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My wife and I got back last night from spending Thursday, Friday, and = Saturday looking for GGO's in and around McGregor. That was our third = trip. Our primary purpose was to photograph them in flight. We were not = disappointed in that regard, nor in the number we encountered. I = probably took over 350 images and have it now down to 200. I need to = whittle it down some more and then I will post it on my website for = anyone who wants to see them. I not only got quite a few flight shots, = but also a number of images of them both perching and eating that I was = very pleased with the results. And, even though I would call them far = from decent images, I even got a few of them fighting (I will be posting = these as well). What surprised us is the number of squabbles we saw = (about 5 to 6). Unfortunately, I wasn't always ready to capture them, so = I missed some really good images of the battles. One filled the screen = but I hit the button when the focus jumped out past them. That is one I = deleted. Anyway, I will send a notice when I post them all. I have seen a number of people question are the GGO's still there. From = what my wife and I counted, the answer is absolutely. The following are = our findings: Counts: Thursday: 41 GGO's, 1 Boreal Owl Friday: 52 GGO's Saturday: 59 GGO's Locations: As I noted above, we kept to the McGregor area with the exception of = coming in from Moose Lake on 27 to 65. With respect to 27, as we heading = west on early Thursday, we saw about 10 (not included in above counts) = on 27. When we left last night about 5 P.M., we only saw 3. In McGregor, = our pattern was to go east out of town on 210 to 285th. We then turned = south on it and immediatly turned left and headed east on 420th. This = was our first stop each morning from 7:30 to 10:30 A.M. We found this = was one of the best areas for the birds being very active, as well as = great lighting on the north side of the road for photographing. We = usually covered about about a mile stretch of 420th. After 10:30, it = seemed that the rest of the day the owls were few in number and = infrequently moving. After that, we would head west on 210 to 5 and hand = there till close to Noon. The west side of the road was the best to see = activity and for lighting (one of my key needs photographically). Then = we headed down to the corner of 53 and 5. There is an open field that an = owl hangs out that has been there for all three 3 trips. It seems to be = frequently hunting. On Thursday, we observed it catching and eating 3 = mice within very active. On Friday, there was an additional owl that = came in and a squabbly ensued. Anyway, we then headed South on 53 and = stopped at several places past Kimberly. When we came to 4, we headed = east and spent about 1 to 1-1/2 hours on it (between 1:00 and 2:30). We = counted a large percentage of the owls on 4. We then headed back to 5 = (the stretch just south of 210) and spent the rest of what was left of = sunlight photographing on both sides of the road. As I mentioned, this = was our three day pattern and it was met with much success, especially = from the perspective of obtaining images. With regards to the Boreal, we saw and photographed it on Friday at = 10:30 A.M. The way we came to know of its location was via Cindy Butler = Risen. She stopped and talked to my wife and I while we were on 420th, = told us about seeing one, and then gave us excellent directions to go = and see it. It was located just west of the intersection of 62 on the = north side of 210. We went back several times after that and it was gone = and a GGO was sitting in the area instead. To find the location, head = one mile west west on 210 from the light in downtown McGregor. When you = come to 62, cross over and park on the north side of 210. Look for the = 55 MPH sign. Stand to the left of the sign and look for a green metal = utility box (in the ditch and is about 3 feet high). The The Boreal owl = was in a tree about 10 feet behind the box and about 6 feet up on a = branch. I got some great shots of it. If you read this Cindy, mucho = gracis for the info and great directions! Quite frankly, my wife and I = are baffled as to how you were able to spot it in the first place? Boy, = does that owl blend in with its surroundings!! Finally, I had an unusual encounter with an animal on a minimal service = that was went north off of 4. I left my camera in the car and headed = down it with a very important and desparate mission in mind. I went in = about 25 feet when I happened to look down about 100 feet and this = little rodent like creature was heading right for me and ended up about = two feet away from my feet. I was really surprised by its boldness. So I = started to our SUV to get my camera. It followed me. I then got my = camera out and started to follow it. I walked with it as it crossed over = 4 to the south side and and then headed into the woods, but not before I = got some images of it (see below or attachment). Can anyone help me with = an identification of it? I trust that above is of some help to those who are still planning a = visit. By the way, if you are looking to stay in McGregor and you are as = frugal as my wife and I, stay at the Town & Country Motel. It was about = $40 per night and each room has a fridge and microwave. It is definitely = not a 5-star place, but it was surely economical and worked for us. Ron Green http://www.greensphotoimages.com ------=_NextPart_000_01FE_01C52258.3EB3E2D0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable <!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1476" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY bgColor=3D#ffffff> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>My wife and I got back last night from = spending=20 Thursday, Friday, and Saturday looking for GGO's in and around McGregor. = That=20 was our third trip. Our primary purpose was to photograph them in = flight.