Bill Marchel @BillMarchel Twitter profile

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

A dozen Blue Jays – including one in the upper right - await their turn at a bird feeder in my backyard. Note how the birds are positioned roughly in the shape of a S.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

A dozen Blue Jays – including one in the extreme upper right - await their turn at a bird feeder in my backyard. Note how the birds are positioned roughly in the shape of a S.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

During the past week or so Common Redpolls - like this colorful male - have been slowly increasing in numbers at my bird feeders. The count is up to about 20. Redpolls are very hardy little birds, and are cheery even on the coldest days.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

A male Wood Duck has just landed on the water of a small marsh. This is one of my favorite images.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Yesterday evening I took this image of a male Wood Duck in flight. The bird’s wings are positioned jet-like as it descended. If you’ve watched (and heard) wood ducks dive toward a landing you’ll know this duck is not in a casual glide like it appears.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Yesterday I photographed this handsome male Rose-breasted Grosbeak framed by blossoms of a red-splendor crab apple tree. A wildlife photographer’s moto is “do while the doing’s good.” So, I did. In a few days the blossoms will be gone for another year.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

No, this image is not upside down. A male Pileated Woodpecker is hanging upside down while feeding on crab apples. Despite their large size, pileateds are remarkably agile.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Yesterday morning I photographed this male Ruffed Grouse as he strutted from his drumming log. The green trees in the background are spruce trees I planted years ago, and the grouse’s drumming log is the trunk of a tree I felled for just that purpose.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Yesterday I photographed this colorful male Common Redpoll with its feathers fluffed for added insulation. Redpolls are hardy little birds; they nest in northern Canada and Alaska.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A Black-capped Chickadee, and a gentle snowfall on a calm winter day; peace and tranquility.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

Yesterday I photographed this male Pileated Woodpecker as it fed on crab apples. Males are distinguished by their red mustache (females have a black mustache). Also, the male’s red crown extends to its bill, whereas a female’s cap ends at the eye.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 months

No, this image is not upside down. A male Pileated Woodpecker is hanging upside down while feeding on crab apples. Despite their size the big birds are remarkably agile.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

A dozen Blue Jays await their turn near a bird feeding station. I have about 30 of the lively birds, but I know some people who have more than that. A slow winter bird-wise, but the jays are a colorful fill-in. They do eat a lot seed, though.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

I photographed this adult Eastern Wild Turkey tom as it winged its way over a cornfield. The sun was at the optimum angle to illuminate his iridescent plumage. It’s amazing to see a 20 plus-pound bird so agile in flight.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Yesterday I photographed this Northern Shrike. It’s a robin-sized songbird that kills for a living. Shrikes have a toothlike spike on either side of the upper bill (zoom in to see it). Known as a "tomial tooth," this feature allows them to kill prey with a quick bite to the neck.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

A vibrant male Northern Cardinal sure brightens up a winter landscape. Might label this one “late for Christmas.”

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday I photographed this male Ruffed Grouse poised in a declaration of self-importance. There was a female grouse in a tree above it. Note the bird is a “chocolate” - that is his neck ruffs and tail band are chocolate-colored rather the usual black.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

A Common Loon is accompanied by two chicks that are just a few days-old. At this age the youngsters rely on the parents to supply them with food, mostly small minnows.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday I was able to photograph this Ruffed Grouse as he strutted from his drumming log. What a sight; tail fanned, neck ruffs fluffed. This bird is called a “chocolate phase” because his neck ruffs and tail band are chocolate-colored instead of the more typical black.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

A White-tailed Deer buck sporting giant velvet-covered antlers poses nicely between two bur oaks. The image was taken in late August, just a few days prior to it shedding its velvet. Even though I took this photo a number of years ago, it’s still one of favorite images of a deer.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Yesterday, I was in the right place at the right time. This Mink came bounding toward me, and when it spotted me it came to a halt. I was able to get a few quick images before it took off.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

This male Wood Duck is flapping its wings to shake water from its feathers. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe a wood duck’s beautiful plumage. Note this bird has an unusually heavy crest - all the better to attract the ladies, I assume.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Yesterday I photographed this Long-tailed Weasel. Weasels are elusive little animals. Oftentimes they’ll dive under the snow and disappear, only to reappear dozens of feet away.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

While photographing songbirds from the confines of a blind, I watched as birds scattered and dove for cover where they held dead still. I knew a bird-of-prey was responsible for alarming the birds. Then the culprit appeared - a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

