We are experiencing a relentless winter in MN... Yesterday I woke up to a solid 8" snowfall... super wet and super heavy. The cold and snowy weather has delayed the bird migration, but creates an opportunity to make some graphically interesting pictures. For me, this winter has all been about wildlife on a stark white canvas.
This morning's keeper is a pair of sandhill cranes making their presence known.
cheers,
bruce
NIKON Z 9NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S lens800mmf/6.31/400s6400 ISO+1.3 EV
Yes, MN has some of the very harshest winter temps in the states. Interior Canada is even colder. I did not know Sandhills are that hardy. Is that pair migrating?
So you're due for the big break Bruce.... Spring!
Here, winter is over. It's been over. We had several moderate DRY snows storms this winter with just one super heavy/wet snow storm with just that amount (about 8 inches) about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Have not had *any* snow accumulation (just dustings or flurries) for 2 to 3 weeks. I just looked at the 10-day option at WeatherUnderground and temps are high 40's to 50's most days.
Went to one of the loon ponds on Thursday to check for ice-out status. Ran into a man I know who just likes to sit there and chat. He calls himself Canary. He walked back to his truck and got me another of his lawn chairs so we could extend our visit.
Got my Maine sticker for the canoe. I rebuilt my Minn Kota (yes, from Minnesota) motor last summer and all I have to do is attach the annual stickers and I will go. Ice-out is about a week away.
bs kite wrote:
Yes, MN has some of the very harshest winter temps in the states. Interior Canada is even colder. I did not know Sandhills are that hardy. Is that pair migrating?
So you're due for the big break Bruce.... Spring!
Here, winter is over. It's been over. We had several moderate DRY snows storms this winter with just one super heavy/wet snow storm with just that amount (about 8 inches) about 4 or 5 weeks ago. Have not had *any* snow accumulation (just dustings or flurries) for 2 to 3 weeks. I just looked at the 10-day option at WeatherUnderground and temps are high 40's to 50's most days.
Went to one of the loon ponds on Thursday to check for ice-out status. Ran into a man I know who just likes to sit there and chat. He calls himself Canary. He walked back to his truck and got me another of his lawn chairs so we could extend our visit.
Got my Maine sticker for the canoe. I rebuilt my Minn Kota (yes, from Minnesota) motor last summer and all I have to do is attach the annual stickers and I will go. Ice-out is about a week away. ...Show more →
I jealous that you can sit on a lawn chair and enjoy the weather. While our winter season has not been terribly cold (lows down to only -10F or so), the number of 20 degree days has been soul-sucking. In addition, we've had one of the snowiest years on record. The snow itself wouldn't be so bad, but the days with moderate thaws (sunny and 28 degrees) followed by hard freezes at night have made for challenging conditions for both the photographer and the photographed.
With respect to sandhills, we have a respectable breeding population in the upper midwest. Wisconsin is famous for its breeders that include both sandhill and whooping crane. In MN, we are packed with wetlands and have breeders throughout much fo the state. I managed to track a breading pair for 2 or 3 years until last year's torrential rain that swamped their nest. I don't know if the pair will be back after that tragic experience.
Anyway... good luck with the loons... always enjoy seeing what you manage to see.
bruce
It's been spring temps in Texas for about 2 months now now come the true spring storms and all the fun evening clouds that come with our hail and tornadoes. Already have had 3 tornado watches in the last 2 weeks. Oh, and the mosquitos. Send snow, please!
bs kite wrote:
That weather is interesting (what causes it?), if deadly.
Air masses of highly varying temperatures colliding. We get the humidity coming north from the gulf of mexico and it collides with the cool dry air coming south from the Rockies, and as that Rockies air moves south it pops up these gigantic storms along the front line.
The best part of snow in Texas is we have zero infrastructure to deal with it, so our cities and towns shut down for weeks at a time over snowfall you'd consider a dusting
RoamingScott wrote:
Air masses of highly varying temperatures colliding. We get the humidity coming north from the gulf of mexico and it collides with the cool dry air coming south from the Rockies, and as that Rockies air moves south it pops up these gigantic storms along the front line.
The best part of snow in Texas is we have zero infrastructure to deal with it, so our cities and towns shut down for weeks at a time over snowfall you'd consider a dusting
Maybe in the less humid North Texas area it is just a dusting of snow, but in Houston snow is almost never alone. It usually comes merely to coat the layers of ice left by the rains and mist that preceded it. Would be nice to get just the snow once or twice though.
He walked back to his truck and got me another of his lawn chairs so we could extend our visit. 
