Category Archives: Year 11

Northern Saw-whet Owlet Fledge Day

Year 11

Recently I had the privilege to be present when a Northern Saw-whet Owl chick, an owlet, fledged. Like most birds after a first flight, this owlet rested for almost 4 hours while its wing muscles recovered from the effort. I took these photographs during that rest period. I waited over two months to post images as it was important to protect the young owls. The owlets now have long since moved far away from their nest cavity. A huge thanks is owed to a friend who was kind enough to point me towards this nest. I would never have found the cavity on my own.

Hello! My plumage color is unique … nothing like my Mom or Dad.

Sometimes an owlet just needs to sleep!

Did you see that?! This world is amazing.

Now I’m just posing for that “owl guy”, the photographer.

Yup, I need to scratch. My talons are sharp.

Northern Night Lights! Milky Way

Year 11

God was shining “night lights” over Northstar Lake. Starting 15 minutes before  sunset yesterday evening the family was treated to watching the last thunderheads move off to the east.

Then I got up at 1:30 am and caught these night lights shining over our small northwoods cabin … and there were NO mosquitoes while I was taking photographs down on the dock.

Happy 4th of July … Nature’s Fireworks!

Pagami Creek Wildfire Region Birding

Year 11

The Pagami Creek Wildfire was back in 2011 … 13 years ago. One may reach part of the burn area via Tomahawk Road. 17 miles of driving a dirt road brings you to a beautiful old wooden bridge right at the Island River BWCA Entry Point, and in the middle of the burn area. I love this spot, and now so do the birds. Shortly after the wildfire I saw my first ever Black-Backed Woodpecker at this birding spot. Remember, Black-Backs love recently burned trees. These days the woodpeckers are not as much in evidence, but other song birds love the area near the bridge. The combination of burned out trees and new growth next to the wetlands makes birds happy. A few days ago when I birded this area I also very much liked the fact that the open terrain plus sunshine meant zero mosquitoes!

Back in 2016 I spent a fantastic night watching the Northern Lights at this remote spot. I titled the post “A Northern Night to Remember!” Here is one photograph from that night taken from the wooden bridge.

For my excitement this week it was having a Common Yellowthroat, a bird normally heard but not often seen, spend significant time on a dead tree near the road.

Common Yellowthroat

In addition, the birding spot was crawling with Wilson’s Snipes calling out their territories. Learn more about birding Pagami Creek not to far from Ely, Minnesota and other Northern MInnesota birding areas … my web site’s index of birding spots.