Recently, our sightings included...

Yesterday afternoon, after we had posted for the day, we enjoyed a brief (5 seconds) treat. We noticed a barred owl perched on a branch of the oak tree overhanging the deck. That explained the lack of activity at the feeders and a very infrequent absence of squirrels. As soon as s/he noticed us looking through the glass walkout doors, s/he swooped away into the woods North of the house. Might we get lucky enough to have a mating pair this Spring? We'll keep our fingers crossed.

barred owl perched North of house

Photo by J. Harrington

This Winter we've been seeing more pheasants than we recall seeing in prior years, Most of them have been along the roadside. Many have been roosters. Is this a sign of Minnesota's warmer Winter temperatures? Is pheasant range in the state moving Northward? Is this year an anomaly? The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources makes no mention of any of these possibilities.

pheasant rooster in Winter

Photo by J. Harrington

Probably the most unusual sighting we've had over the past few weeks was a muskrat along the side of the road, at least a quarter of a mile or so from the nearest water or wetland. We won't even speculate about why it was where it was when it was.

This afternoon we're watching a fairly typical mix of chickadees, goldfinches, woodpeckers, purple finches and a few nuthatches at the feeders. No sign of the barred owl. It's been weeks since we've seen and deer or turkeys. We bet if we spent more time outside and less time doom-scrolling on Twitter, we might have more to report. Someday soon we might even be bright enough to follow our own advice.

The Owl

By Edward Thomas

Downhill I came, hungry, and yet not starved; 

Cold, yet had heat within me that was proof 

Against the North wind; tired, yet so that rest 

Had seemed the sweetest thing under a roof. 

Then at the inn I had food, fire, and rest, 

Knowing how hungry, cold, and tired was I. 

All of the night was quite barred out except 

An owl’s cry, a most melancholy cry 

Shaken out long and clear upon the hill, 

No merry note, nor cause of merriment, 

But one telling me plain what I escaped 

And others could not, that night, as in I went. 

And salted was my food, and my repose, 

Salted and sobered, too, by the bird’s voice 

Speaking for all who lay under the stars, 

Soldiers and poor, unable to rejoice.

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