Tundra Swan and Black-capped Chickadee

The bird migration has begun, but is still not in full swing in northern Minnesota.  On the Gunflint Trail, the winter birds (Pine Grosbeaks, Common Redpolls, and Hoary Redpolls) have departed for lands to the north.  The birds that have returned to the Gunflint Trail for the summer are: the Common Crow, American Robin, and Red-tailed Hawk.  I also spotted a Snow Bunting on its way north.

On March 15th, I saw species 131 of my Big Year, the Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus).  I was driving on Highway 35, just north of North Branch, MN, when several of these beautiful birds flew in front of me.  Unfortunately, I could not get a picture (since I was driving at 70 mph.) but did get a good enough look for identification.

Earlier this month, I did get a series of rapid shots of a black-capped chickadee, which are featured below.  In this series of pictures, it is breaking into a sunflower seed: