Category Archives: Year 2

A Day at the Heron Rookery

May 19, 2015Year 2MN North: Canosia Wildlife Arearichardhoeg@gmail.com

For over a week I have wanted to take a hike in the woods north of Duluth. My target was a great blue heron rookery. I wanted to arrive a bit after dawn and observe these great birds on their nests. However, for almost seven days Lake Superior threw fog, rain and generally horrible weather at me … not worth a walk in the woods.

Finally, a day dawned crisp, clear and cold. Under deep blue skies I hiked off from my car into the woods. Perfect attire for the day was boots that came up almost to my knees. The area was marshy to begin with, and the recent rains made it a squishy walk.

When I finally arrive at the rookery I thought it was deserted. Initially dismayed, I took another closer look. The herons were all flat down in their nests. Although the skies were deep blue, these recent returnees from the south did not like the 32F temperature and strong NW wind.

Showing patience plenty of photographic opportunities arose. Whenever one parent came back from fishing, both birds would stand and interact before the other bird flew off to find its own breakfast. I hope you enjoy my Great Blue Heron Rookery photos!

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)

Warbler at my Feet!

May 18, 2015Year 2MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Today will go down as one of the most fantastic days of birding / photography in my life. Although yesterday’s NE wind off Lake Superior was a thing of the past, replaced by a SW wind, the warblers were even more numerous than yesterday. I had “warblers at my feet”! (and in my face, and everywhere else).

Taking into account the weather, one just needed to think like a bird! Thus, I headed down to the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth. The wind was very strong, and blowing across St. Louis Bay. I suspected warblers would be blown to my side of the river, and then would work their way along the banks till they found a calm spot with food. After walking about a mile, I found a thicket that had an early season bug hatch in progress. Both me and the birds thought this was an excellent spot! Later in the day I found a second spot protected from the wind where a bug hatch was in progress amongst last year’s old water reeds.

Here is a video of “warblers at my feet”, followed by photographs all taken today along the Western Waterfront Trail.

Black and White Warbler

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Canada Warbler

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American Redstart (male and female)

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Magnolia Warbler

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Yellow-Rumped Warbler

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Chestnut-Sided Warbler

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Yellow Warbler

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Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher

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Rose-Breasted Grosbeak (female)

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Least Flycatcher

Warblers Gone Wild! (year 2, month 5)

May 17, 2015Year 2MN North: Minnesota Point, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

For the past two days, strong northeast winds off Lake Superior have stopped the northern warbler migration. If one has been willing to brave the ugly weather (40F, 20+ mph winds, and drizzle), hundreds of warblers may be seen at the end of Park Point and on the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth. These birds are smart, and do NOT want to fly against such strong winds.

The two locations noted channel birds into high density concentrations as the birds definitely do NOT want to fly out over Lake Superior in these conditions. Thus, the birds hold in location, or work their way along the shoreline. Although Park Point may have had more warblers, I prefer the Western Waterfront Trail. It allows better opportunities for photographs. The trail works its way along the St. Louis River, and one may often look down, or level with small trees which sometimes makes bird photography easier.