Perhaps I should have just titled this post Morning on Minnesota Point, but if one visits Duluth at some point you will get “bridged”. While some folks might find having to wait 15+ minutes for a freighter to steam in or out of the harbor, we Duluthians take it in stride. If the Aerial Life Bridge is up, you have been “bridged”. Two possible responses to being bridged are to fume at the delay, or take a native’s approach. Leave your car in the middle of the road and walk over the pier to watch the boats. I took the latter approach.

Alpena Arriving in Canadian Sunrise Forest Fire Haze

I was actually heading home when I was bridged. My arrival on Park Point was timed to be shortly after sunup. By 5:30 am I was hiking the dunes and beaches. This Brown Thrasher greeted me with song the moment I started my hike.

After some time on the dunes, I walked over to do some beach combing. While I did see some Common Loons fishing close in to shore, no Red-Throated Loons made their presence known. However there were hundreds of Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings migrating north together. Even though I only had two hours for birding given I had to be home by 7:40 am, it was a great relaxing time. I had the beach to myself most of the time.