Category Archives: Year 11

Lady Aurora Dances and Dances!

Year 11

Last night was epic, but nothing much had been forecast with respect to a dance by Lady Aurora, but she is fickle! Shortly after sunset it became obvious that the Northern Lights might make an appearance. The skies were clear, and the moon had set by 9 pm when the Lady decided to dance … and oh my how she danced. The entire sky was filled with her performance. One could even look south and watch pulsating rays of color.

Here is a video I took about 9:20 pm. This is NOT a time lapse compilation of images. It is the real time dance of Lady Aurora taken on a somewhat common camera (Sony A6300 at 3200 ISO) Make certain you watch the short video through to its ending. The lights just keep getting better and better! (video link for email subscribers)

Northstar Lake (from my dock)

Suomi Lutheran Church

Smith Lake (looking north, then south!)

Coming Soon to a Forest Near You: The Golden Time

Year 11

I took this bog image two mornings ago, and the photograph is indicative of the “Golden Time” coming soon to the Boreal Forest. Tamarack Pines are one of the only pines trees which lose their needles every fall. In 7 to 10 days every Tamarack in the Boreal Forest will be bright gold. Venture out near sunrise or sunset, and Uff Dah … an explosion of gold!!!

On another front I was interviewed this morning on KSTP’s Minnesota Live program about birding the Northland. If you follow the link to their web site, you should be able to watch my segment for about two weeks. My wife took this picture of me during the broadcast. The interview is about five minutes in length.

It was a fun day! Now I’m up at my cabin 200 miles north of the Twin Cities with plans to bird the Pine Island State Forest near Big Falls for the next few days.

Distracted Before Dawn

Year 11

There has not been a lot happening on the migration front given strong southerly winds, with the exception of a huge number of Robins and Butter Butts (Yellow-Rumped Warblers) which have been working their way through my yard. The leading edge of fall sparrows and juncos are now using my feeders.

Throughout this week I kept telling myself it was time to go check the Greenwood Boreal Bog and my feeders. My time for leaving each morning is about 40 minutes before sunup. As is often the case I get distracted when I actually get to the car. Driving the Expressway to Two Harbors with the deep orange that comes long before sunrise is both beautiful and calming.

Two Days ago I nixed my trip to Greenwood and just did the Northshore before sunrise. Here are some results.

Burlington Bay (Two Harbors)