It is 6 am as I write this blog post, and I have actually been up since 4:45 am. However, now that the sun rises much later, it is much to early to visit “Moose Land“. I had hoped to also visit Moose Land late yesterday afternoon and evening, but Mother Nature had other ideas. While the weather forecast was for clear skies with a zero percent chance of rain, I just barely completed a bicycle ride at my cabin before thunder storms rolled in and I lost power for 5+ hours. Given the heavy clouds, it was almost pitch dark in my cabin by 7:15. Thus, with no power and a trip to Moose Land being a stupid, rather wet idea, I was in bed by 8:15 pm. Thus, I arose this morning by 4:30 am. The skies had cleared and I visit Moose Land with an estimated time of departure of 6:30 am!

Over the past week I have often found myself birding at one of my favorite fall migration spots … the Castle Danger Sewage Treatment Ponds followed by a drive on the Two Harbors Highlands backroads. West Castle Danger Road is only 35 minutes from my house near the mouth of the Lester River. The drive up the shore is always beautiful during the pre-dawn light, and the birding normally does not disappoint.

Here is my route (also see map):

1. Drive Mn 61 to West Castle Danger Road
2. Turn uphill onto West Castle Danger Road
3. Drive to Bunker Hill Road and turn onto same. The wastewater treatment ponds at the end of Bunker Hill Road are part of a much larger open area. Assuming you do not walk through the closed gate to the ponds themselves, the supervisor of the ponds has always welcomed birding visits. The pine trees near the gate to the ponds often get lots of birds. You may walk a footpath just outside the fenced in area to get a better view of the birds using the ponds.
4. Drive back down Bunker Hill Road and turn right to continue along West Castle Danger Road
5. Upon reaching Lake Cty #3, turn left and travel a short distance towards the big lake, turning right onto Clark Road / Lake Cty #34
6. Stay on Lake Cty #34 till you reach Lake Cty #24 / East Alger Grade. Turn left onto Lake Cty #24
7. Follow Lake Cty #24 back down to Two Harbors. I often check out the Lake County Fairgrounds, and the dirt road next to Lake Superior at Agate Beach.

Here are a few photographs I took over the past few days on this route … a Palm Warbler, a Broad-Winged Hawk and an American Kestrel.