Ben Douglas

Bird watcher, speaker and dude of the outdoors.
Instagram: @hj70ft

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@Minnesota_Tunes Leaving MN in spring as a bird watcher will ruin a person's day fast.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Heard it was Ruby-crowned Kinglet time on Twitter. This one from last night in a dance off with another male.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

I gave a key note for a bird festival over the weekend. It was great to be speaking again.

https://t.co/HdD7TIKq3B

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Ooh, some nest building for a Sandhill couple at Lake Elmo Park yesterday. Love to see it.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@GReiMN48 To you as well Gary.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Definitely not on a bird heater anymore after Say's Phoebe into Snowy Egret, into deceased Great-horned Owl. Not the way I wanted this hike to go. UMN Raptor Center has the poor bird now.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@candiburke I will scope birds from my 2nd floor office to add them to my yard list. Anything goes if I'm on my property.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Definitely on a heater finding a Snowy Egret while having breakfast.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Found myself a Say's Phoebe tonight at Grey Cloud Dunes SNA. Nice hiking prize and a 2nd County record.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@qthetrackcoach Looks like 4x400 time to me.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

Great Blue Heron just flew into neighborhood looking for something to eat. Left disappointed in our lack of spring in MN.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@baggins_bow It did go to the University for necroscopy, but I never heard. It was getting ill quickly within the 1st 24hrs after I found it. Poor thing just didnt handle the trip south well.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@baggins_bow Great and tragic. I went to see the bird every day after I made the find. This was one of the last photos of the bird alive at sunset on day 3. It would be found the following morning deceased and huddled on the rocks along shore.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@baggins_bow

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@baggins_bow Finding a Ross's Gull in my home County on a river in Minnesota will likely be my peak achievement for a long while.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

The most innovative man to ever touch high jump has passed. Rest in peace and thank you for the Fosbury Flop. High Jump gave me something no other sport ever did. Confidence. https://t.co/YpGQL7ZWoF

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@courtneyellis Grew up with what was the purest natural water on the planet, so I know almost instantly when water isn't "right". (Also from Wisconsin)

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

31 FOY Sandhill Cranes flying over were not happy to see 100% snow coverage at my park tonight. They turned around quick. #mnwinter

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@Minnesota_Tunes Schrodinger Swan, both Tundra and Trumpeter at the same time. I know this location all too well, and there is always a winter bird or two that begs Tundra id, but leaves us guessing. In Eckert's book, Birding By Hindsight he gives multiple treatments to this issue for Minnesota.

[Ben Douglas @hj70ft]

@RhiannaTruex 6 more inches of snow yesterday top of the 20 inches that were still present. Not looking good for spring yet.