I drove over to McDavitt Road at sunrise this morning. There had been scattered reports of White-Winged Crossbills. I had hoped throughout my multiple stops and walks I would find crossbills, but I could only find these Red-Breasted Nuthatches enjoying seeds for breakfast, or possibly picking bugs off the pines. Within a few hours smoke from Canadian wildfires invaded the Northland. Thus, I knew I had to be out early to enjoy a blue sky. This tool from the US Government is one of the main ways I track smoke plumes (also useful for when Northern Lights are in the offing). Zoom in and Out … allow your location: Fire and Smoke Map.