I have mentioned in prior posts that as strange as it may seem, male grouse often strut their stuff every Autumn as they try to attract the ladies! Who needs to wait till spring? Such was the case two mornings ago up in the Greenwood region of NE Minnesota (Sand Lake / 7 Beavers Nature Conservancy Wilderness Area) . I was out well before sunrise in hopes if seeing “moose in love”, but happily settled for these grouse. (spruce grouse courting video link for blog email subscribers).
Today was a great migration day … just not perhaps for hawks. Okay, I understand that Spruce Grouse do not migrate, but if you enjoy seeing amazing spectacles spend some time on the North Shore of Lake Superior between Duluth’s Lester River and Two Harbors. Folks already know I like Stony Point, but today anywhere along Scenic 61 resulted in amazing numbers where one found the combination of:
The strong NW wind blew both monarchs and dragonflies down against the shore in amazing numbers. In a few minutes one might see “tens” of monarchs & dragonflies. While most people know that Monarchs are long distance migrants, dragonflies are also migrating and often fly 80 to 100 miles south in one day. Eventually the monarchs reach Mexico (may take multiple generations); conversely dragonflies reach ponds in American’s Deep South through Central America. Once again this is a multiple generation migration. When the right pond presents itself, dragonflies lay eggs and their offspring will eventually fly north to Boreal ponds. Read more about the dragonfly migration via the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in NE Minnesota.
Oh yes … Spruce Grouse. Now is the time for the Moose rut. This morning I was inland well away from Two Harbors on boggy back roads well before sunrise. I was looking for Poppa Moose in various locations where I already know Bullwinkle hangs out. However, I saw no moose … just Spruce Grouse (which do not migrate).
Finally … this Pileated Woodpecker near my house wanted its photograph taken. I obliged.
A few days ago I excitedly posted about the small flock of Red-Headed Woodpeckers I watched which were migrating south along the North Shore of Lake Superior via Stony Point. Yesterday morning at Stony Point it was time for the locals to perform. Year round a family of Bald Eagles calls Stony Point home. While most eagles migrate south, some in fact do stay north and this includes the “Stony Crew”.
Most mornings right at sunrise if the wind is not screaming in off the big lake, our resident eagles will be perched on the highest White Pine along Stony Point Drive. Such was the case yesterday morning just a few minutes post sunrise. It seemed as if the eagles, like many of us, were not ready to go get breakfast. Less than 100 yards distant I could hear their youngsters making their displeasure known. The juvenile eagles are to the point they mainly have to fend for themselves, but often Mom and Dad help.
Parent Bald Eagles on the White Pine
Take-Off of the Dawn Patrol
One of the Juvenile Bald Eagles
Parent & Child
