Category Archives: Year 6

Horned Larks of the Boreal Forest!

Year 6

There is something wrong with that title! After all, Horned Larks are a bird specie which prefer open fields and tundra.  However during the magic of migration, if you learn to “think like a bird”, one often finds birds in unusual places. Here in NE Minnesota, we live in the Boreal Forest, but lots of birds which prefer wide open spaces get “pushed by NW winds” to the shores of Lake Superior. These birds are not very adept at finding food in the forest, and therefore when they reach towns along the North Shore with open areas / fields … Eureka!

I found these Horned Larks this morning in the Two Harbors cemetery … some habitat that was some of the first open spaces that these birds had seen in quite a few miles! In about two weeks the Two Harbors golf course because a gem of a birding location. Once it closes to golfers for the season, its combination of ponds, tall grasses in the rough, and cover (adjacent to the Boreal Forest) makes for some great hikes.

Subaru Birding! (videos)

Year 6

I’ll admit it … I love my Subaru Outback. Here in northeastern Minnesota I drive some very remote, ugly dirt roads. My Outback has never let me down, even when there might be 12 inches of new snow on the ground. However, this morning … my Subaru decided to take a more active role in my birding excursions … as a perch for an unusual bird migrating through from the Arctic. I always say … when you can’t find the birds, let them find you!

Many of us were birding Park Point Recreation Area this morning, and the beach near Sky Harbor. Basically we were all seeing little bird activity. Just as I was about to leave the fields, this Lapland Longspur flew over and landed on my Subaru Outback! Hmmm … me thinks … there must be Longspurs around. I now really checked the long grass on the playing fields, and discovered there were 50+ Longspurs hidden amongst the grasses. In fact, I almost stepped upon two different birds while they were feeding!  A few finally left the long grass and provided better photo opps! Have you ever needed birds to lead you around by the nose to insure you would see them? LOL.

First the Lapland Longspur Subaru Outback Photographs

And some Longspurs in more natural settings

Here is the Lapland Longspur’s Range Map courtesy of Cornell University.

And some videos from this morning. The noise in the background is from Sky Harbor Airport … both a float plane taking off and work on a runway extension.

Video 1 Link

Video 2 Link

And finally two photos I took while out birding a few winters ago … on a logging road where I was 18 miles from the nearest paved road. It was early in the winter and therefore the snow was not yet deep. Given our first snowstorm of the season is expected this weekend, it may be time for my Outback to earn its keep. I love Minnesota’s winters. Between my Subaru and Nordic Skis I spend a lot of time in the Boreal Forest. Think snow!

Fall Colors in Sax-Zim Bog

Year 6

While most people think “winter birding” and “great gray owls” when they think of the Bog, I find Fall a beautiful time to visit. The back roads and trails are my own. Over the course of time from September to November a diversity of birds are presented to me via the magic of migration. Right now in a few weeks, the majesty of Rough-Legged Hawks, one of my favorite birds, will start appearing from northern Canada and the Arctic.

While my exotics did not show their faces (or feathers) yesterday, it was still a delightful time starting right at sunrise. The temperature was 35F, clear skies, no wind, and great fall foliage. Who can argue with this scenario? I am actually going to work backwards in time. At 9:30 the Ruffed Grouse came out onto the back roads to  enjoy the sun and grab some gravel. Here are two different grouse I saw within minutes of each other, but a mile apart.

Both grouse were constantly checking the skies, which given the number of raptors I saw was a good idea. This Bald Eagle was hanging out on Sax Road 60 minutes after sunrise. I watched it for about five minutes till it decided to move locations.

Sunrise saw me on McDavitt Road … I suspect this Red-Tailed Hawk was one of the reasons I did not see any Great Gray Owls in my favorite location. I personally this bird needs to work on its tail feathers … they look a little bit worse for wear. The hawk was actively hunting, changing its perches every few minutes. Unfortunately I did not see it make a kill.

I suspect the look on the hawk’s face in the final image is its way of telling what the bird thinks of my opinion!