Category Archives: Year 12

Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders Update

Year 12,

Actually my update is on birds that love the habitat around the feeders, but never actually visit the feeders.

  1. American Three-Toed Woodpeckers are often being seen first thing in the morning just a bit after sunrise. They like to use the dead trees right near the bird feeders for drumming. I saw one Three-Toed yesterday, and heard another drumming nearby to the south in response. It seems like the best chance to see this rare species is first thing in the morning on calm, sunny days. The woodpeckers are starting to drum.
  2. Two Spruce Grouse were gritting up out on Lake Country 2 within 600 yards of the feeder’s parking area.

If you wish to visit the feeders arriving early at the feeders is a good idea, both because the birds are more active and the deep snow pack will be frozen solid. Yesterday it was 12F just 45 minutes after sunrise when I arrived, but the temperature rose to 37F within two hours. Hiking even on the snowmobile trail is easy while the everything is rock hard, but as the temperatures become warmer the trail gets mushy. No snowshoes are needed to walk the snowshoe trail.

Greenwood Creek Spruce Grouse

One final Snowy Owl (seen the evening before in Superior, Wisconsin)

Color Craziness!

Year 12

It has been a long winter of muted colors in northern Minnesota, but during my trip to meet my latest granddaughter, I found color! Over the past 24 hours I have enjoyed birding hikes in two Seattle area parks, Marymoor and Yellow Lake Park. Better yet I have been able to wear shorts and a light sweater.

This morning’s sunrise expedition was in search of one very specific bird species (Red-Breasted Sapsucker), which is always dangerous as success has a low probability potential. However, Red came through for me. While the females have not returned north, the males were actively trying to pick and defend territories. I found four individual sapsuckers att Marymoor Park.

Given the cool morning and the lack of a bug hatch, I was surprised to find two male Tree Swallows. However, the best territory goes to the earliest returning guys who were having a stretch on a cool morning.

Over at Yellow Lake the local males were busy trying to impress the ladies.

Ring-Necked Ducks

Wood Duck (male)

Hello Saige, Good Bye Snowys!

Year 12,

Today I met my eighth grandchild, Saige Hoeg! Molly and I are doing what is most important in life … enjoying family and this instance being introduced to a little girl who has brought joy into the hearts of her family. Saige even wore home from the hospital the same exact little yellow sweater which I wore home on a cold spring morning just shy of 69 years ago. Now, this “little yellow sweater” has been worn by 3 generations of the family … cue the choir and orchestra as everyone sings out that famous song from Fiddler on the Roof, Tradition! (video link for email subscribers)

And in our case … Saige in the Little Yellow Sweater!

Now, I’m actually not real writer in the family; that crown goes to my wife. If you would like to learn more about “the little sweater” and see baby photos from across the generations in said sweater, browse to Molly’s blog … Superior Footprints (as in both Lake Superior and Life’s Footprints). A big TV station down in Minneapolis / St. Paul even learned about our little yellow sweater and with our family’s blessing created a piece about the sweater for their show, MInnesota Live. Watch Minnesota Live’s short documentary via Molly’s blog.

Now didn’t I mention that in this post’s title that it was also Good-Bye to Snowy Owls? By the time I am again actively birding the Northland (about March 1st), most owls including Snowys will be working their way northward. Thus, yesterday morning I went owling and arrived in Snowy Owl Land (Superior, Wisconsin) well before sunrise. Apparently the folks who arrange successful birding expeditions decided luck should be with me. I found not one, but two Snowy Owls and watched them hunt starting for about one hour both before and after sunrise. Both owls decided it was time take a siesta and I drove home.

Superior Snowys!

Owl #1

Owl #2

The sun has finally truly risen, and both owls will be asleep very soon. Light conditions were changing amazingly fast, which forces the photographer to adjust how they approach taking a picture. While both owls were alert and constantly looking around which made me believe they were still hunting, it is equally possible they did not want to settle down to sleep till they had both upchucked their owl pellets!