Sunrise – Sunset – Crisp Point Lighthouse, U.P., Michigan

Year 13

13 years ago Molly and I first drove to this remote lighthouse on of far eastern shores of Lake Superior. Crisp Point Lighthouse is located 13.5 miles shy of Whitefish Point, and the Edmund Fitzgerald suck years ago (1975) in the open waters of Lake Superior opposite this light (not viewable from very far off shore). The light is reached via a 19 mile long dirt road, and each season we love taking a turn as lighthouse keepers. Only keepers may camp out of the light … there is no lighthouse keeper’s residence. Over the years we have been privileged to volunteer Molly and I have met a HUGE number of nice guests while taking care of our duties. It has been fantastic to share this little bit of paradise with other folk. Here are my other Crisp Point Lighthouse posts … from rainbows to the Northern Lights!

This year was a true gem. Here are a few photographs from this year’s visit. We arrived in about one week ago, and the combination of fall foliage colors with days having nary a cloud plus highs around 60 could not have been better. At night we would fall asleep in our tent with the waves of Lake Superior (only 25 yards distant) providing white noise. Thus … Sunrise to Sunset. In the second image you will see our small tent! Molly arrived back home last night in the Duluth area on the far western end of Lake Superior.

45 Minutes Before Sunrise

20 Minutes Before Sunrise

 

Sunset in a few minutes …

15 Minutes After Sunset

25 Minutes After Sunset

Musky Morning Fog (birds too!)

Year 13

Since Monday Molly and I have been hosting a small family reunion at Vintage Vermilion on the lake with the same name. This retreat is nestled in a private wilderness bay and has 2,400 feet of shoreline and 40 acres. The location is reached after driving inland from Cook, Minnesota and then Vintage Vermilion’s own two mile long gravel road / driveway. We have the entire small resort … five cabins for five families!

At this time of year the mornings dawn clear but cold, and when the sun tries to make an appearance heavy ground fog appears which will not totally burn off till mid morning around 9:30 to 10:00 (sunrise is at 6:50). Ground fog makes birding a challenge as it masks the ability to see much of anything. However I still tended to head out a few minutes before sunrise and hope for gaps in the fog. The ground fog can actually lead to unexpected visua pleasures … like these musky fisherman I watched for a short while as they chased the fish of “10,000 casts” (link to Outdoor Illinois).

Once the ground fog burned off I did find a family of Black-Billed Magpies which were definitely not happy with the presence of a Bald Eagle. The plumage of the Bald Eagle (white head and tail feathers finally turning white) shows it to be about three years old, and about to reach adulthood!

Spruce Grouse Courting (video)

Year 13

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).