October

 We see a few migratory birds in October...a few more Hawks than normal.  On Saturday we saw a bevy  of swans...they can be call a bevy, bank or herd.  In flight they are called a flight or a wedge. 

Sometime I just grab my camera and do not have the right lens...oh well the swans show up nicely anyway. 

Yesterday I washed the dining room window...I could not stand looking out it anymore.   Far Guy did some woodcarving.  I did some laundry and had a nap.  

Today I am seeing the eye Doctor yet again and getting the RSV vaccination.  Fun times. 

Far Side

S words

 Snow... we still have lots of it and more is on the way this week.  Something to look forward to.   Some of the forecasted snow totals are downright scary. 

Swans, Canada Geese and Sandhill Cranes all sharing a water hole in a corn field.  There is hardly any snow 10 miles west of our house.

Steri Strips suck and my hand still hurts.  It doesn't burn as much as it did...but I still have to be careful.  Far Guy is stuck doing the dishes...so I cooked last night...ribs, baked potato and corn.

I can crochet for short periods of time, I am watching Bridgerton and enjoying it!  Far Guy and I are watching Better Call Saul at night....it is different.

June.

Far Side

Trumpeter Swans: A Minnesota Success Story

Since Far Guy and I discovered Sven and Sophie up on Swan Pond we became curious how many other Swan pairs are in our area. On Saturday after I was done bitching about the snow, we went for a drive. Once the snow melted I was in a fairly good mood. We made a sixty mile circle and it took us all afternoon. We had a wonderful late lunch/early supper and returned home six hours later with my camera cards full. I may need larger cards. Back in the 1880's these Swans were hunted into extinction in Minnesota. For their meat and for their feathers for some ladies fancy hats. In the1930's, only 69 Swans remained in the lower 48 States. Those 69 Swans were all located in the Red Rocks Lake area of Montana. Through Conservation efforts and the Wildlife Nongame Wildlife Program these beautiful birds have been brought back to good numbers in Minnesota..exactly how many..in 2004 it was estimated at 2000. Success!!

In 1987, 21 Swans were released in our area. We have discovered five pairs in our travels. Some are in potholes far from "Nowhere" ..some are in ponds very near the road. None of the Swans that we have viewed have identification neckbands..so I surmise that these are all wild swans versus released swans.

A Swan mainly eats submerged plants like water celery. I have noticed that one Swan..usually the largest..has a real dirty head. Now this is only my theory ...but it makes sense to me. Take the case of Sven..he is hard to photograph because he always has his head underwater. I am positive that Sophie tells him " Sven, you need to get me food cause I need to lay eggs soon. I will keep watch and you will rip plants out of the muck ALL day long for me to eat." Remember this is only my theory.. :)

All photos taken with Canon PowerShot SX 110 IS