In this April 16th outing, Sparky only drives for 15 minutes and hikes for 10 minutes to reach a very cool duck and waterfowl photography spot in northern Minnesota’s Jay Cooke State Park. 

But he is shooting straight into the sun! How can he get good photos doing that?? Some cool creative bird photography results.

Highlights include a pair of courting Wood Ducks only 12 feet away(!), backlit Trumpeter Swans, a Pied-billed Grebe shaking water off its back nearby Belted Kingfisher, and a Blue Jay imitating a Broad-winged Hawk. A Muskrat floats by and Sparky spots a male Yellow-belled Sapsucker on the way out.

The best part? He makes it home for his 9am meeting!

April 4-5. 2025

In part 2 of my “Grouse to Goose” birding and bird photography trip in western Minnesota, I head south to the west central part of the state to find at least ONE Greater White-fronted Goose. But along the way, and despite the spring snow, I encounter multiple cool birds—Lapland Longspurs in near breeding plumage, dancing Sandhill Cranes, a “Gray Ghost,” and the World’s Largest Greater Prairie-Chicken!

Excited to finally get to one of Minnesota’s best birding sites, North Ottawa Impoundment in Grant County, my day is nearly ruined as I get mired in mud while pursuing a daytime-hunting Short-eared Owl.

But then a massive flock of Greater White-fronted Geese arises in the distance…3,000?, 5,000? Quite a sight, and success in my search!

Sparky heads to northwest Minnesota after an early April snowstorm. He has reserved a Sharp-tailed Grouse blind and is excited to photograph them dancing on top of the snow. But, alas, disappointment. The sounds of the courtship displays are amazing as usual, but he can’t really see them dance!

Sandhill Cranes and a bobbin of Robins in a ghost town save the day.

Daunted (is that a word?), Sparky sets a goal for the rest of the trip. See if he achieves it in Part 2.

April 3, 2025

A spring snowstorm blankets the Sax-Zim Bog in white. How did the migrant birds fare? Sparky finds some Hooded Mergansers, Fox Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds. Open water on the edges of Stone Lake are occupied by patient Canada Geese and Trumpeter Swans waiting for the ice to melt so they can claim the best territories.

He also shares why one bird’s name should be “Canadian” Tree Sparrow instead of its current name.

Finally we head over to Mary Lou’s to enjoy the cacophony of bird calls, gawk at the Battle Royale between feeding siskins, and witness the only bird with a green bill in the North Woods.