Category Archives: Year 6

Let the Winter Birding Begin!

Year 6,

Even though it is  almost 60 degrees out in the Northland this afternoon, and the weather the past few days has been delightful, the first wave of Arctic birds are arriving in Northeastern Minnesota. Several Rough-Legged Hawks and Northern Shrikes have been reported in the area. While I missed seeing those species, I have been lucky enough to find several snow buntings which were not part of larger flocks (making them almost impossible to approach). This little gem was foraging for food inland from Castle Danger on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Snow Bunting

There are still a lot of Bald Eagles and Red-Tailed Hawks migrating south through the area. Two days ago I saw both of these individuals within fifteen minutes of sunup at Sax-Zim Bog

One great note … my new sclera contact lenses seem to be helping my eyesight immensely (read back story). Without going into great detail, given their locations I would have missed seeing each of these three birds. The Snow Bunting was by itself flitting in shaded tall grasses. It’s great to have decent vision again, and I am up to seven hours wearing the lenses per day. Just as importantly I am able to be outside or drive a car (air within a car is very, very dry).

In fact, I spent yesterday afternoon doing maintenance on my ski trail just off Old Vermilion. During my 2.6 mile hike clearing deadfall, and cutting down trees which threatened the ski trail, I scared up four Rufffed Grouse (almost stepped upon them), and found this very unusual bird for NE Minnesota.

Ring-Necked Pheasant on Old Vermilion Trail

Remember … I maintain some winter bird feeders on Old Vermilion Trail. It is about 15 miles north of Duluth, and you can even go Nordic Skiing on the trails I maintain (classic only). Here is a photo I took yesterday afternoon. You can see my bow saw hanging from the small while pine on the left.

Minnesota Birding News Reprise!

Background, Year 6

I hated to remove the old Minnesota Birding News App. Over 2,000 individuals had downloaded and installed the app on their iOS or Android device. Unfortunately, the cost to maintain the app (paid by me) had grown too expensive.

I am creating a new Minnesota Birding News Service which reduces both the initial financial outlay and ongoing support costs. It is in beta and uses an RSS Feed Reader App named Feedly. Like the old app, the new service is free and contains no advertising.

If you wish to try the new Minnesota Birding News service, please be my guest … BUT given the service is in beta I WILL NOT YET ANSWER questions for folks needing installation help. Ultimately this information will be included.

Automatically received updates from 38 birding sources with a primary emphasis on Minnesota.

I welcome feedback and suggestions.

Two Harbors Tugboat Morning!

Year 6

Today was a perfect morning. When I left the house right at sunrise the sun was just popping over Lake Superior’s horizon … the temperature was in the high 30’s with a light wind out of the Northwest. In my book, the birds should be migrating south under what appeared to be fantastic conditions. My eventual goal was Castle Danger on the North Shore, but first I wanted to check some of the points that jut out into Lake Superior. My two stops were Stony Point and Two Harbors. The birds were present in numbers. In fact I even saw a Scarlet Tanager in a Mountain Ash tree. Unfortunately this bird was camera shy, but I immensely enjoyed the sighting.

Upon arriving in Two Harbors I quickly started whistling a different tune. Who cares about birds when there are boats?! Even at age 63, I am still a young boy at heart who likes tugboats. The MadisonR (formerly the NelsJ) was leaving port for another day at work out on Lake Superior. Whereas in other parts of the world, harbor areas tend to be ugly, not in northern Minnesota! (see the comments … Tugboat Hunter has helped out this slightly confused birder! … this is in fact the NelsJ owned by HeritageMarine)

Tugboat MadisonR / NelsJ Steaming Out of Two Harbors, Minnesota

Tugboat … the Movie (YouTube link)

Oh yes … I did see a lot of birds. At one point in a Two Harbors park over 50+ Yellow-Rumped Warblers were feeding all around me. I was a non-entity. The birds were hungry.