All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

The Bird Song of Fall Migration

September 17, 2024Year 11richardhoeg@gmail.com

The Fall bird migration is in full swing, and because a dear friend of mine lives right at the mouth of the Sucker River (1/2 way between Duluth and Two Harbors), I have shifted my Haikubox to his yard for this Fall’s migration. My device listens in real time to the birds in his yard. Thus, as birds head down south along the shore, their presence is recorded.

Better yet you can monitor my Haikubox without any cost. Learn more!

Finally, going home tomorrow! A journey awaits me but the prognosis is good.

On Pause

September 15, 2024Year 11richardhoeg@gmail.com

Just a fyi on why I have gone silent. I had a major post operation complication which landed me in the hospital starting last Wednesday. The problem is beatable, and a full recovery should be possible. Being pumped full of antibiotics via IV around the clock

Toomey-Williams Treats

September 4, 2024Year 11MN North: Pine Island State Forestrichardhoeg@gmail.com

As i had previously noted, in addition to the White-Winged Crossbills on Toomey-Williams Forest Road, there were other birding treats this past weekend. In addition … Mea Culpa on bird identification. Yes folks I make mistakes, but nobody caught me (or everyone was too polite to call me out). Upon reviewing my crossbill images from my earlier post, I noticed one bird did NOT have a classic hooked beak. In the second image in the previous post, one actually seeing a Pine Siskin (image republished below)

My Mea Culpa leads me to note there are certain bird species that often “hang out” together. It is not unusual for Pine Siskins to be present with White-Winged Crossbills as both bird species eat similar food … pine cone seeds. However, siskins to not have the specialized beak for prying open certain kinds of cones. In addition, Black-Capped Chickadees, Red and White Breasted Nuthatches, and Downey Woodpeckers often flock together. Expanded species groups help everyone with food foraging and watching out for predators.

Now on to additional Toomey Williams Forest Road Treats. I saw lots of birds migrating, but here are two species which I managed to get good photographs:

Belted Kingfisher (in a unusual setting for me … Boreal Forest Pine Tree Bog)