Commuting - Summer Morning Commute: Some Pics before it's over

Edit: Bonus points to whoever can tell me what that bird of prey is in one of the pictures :)

Just as summer weather is returning, it will be gone in a few short weeks. It'll be too cold/too dark for the early morning swims I sometimes incorporate into my commute.

So I thought I should get some pics while I can and share them. My commute is a mix of residential, green space and urban. I don't always take the same route and I don't always go swimming but most of what's pictured I see several times a week if not every day.

For those that are familiar with Minneapolis, the commute pictured goes from my home through Lake Hiawatha Park to Lake Nokomis. After my swim I head North to the LRT trail into downtown and from there to the River Road. I take the River Road into the Warehouse district where I work.

Some nice pictures there.

Nice pics. Red tail hawk?

coopers hawk?

Maybe a marsh hawk. They spend more time on the ground than other hawks.

Perigreen (sp?) falcon? Nice pictures either way.

Incorporating a swim into your commute?
How cool is that?!
I am already trying to think of a place where I could do this along my route...hmmm
Lucky you

Incorporating a swim into your commute?
How cool is that?!

Unfortunately on some mornings this summer it's been a bit too cool. ;)

Yes, I'm lucky and it works out really well for triathlon training. Even though I'm probably done for the season already, I like to get in at least one longish swim per week year round. I won't be able to swim outdoors for much longer this year, but I have a membership to a YWCA that's also on my way to work.

There's a really bad picture that I tried to get of the bird taking off. Based on the tail feathers, I'm thinking it's a Red Tail hawk too. It wasn't all that big and was munching on the remains of what looked like a small rodent if that helps anyone identify it. I've seen a couple of bald eagles in the area before but that's first time I've gotten close to a bird like that on the ground.

Maybe a marsh hawk. They spend more time on the ground than other hawks.


Makes sense, I've never seen a red tail hawk linger on the ground like that, since they're predators they don't like strangers on their hunting grounds.

One day while out for a ride early this summer, I stopped for a break along a dirt trail and I had a red tail hawk very upset with me that I had invaded it's space. It kept screeching and flying over, than landing on a branch of a near by tree, rinse and repeat.

Of course I didn't have a camera with me, which sucked because I would have gotten some awesome aerial pics.

Red Tail Hawk.

Seagull. I'll take my prize now.

I'd like a prize too....... I never get prizes.

Seagull. I'll take my prize now.

Seagull?

Nice pictures! I'd stop for a dip on my ride into work but I don't see any bike rack in the beach parking lot, so I keep pedaling...

Nice pictures! I'd stop for a dip on my ride into work but I don't see any bike rack in the beach parking lot, so I keep pedaling...

Thanks !

There's a bike rack on the side of building with the changing rooms but early on weekday mornings the only people there are a few other lap swimmers and the random guy with a metal detector. So I just lock my bike to one of tables visible from the water.

On weekends at that beach (as well as Minnehaha Falls) you can rent oddball bikes like these: http://www.wheelfunrentals.com/theirftp/MN%20Minnehaha%20Falls.jpg