The subtle colors of this female Northern Cardinal provide a visual delight, especially when framed by fruit.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Male Indigo Buntings are simply stunning. I haven’t seen one yet this spring in central Minnesota, but hope to any day.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

The black-and-white pattern displayed by this male Hooded Merganser’s plumage is beyond attractive, and the bird’s reflection only serves to accentuate it.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A colorful male Wood Duck has just taken flight. Note the trailing water droplets. I’m looking forward to the return of these beauties to central Minnesota in the coming weeks.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

This Cedar Waxwing was the only of its species that had accompanied 25 or so Bohemian waxwings feeding on crab apples in my yard the past two days. Compare my post from yesterday of a Bohemian waxwing to today’s cedar waxwing to see the difference in coloration between the two.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

A Black-capped Chickadee is perched in a rime ice-covered crab apple tree. As slight as chickadees are, the icy rime spikes are even more delicate.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Male Ruffed Grouse do occasionally drum and strut during fall, especially on calm, humid days. Central Minnesota.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

This Dark-eyed Junco perched in a crab apple tree doesn't seem to mind that snow and cold has arrived in Minnesota following a mild December. I’m a fan of the color combination of red and gray. I must not be the only one since many sports teams feature those two colors.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

This is what happened yesterday as I was attempting to photograph ducks from a blind placed near a pond. A female Northern Harrier glided in and landed right in front of me.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

On a cold, frosty Minnesota morning I was attempting to photograph deer when these three coyotes wandered up an old logging road. When the canines heard my camara clicking they stopped, we had a brief stare-down, and then they bolted into woods.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

I thought this was very cool…the bubbles that formed in front of this drake wood duck just as it skidded to a halt during landing. The bubbles appear and disappear faster than the human eye can see. The phenomenon is only visible via a camera shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

I photographed this adult Eastern Wild Turkey tom as it winged its way over a cornfield. The sun was at the optimum angle to illuminate his iridescent plumage. It’s amazing to see a 20 plus-pound bird so agile in flight.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

The tree has eyes. A Great Gray Owl is well-camouflaged while perched tightly against a tree trunk. These large owls often spend the day in this manner, and then actively hunt for prey at dusk and dawn.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

I think this is very cool…the bubbles that formed in front of this drake Wood Duck just as it skidded to a halt during landing. Those bubbles appear and disappear faster than the human eye can ascertain - only visible via a camera shutter speed of 1/1000 of a second.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

This is what happens when it snows in April in Minnesota. American Robins flock to crab apple trees to feast on fruit.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Yesterday I photographed this Mink as it popped out of the snow from an entrance to a tunnel. A split second after I took the image, the mink ducked out of sight beneath the white powder, only to reappear seconds later 10 yards away.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

Yesterday I photographed this Cedar Waxwing as it fed on crab apples in central Minnesota. Note that the bird has an orange-tipped tail instead of the normal yellow. I have never seen this before. This is the result of the bird eating fruit from a certain nonnative honeysuckle.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday I photographed this Mink as it peered from a tunnel it used it travel while under the snow. Seconds after the image was taken the mink disappeared only to resurface from its subway 10 yards away.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

A one-day-old Common Loon chick is ready for takeoff. No, not yet. Good effort, though. Note the hump on the back of the parent on the right. That's a second chick, warm and snug under his or her wing.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

An American Beaver is pushing a wake in calm water on a clear, cold morning.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Barred Owls are normally elusive so I feel fortunate to have gotten this image. Other owls like great grays and hawk owls are more tolerant of people. Note barred owls are distinguishable by there dark, liquid eyes, whereas most other owl species have yellow eyes.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

When you see songbirds scatter and hide in heavy cover, be on the lookout for this, a Sharp-shinned Hawk, or other bird-of-prey. On a snowy morning, this individual cooperated nicely and landed in front of my photo blind.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Last night, Minnesota received the first significant snowfall of the season. Here, a female Northern Cardinal is perched on a snow-covered spruce tree branch. Although she is not as vibrant as male cardinals, her subtle colors are still very attractive.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Yesterday I photographed this Cedar Waxwing. These colorful birds are well-camouflaged among the greens of spring.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 months

The past three nights I’ve heard a Ruffed Grouse drumming. It’s common for them to drum at night, but not so common for them to drum during February. The grouse’s drumming log is just across a backyard pond so he can easily be heard from inside my house.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

The tree has eyes. A Great Gray Owl is well-camouflaged while perched tightly against a tree trunk. These large owls often while away midday in this manner, most often hunting for prey early and late.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Oftentimes, when the temperature is below zero, Ruffed Grouse will park themselves next to a tree or stump, out of the wind, and in the sunshine. In addition, they fluff their feathers to increase insulation. Looks a bit like a feathered volleyball.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks - like this colorful male - arrived in central Minnesota about five days ago. For a bird sporting only three colors, they are well-put-together, in my opinion.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

