Category Archives: Year 5

Ice Berries for Breakfast!

Year 5,

Depending upon where one was relative to Lake Superior this morning, it was between 5 and 10F at sunrise. One rare occurrence at sunrise this morning was I could actually see the sun. However, given the cold temperatures the morning feed was slightly delayed as many birds decided to wait for some solar warmth. I could have stayed home a bit longer.

A stop at my favorite set of pygmy crab apple trees in Two Harbors yielded a huge number of pine grosbeaks, which only increased as the temperature rose through the teens. In addition there was one Bohemian Waxwing which was obviously cold. Ice berries were on the menu for all the birds.

Pine Grosbeaks and a Black-Capped Chickadee

Near home this Red-Tailed Hawk got mobbed by some Crows.

Find the Berries … Find the Birds!

Year 5

Winter is starting here in the Northland. While some of you might feel like the 9th of November is still autumn, here in northern Minnesota winter is putting her icy grip on the woods. This morning it was 15F with a fierce wind from the NW. Even the steams and rivers are starting to ice over. Snow is gently falling as I enter this post.

Our summer birds left long ago, and now the Arctic and Boreal birds from northern Canada are arriving. In the past two days Pine Grosbeaks have exploded upon the scene, and I have also seen my first Bohemian Waxwings. A morning’s early birding involves checking out various berry patches. Find the berries … find the birds!

Pine Grosbeaks enjoy some pygmy crab apples

A few Bohemian Waxwings dined with the 50+ Pine Grosbeaks

A Blue Jay with its sharp beak, was able to chow down on bigger berries!

Thankfully the vikings who had moored their long boat and must have been out pillaging the local countryside did not find me!

Winter Birding

Year 5,

This morning I saw my first two flocks of pine grosbeaks in the Duluth area. The first flock of 20+ birds were migrating through Two Harbors; the second flock was hanging out in Cloverland on Korkki Road. The grosbeaks were using both ash and pygmy crab apple trees for their breakfast.

I have not yet seen any Bohemian Waxwings. Both species will increasingly relate to berries. The best two berry caches about which I know between Duluth and Two Harbors include Pioneer Jct. Road (take McQuade Road to Smith River Road) and the parking lot opposite the two locomotives in Two Harbors. Worth checking both if you are in the area.

On another note, I will NOT be putting out my winter birds feeders on Old Vermilion Trail till after the Minnesota firearms deer hunting season concludes on Sunday, November 18th.

One of this morning’s Pine Grosbeaks