We woke up to the smell of Dad's famous banana pancakes with lots of yummy fresh fruit to snack on. Pre-breakfast entertainment: the Lenox Avenue wild turkeys make a performance of "Sacajawea Brings Thanksgiving up the Alcan." My predatory photo scouting split the flock in two, to the chagrin of the gobblers. The lethargic dew-paralyzed insects provided some forage for the turkeys as act one comes to a close I corraled the majority of them so that the U-haul figured as a prominent background - snap! My stomach rumbles audibly and the pancakes call to me, so farewell wild toms.
After breakfast we pay a visit to Gail at The Raptor Center. Gail introduces us to Whisper, a human-imprinted barn owl. We meet the other residents there, everything from Boreal owls to bald eagles. My favorite is the Northern harrier that Gail is training to hover. She has had a month hiatus in her training, but Gail agrees to try to fly her for us today. She flew the harrier to the perch, but the harrier quickly lost interest in the orange lure that Gail swung enticingly near the other perch. When the harrier did fly she surprised me with her vertical take off. They are known for this particular flight pattern and often hover over marshlands searching for their prey. It also comes in handy when landing on their nests found on the ground.
Finally, I capture a few good frames, and promise Gail a few with a photoshopped heroic sky background. As the session comes to a close, the Northern harrier enjoys a stroll through the audience very curious of us she scampers about avoiding Gail and the glove that means her fun will be over. The session ended, it's time to say our goodbyes.
The afternoon is spent attempting to keep up with the nieces and nephews of the Buse clan before having dinner at one of our favorite restaurants, Pad Thai on Grand. Heather orders her usual, green curry noodles, and washes it down with yummy Thai iced tea. I enjoy a yellow curry seafood noodle dish that could easily feed three people!
Our bellies full, we head to Keith and Susan's house in Minneapolis where we visit over Keith's delicious homemade chai. A perfect wrap up to our visit to see friends and family in the Twin Cities.
i know those kids! It was great to see you bromine
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