants of North America; has made him one of the top naturalists and outdoor speakers in the country.

T.R.'s daughter Tawnya has been his assistant in all of his studies since 1996, with the result that she knows as much about the animals and birds as he does. Her bubbly personality makes her ideal as a tour guide. In addition Tawnya is an accomplished outdoor photographer. View Tawnya Michels Outdoor Photography.

Why not join T.R. and Tawnya Michels for a Natural History Eco-Tour your, your friends or your whole family will enjoy? 

View Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures North American Natural History Eco-Tour Schedule.

View a Schedule of the best times to see Minnesota / western Wisconsin Birds and Animals.

View Schedule of when to view the Wildflower Species of Minnesota / western Wisconsin.

View and listen to the Birds of North America.

View and listen to the Birds of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

View the Mammals of Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Go to Trinity Mountain Outdoor Adventures Natural History Eco-Tours & Travel Magazine. 

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