Category Archives: Year 9

Forest Hill Friendly

Year 9, ,

The last migration push is on hold, and will be until these strong winds out of the south change to out of the north. In the meantime, birds in the area tend to stick around, and there are very few new arrivals. One easy location for me to check is the Forest Hill Cemetery. There is a year round resident Pileated Woodpecker which is enjoying all the very old trees in the cemetery.

One of the other common species migrating through the Duluth area right now are American Crows (some stay year round). This individual along with a migrating Canada Goose felt it was bathtime.

Finally, if you have time get out in the Boreal Forest this weekend. The second set of peak colors is upon us … when Tamarack Pine Tree needles are golden. A nice drive is going up Lake County #2 to Stony River Forest Road. My buddy, Greg, and I made that drive yesterday morning and loved the frosted colors. We did find one Red-Tailed Hawk.

This image was taken near Grand Portage right on the border with Canada. Molly and I were up there last Saturday.

Ross vs Snow Goose

Year 9

I found four white geese in Two Harbors this morning. I suspected the really white goose with a stubbier beak was a Ross’s Goose, which turned out to be correct. While on first glance the birds appear identical, pay particular attention to the beak which has a different shape. A Snow Goose’s bill also has a “grin” to it.

Here is today’s Ross’s Goose, and a better photograph from a few days ago of some Snow Geese.  The Ross is almost a bit smaller and stockier. The “South Dakota Birder” has a great page focused upon identification.

Ross’s Goose (from this morning)

Snow Goose (light blue morph from a few days ago)

Birds that Hide from the Wind!

Year 9,

Essentially that would be all birds. Over the past two days winds swung to being out of the south with gusts over 40 mph. The remaining migration came to a screeching halt, and birds that were in the area tried to forage and feed in areas protected from the wind.

Yesterday I had to go down and back to the Twin Cities for an appointment, and I made certain to leave long before sunrise such that I could circle in to Minneapolis from the Northwest. This allowed me to visit the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. I made two circuits of Wildlife Drive, and the ONLY place I found songbirds was where they could hide somewhat from the wind.

Wind Blown Bluebird

I also found some lazy Sandhill Cranes which even after 10 am had not made their escape to the local farm fields for foraging.

This morning I was north of Two Harbors exploring some new back roads. I was looking for nice bog areas which should be great spots once the owl season is upon us. This Bald Eagle was kind enough to take off in front of some spruce … rather that busy deciduous trees.