Finding the Ghost

I am currently working on finishing up my full report on my trip to Maui, but before I do, I want to share with you a big moment that happened before heading off for warmer temperatures.

It was a Sunday morning, about a week before Maui, and my wife and I had planned to drop the kids of with their grandparents while she joined me on a birding trip. Our destination was about 45 minutes from home to an area in the Mat-Su Valley that is rich in bird life, even in frigid

Finding owls

Here in Alaska, the days have gotten much colder and the leaves on the trees have been replaced by lumps of snow and frost. The ground is covered by about 3 inches of snow, which crunches under our feet as we venture outdoors. For me the changing season is like grinding to a screeching halt after the momentum of a sprint. The warmer months were filled with so many birds offering many great photo opportunities. Our summer birds have now departed, and many of our winter birds are returning, but not nearly as numerous or plentiful as their warm weather counterparts. Many of our cold weather birds tend to flock together in large numbers through the chilly season for food and safety.

Spring continues to blossom

Well we are in full on spring mode now, with leaves blossoming and more and more migrants returning to mate and nest in our local woodlands, and wetlands. I've continued to get out and explore new areas and revisit regular spots, seeing new birds quite often.