Category Archives: Year 9

Cabin Summer Memories!

Year 9

Ignoring the fact it was 39F at sunrise yesterday, another cabin summer has started at Northstar Lake. This small 3 season cabin has 32 years of family memories … from July 4th pontoon boat polka cruises (Molly and I play our accordions) to hiking a mile into the cabin at night while the temperature is only 10F (no road access in winter … running water is me hiking/running out onto the lake and drilling a hole to get water … manual ice auger).

Yesterday morning this was the view from our bedroom at 4:45 am. Yup, the place is magical!

This year the big move was to replace the 67 year old GE refrigerator (I’m 66 years old). Our new fridge will actually keep ice cream frozen! Goodbye old friend (the range is also being replaced).

This morning I was out shortly after sunrise getting reacquainted with our lakes Common Loons. In my mind, they are not common at all!

Our lilac tree seems to have the only blossoms for miles around … appreciated by all the bees and butterflies.

Cabin pics from years past …

Great Gray Owl Morning Magic!

Year 9

Magical! How else may one describe well over a half hour that a person spends with a Great Gray Owl shortly after sunrise? Such was the case yesterday morning when I found this Great Gray Owl hunting. For the next few weeks parent Great Gray Owls may be found hunting  early in the morning (first 2 hours after sunrise) up in Sax-Zim Bog as they work at feeding hungry owlets. Unlike the crowds of winter, I was by myself for most of my owl watching. Eventually, one person (a good friend) found me on the remote road and stopped to also watch. By that point it was fun to share with a friend!

I have included a HUGE number of images. However the first photograph and two movies will give you a quick idea of my magical morning.

  • Video #1 link for email subscribers … 3 seconds expanded to 25 seconds … about 40 photos)
  • Video #2 link for email subscribers (vole searching … as opposed to soul searching!)

More photographs of my Great Gray Owl Magical Morning. These images are from three different perches used by the owl. For about ten minutes at each location it would remain almost motionless, occasionally moving its head to better triangulate sound.

Pileated Woodpecker Drumming (video)

Year 9

Thanks to having three “drumming trees” in my yard, over the years I have learned to identify my local woodpeckers by their “drumming sound” … . Pileated Woodpecker yesterday evening letting my wife and I know who really owns our yard!

Unless a dead tree threatens your house, leave it be! You will be rewarded. (video link for email subscribers … Pileated Woodpecker drumming)