While most people would consider Duluth on Lake Superior the frigid Northland, the birds would disagree with this opinion. Right now Arctic birds are migrating through the area on their way up to the tundra. Ice way up north should be melting soon. While I have yet to spy a Red-Throated Loon which is one of my favorites, this morning on the beaches of Minnesota Point I found three different kinds of shorebirds. These birds are fearless, and if one sits down on the sand they will walk within 4 to 5 feet of your location (which they did!).
Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings
Ruddy Turnstones
Dunlins
Here is a short video of bathtime! (video link for email subscribers)
The other good news to me is after two days of searching, I refound my Great Horned Owl family. This is the third location they have used including the nest in my local forest. Today I got some nice images of both Mom and Dad. Notice that Mom is much bigger / sleeker than Dad, while he has a “pot belly”!
Mom (with a crow right behind her)
Dad
One of the Owlets
How do you know which is mom and dad? Could he be the sleeker bird?
With most owls, including Great Horned Owls, the female is normally larger. In this instance, the female is almost 1/4 larger. From my vantage point, males look sort of pudgy (and smaller)