Mr Neil « Birdchick

Lawrence’s Warbler

I took a quick trip down to Indianapolis to visit my family. On the way, I made a stop at Mr. Neil’s and got a big surprise. I went to the spot where blue-winged warblers have nested in the past and sure enough heard the familiar 2 note, buzzy call of a blue-wing. I was [...]

Naturalist ADD In Spring

I signed on for a book project last December thinking that this is Minnesota and an early April deadline will be a great way for me to occupy my time. Then warm temperatures came early, leaves started bursting and survey work rolled in sooner than expected. Before I knew it, my body was chained to [...]

Bee Flicking

You need some bees off your frame? Try Mr. Neil’s excellent Bee Flicking technique. Also a handy way to distract enemies should they surprise you in your bee yard.

http://www.vimeo.com/29454801

No bees harmed in the making of this video and most were scooped up off the ground and gently placed back in.

Merlin vs Red-bellied Woodpecker

Non Birding Bill and I were over at Mr. Neil’s to do some fall beehive prep (for those who follow, the bees seemed to take my Ned Stark speech well and all but one of the hives actually bumped up production). After we finished checking the hives we were back in the house surfing the [...]

Random Catbird

This gray catbird has taken to the suet plugs at the feeder in a big way. It’s one of two catbirds (presumably a pair) that have decided the peanut suet dough in the woodpecker log is the best thing ever. Hope they bring their fledglings too.

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Dancing Neil

Mr. Neil is so excited to finally be home for installing our bees. First time ever he was around to be a part of it.

Honey Covered Titmouse

This is a problem that only I could have.

Non Birding Bill and I had one of those exciting married people dates: did a little dinner, sorted some tax receipts, pretty much got down last night. While we were enjoying some sushi, my phone went off and I noticed the number was from Mr. [...]

Banded Birds At My Bird Feeder Camera

In case you have not heard, we’re buried under an old school blizzard dumping up here. The local weather folk were predicting with barely restrained glee the potential for a massive storm. And though many of us have heard in the Twin Cities that we could get 1 – 2 feet of snow, many [...]

Random Angry Titmouse #birding

We were banding birds at Mr. Neil’s yesterday. I have quite a few photos of angry titmice–we got three in the nets. These are exciting birds for us because my buddies Mark and Roger band mostly around the Twin Cities metro area and we don’t have titmice there, it’s just out of their northern range, [...]

Honey & Swollen Dog

It’s that special time of year when Lorraine extracts a little early honey, follows the strict codes, guidelines and fees of the county fair and submits it for approval. I know we aren’t the only ones entering honey because fellow beekeepers in the same county made some noise when we won last year that [...]

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