I took this image of a Red Fox back in slide-film days. It’s got that “sly fox” look. Even though I took this image long ago, I have not come close to getting a better shot since.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

No, this image is not upside down. A male Pileated Woodpecker is hanging upside down while feeding on crabapples. Despite their size the big birds are remarkably agile.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

The tree has eyes. A Great Gray Owl is well-camouflaged while perched tightly against a tree trunk. These large owls often while away the day in this manner, most often hunting for prey early and late in the day.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

This long-tailed rooster Ring-necked Pheasant is especially colorful when lit by a low sun in late afternoon.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

No, this image is not upside down. A male Pileated Woodpecker is hanging from its feet while feeding on crabapples. Despite their size the big birds are remarkably agile.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A male Baltimore Oriole is perched among the white blooms of an American plum tree. This bird is a particularly vivid individual; exceptionally rich orange, and deep black feathers.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

A White-tailed Deer doe has found security in a standing cornfield, as well as an easily available food source. A deer bed-and-breakfast you might say.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

Yesterday I photographed this Ruffed Grouse as it fed on crab apples just after sunset. Not often does rime frost remain all day. The bird likes its apples a la mode, I guess.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

This is a close-up of a Common Loon’s eye. It’s blood-red and very striking. Look closely at the reflection in the loon’s eye you'll see me, the photographer standing in waist-deep water.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A duck dispute from yesterday. A male Blue-winged Teal and a male Wood Duck are having a disagreement over what I’m not sure. There were females nearby so… Oddly, the teal, a much small duck, was the instigator. I’ve never seen that before.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Awoke yesterday morning to about a foot of new snow in central Minnesota. This Eastern Cottontail rabbit poked its head up through the snow in the middle of my backyard. It had tunneled under the snow from the woods about 10 yards away. Pretty neat stuff.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

One doesn't need to see a thermometer to know it's cold outside in central Minnesota. This Blue Jay has its feather fluffed for added insulation. Also, the bird is also crouched low so its feathers can warm its legs and feet. We humans simply crank up the thermostat.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Yesterday a flock of about 25 Bohemian Waxwings descended on crab apple trees in my backyard where they proceeded to gobble down the fruit. I had a small flock about a month ago but had not seen any since. This in central Minnesota.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

A rooster Ring-necked Pheasant is crowing to attract a mate. This image was taken a few years ago in mid-April, but pheasants are actively crowing now. The moment the image was taken, the pheasant's eye was covered by a translucent third eyelid called a nictitating membrane.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday, just after sunset, I photographed this Ruffed Grouse as it fed on crab apples. Grouse frequently feed at last light.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 months

Yesterday I posted an image of a Saw-whet Owl. Today, a Boreal Owl. Both are small, but the boreal owl is slightly larger - about nine inches tall. In addition, both prey primarily on mice and voles, but also hunt insects, and even small birds.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

7 months

A Black-capped Chickadee, and a gentle snowfall on a calm winter day - peace and tranquility. Good weather or bad, chickadees are always cheerful.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Sometimes good things happen unexpectedly. While attempting to photograph ducks from a blind placed near a pond a female Northern Harrier glided in and landed right in front of me.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

An inch or so of wet snow fell overnight in central Minnesota, coating everything, including the crab apple tree in which this Dark-eyed Junco is perched.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Last winter I photographed this Mink as it peered from a tunnel it traveled while under the snow. Seconds after the image was taken the mink disappeared only to resurface at another entrance about 10 yards away.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday afternoon, when the sun made a brief appearance, I photographed this adult Eastern Wild Turkey tom as it winged its way over a cornfield. The sun angle was just right to illuminate his iridescent plumage. It so amazing to see a 20 plus-pound bird so agile in flight.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

I haven’t heard a Ruffed Grouse drumming yet this late-winter but I expect to any day. The drumming sound is made as the bird strikes the air with its wings vigorously enough to create a brief vacuum, causing in effect, a miniature sonic boom.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

A Great Gray Owl is plunging earthward during an attempt to capture prey, most likely a vole it heard moving under the snow. Owls have an amazing sense of hearing which allows them to seize prey without having seen it.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

I was photographing waterfowl when this River Otter swam up and took an inquisitive look at me. Simply a matter of being in the right place at the right time.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

