For the past two days there has been a decent NW wind, which after all the south winds giving NE Minnesota unseasonably warm weather, meant that migration finally resumed. A NW wind is actually the best migration wind (opposed to a North wind). A strong NW blow pushes birds against Lake Superior, and then migration picks up down the North Shore (most birds do not want to head out over the big lake).

Over the past few days I have seen large flocks (50+ birds each) of Robins, Northern Flickers, and Yellow-Rumped Warblers. The first juncos are also appearing … a certain sign that the songbird migration will soon be in its finally phase. Snow Buntings seem to be the past songbird to come down from the Arctic.

Here are a few pics from the past two days …

A pair of Eagles guard Stoney Point

A Northern Flicker watches the local crows that harass many migration species.