=20 We were not disappointed in that regard, nor in the number we = encountered. I=20 probably took over 350 images and have it now down to 200. I need to = whittle it=20 down some more and then I will post it on my website for anyone who = wants to see=20 them. I not only got quite a few flight shots, but also a number of = images of=20 them both perching and eating that I was very pleased with the = results.=20 And, even though I would call them far from decent images, I even = got a few=20 of them fighting (I will be posting these as well). What surprised us is = the=20 number of squabbles we saw (about 5 to 6). Unfortunately, I wasn't = always=20 ready to capture them, so I missed some really good images of the = battles.=20 One filled the screen but I hit the button when the focus jumped out = past them.=20 That is one I deleted. Anyway, I will send a notice when I post them=20 all.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I have seen a number of people question = are the=20 GGO's still there. From what my wife and I counted, the answer is = absolutely.=20 The following are our findings:</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2><STRONG>Counts:</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Thursday: 41 GGO's, 1 Boreal = Owl</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Friday: 52 GGO's</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Saturday: 59 GGO's</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial = size=3D2><STRONG>Locations:</STRONG></FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>As I noted above, we kept to the = McGregor area with=20 the exception of coming in from Moose Lake on 27 to 65. With respect to = 27, as=20 we heading west on early Thursday, we saw about 10 (not included in = above=20 counts) on 27. When we left last night about 5 P.M., we only saw 3. In = McGregor,=20 our pattern was to go east out of town on 210 to 285th. We then turned = south on=20 it and immediatly turned left and headed east = on 420th. This was=20 our first stop each morning from 7:30 to 10:30 A.M. We found this was = one of the=20 best areas for the birds being very active, as well as great lighting on = the=20 north side of the road for photographing. We usually covered about about = a mile=20 stretch of 420th. After 10:30, it seemed that the rest of the day the = owls=20 were few in number and infrequently moving. After that, we would = head west=20 on 210 to 5 and hand there till close to Noon. The west side of the = road=20 was the best to see activity and for lighting (one of my key needs=20 photographically). Then we headed down to the corner of 53 and 5. There = is an=20 open field that an owl hangs out that has been there for = all three 3=20 trips. It seems to be frequently hunting. On Thursday, we=20 observed it catching and eating 3 mice within very active. On = Friday,=20 there was an additional owl that came in and a squabbly ensued. Anyway, = we then=20 headed South on 53 and stopped at several places past Kimberly. When we = came to=20 4, we headed east and spent about 1 to 1-1/2 hours on it (between 1:00 = and=20 2:30). We counted a large percentage of the owls on 4. We then headed = back to 5=20 (the stretch just south of 210) and spent the rest of what was left of = sunlight=20 photographing on both sides of the road. As I mentioned, this was our = three day=20 pattern and it was met with much success, especially from the = perspective of=20 obtaining images.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>With regards to the Boreal, we saw and = photographed=20 it on Friday at 10:30 A.M. The way we came to know of its location was = via Cindy=20 Butler Risen. She stopped and talked to my wife and I while we were on = 420th,=20 told us about seeing one, and then gave us excellent directions to go = and see=20 it. It was located just west of the intersection of 62 on the north side = of 210. We went back several times after that and it = was gone and a GGO was sitting in the area instead. To find the = location,=20 head one mile west west on 210 from the light in downtown=20 McGregor. When you come to 62, cross over and park on the north = side of=20 210. Look for the 55 MPH sign. Stand to the left of the sign and look = for a=20 green metal utility box (in the ditch and is about 3 feet = high). The The=20 Boreal owl was in a tree about 10 feet behind the box and about 6 feet = up on a=20 branch. I got some great shots of it. If you read this Cindy, mucho = gracis for=20 the info and great directions! Quite frankly, my wife and I are baffled = as to=20 how you were able to spot it in the first place? Boy, does that owl = blend in=20 with its surroundings!!</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Finally, I had an unusual encounter = with=20 an animal on a minimal service that was went north off of 4. I left = my=20 camera in the car and headed down it with a very important and desparate = mission=20 in mind. I went in about 25 feet when I happened to look down about = 100=20 feet and this little rodent like creature was heading right for me = and=20 ended up about two feet away from my feet. I was really surprised = by its=20 boldness. So I started to our SUV to get my camera. It = followed=20 me. I then got my camera out and started to follow it. I walked = with it as=20 it crossed over 4 to the south side and and then headed = into the=20 woods, but not before I got some images of it (see below or=20 attachment). Can anyone help me with an identification of=20 it?</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>I trust that above is of some help to = those who are=20 still planning a visit. By the way, if you are looking to stay in = McGregor and=20 you are as frugal as my wife and I, stay at the Town & Country = Motel. It was=20 about $40 per night and each room has a fridge and microwave. It is = definitely=20 not a 5-star place, but it was surely economical and worked for = us.</FONT></DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT> </DIV> <DIV><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>Ron Green<BR><A=20 href=3D"http://www.greensphotoimages.com">http://www.greensphotoimages.co= m</A></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML> ------=_NextPart_000_01FE_01C52258.3EB3E2D0--