Category Archives: Year 10

Black-Eyed Susan Bonanza (and a “Barn” Owl!)

Year 10

Black-Eyed Susan Bonanza! I took this photo just after sunrise this morning as the mist was burning off … a bit NW of Gowan, Minnesota along Hwy #2 (near Duluth). The wildflowers stretch as far as the eye can see along the pipeline right away (off the road a bit … one needs to pay attention). I had noticed the black-eyed susans  a few evenings ago while driving back from my cabin, and told myself I had to come back when I had great light.

After spending an hour “tiptoeing through the tulips”, I then found my friendly neighborhood “barn” owl. I now have permission to walk this farm, and the wait was oh so worthwhile!

Great Horned Owl (trying to be a barn owl!)

Did I mention this was a stupendous morning? I also visiting a fox den and watched the kits at play, till my attention was diverted by some Sandhill Cranes in a very photogenic location (pics coming). I love northern Minnesota!

Northstar Lake Happenings

Year 10

The good news is we paid attention to the weather forecasts, and left Northstar Lake for our Duluth area home early. The bad news is the expected storms did track through our cabin’s region with “baseball sized hail” reported near Marcell, Minnesota (courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio … Northstar Lake is only 600 yards from the town of Marcell). Hopefully our cabin was not damaged.

I did get out on the lake one final time to observe the Common Loon breakfast feeding. I hope all my feathered friends on the lake weathered the storms in good shape. Regardless, before the sun retreated and the winds came, the lake was sunny, calm and serene. The photographs are of two families of loons.

Common Loon Family #1

Common Loon Family #2

Northern Waters Reflections: Common Loon

Year 10

After three days of clouds, rain and cool weather, northern Minnesota was showing its finest shortly after sunrise this morning on Northstar Lake. The wind was dead calm which made for fantastic reflections. I first had to wait for the morning mist to burn off before I ventured out on the lake, but then it was a great time to be alive in the crisp, clean beautiful Northland. In total I found three different Common Loon families, and each family unit was willing to let me float nearby and record their morning activities.

The only downer was  one of the three families had obviously lost a chick since Saturday afternoon to predation (Muskies or Bald Eagles were the most likely predators). In fact, when a Bald Eagle flew overhead this morning the loons started a yodel which quickly spread to all the other loons on Northstar Lake. Nature is beautiful, but also cruel.