This little raptor is a Boreal Owl. These tiny birds – barely larger than a soda can – are very uncommon even during owl “irruptions.” I took this image a number of years ago. It’s one of only a few boreal owls I have ever seen.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

This colorful little bird is a male Yellow-rumped Warbler. They are known as the earliest warbler species to migrate north in spring. A few of these hardy birds have arrived in central Minnesota, but with overnight lows expected to be in the teens they may want to reconsider.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Bohemian Waxwings, like these three feeding on highbush cranberries, have been no-shows in much of Minnesota this winter. An abundance of food in Canada is likely the reason they haven’t moved southward.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

I still have a few American Robins hanging around my yard in central Minnesota, but the numbers are dwindling. I don’t see them every day, so they must be finding food elsewhere, too.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

2 years

Yes, Pileated Woodpeckers eat crabapples, just as many other birds do. This is a male identifiable by its red mustache and red cap that extends to its bill. The female has a black mustache and its red cap ends at the eye.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

This beautiful bird is a male Indigo Bunting. I took this image on May 13th a number of years ago. I haven’t seen one yet this spring in central Minnesota, but, perhaps today.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

11 months

A female Baltimore Oriole posed nicely while perched in a crab apple tree. Overcast conditions provided pleasant, even lighting.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

This bird is a Northern Shrike, a robin-sized songbird that kills for a living. Shrikes have a toothlike spike on either side of the upper beak (zoom in to see it) called the "tomial tooth." This feature allows them to kill prey like mice and voles with a quick bite to the neck.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

So far this season, Bohemian Waxwings have been a no-show in central Minnesota. If you live in the northern tier of states, and want to see a Bohemian waxwing, simply plant one or more crab apple or mountain ash trees, wait five to ten years, and like magic waxwings will appear.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

Yesterday, just after sunset, I watched this Ruffed Grouse, and two others, feed on crab apples just prior to going to roost for the night. The temp was minus 5. Note the bird has its feathers fluffed against the cold; looks like a volleyball with a head and tail.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

A few days ago, I photographed this male Wood Duck as it applied its air brakes prior to landing. In flight these birds are extremely acrobatic, especially during landing.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

So far this late fall/winter season Common Redpolls, like this colorful male, have been no-shows in my backyard in central Minnesota. Hopefully, they’ll arrive in the coming weeks.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

1 year

Yes, Pileated Woodpeckers eat crab apples, as do many other species of birds. This is a male, identifiable by its red mustache and red cap that extends to its bill. The female has a black mustache and its red cap ends at the eye.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 months

A colorful male Red-bellied Woodpecker has its feathers fluffed against the cold. Note the bird is perched in a sunny spot on the lee side of a bur oak, a strategy used by woodpeckers and other birds to conserve energy during winter.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 months

In my experience, Barred Owls are elusive so I feel fortunate to have this close-up encounter. Others, like great grays, boreal, and saw-whet owls are more tolerant of people. Barred owls are distinguishable by their dark, liquid eyes; most other owl species have yellow eyes.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

5 years

Yesterday, while light snow was falling, I photographed this Dark-eyed Junco perched in a winterberry shrub. I’ve always thought the combination of gray and red was attractive.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 years

While fishing yesterday, a friend and I watched this Great Blue Heron fly past carrying its prize - a northern pike. Eventually the heron landed and downed its prey head first.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A one-day-old Common Loon chick is ready for takeoff. No, not yet. Good effort, though. Note the hump on the back of the parent on the right. That's the other chick warm and snug under his or her wing.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A male Pileated Woodpecker pauses while feeding on crab apples. In my experience pileated woodpeckers like fruit better than suet. If you landscape your property for wildlife, I highly recommend including a few crab apple trees.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

4 months

This cute little raptor is a Northern Saw-whet Owl. They are tiny - about the size of a soda can. Saw-whets are especially tolerant of people, usually allowing a close approach.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

A male Northern Cardinal is perched in a white spruce tree. If you landscape for wildlife, I’d suggest including evergreens. Yesterday I heard this guy singing his courtship song for the first time this season. Central Minnesota.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

An American Tree Sparrow appears to be contemplating spring. The tree sparrow isn't one of our most colorful winter birds, but its hues of rust and gray are attractive nonetheless.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

6 months

A Ruffed Grouse is feeding on crab apples during a snow event in central Minnesota. It’s remarkable how well-camouflaged this bird is despite being fully exposed.

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Bill Marchel

@BillMarchel

3 years

The black-and-white pattern displayed by this male Hooded Merganser’s plumage is beyond attractive, and the bird’s reflection only serves to accentuate it.

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