Northland Sunflower Morning

Year 11

It is that time of year … Sunflower Time! I arrived at the humble sunflower field not long after sunrise. For the next 30 minutes I enjoyed walking in the midst of the sunflowers. My location was Matten Road in Wrenshall … a delight for the senses. Here is the Google Maps link. I was visiting MK3 Hardwood Farm (Facebook page). While the sunflowers are in their glory right now, birding will become better as some flowers begin to go to seed.

I also decided to take this image pointed directly into the sun. The sunflowers are all facing the rising golden orb.

The farm is well worth a visit. Wrenshall is very near Duluth. You can not help but be in a good mood after starting your morning walking amongst the sunflowers. It’s kind of humorous … my prior post two days ago featured the dark and Northern Lights, and now I am focused upon dawn and sunflowers. God fills our world with amazing colors.

If you are interested in the photography angle of the first two images, both photographs were taken using aperture priority. In the first image I have used settings to blur the background sunflowers, whereas in the second photo I have used settings to bring the foreground flowers into focus. Neither approach is right, or wrong … just different.

Summer Northern Lights

Year 11, ,

While it is true that the best Northern Lights displays may be seen in Alaska or Norway, their proximity to the Arctic Circle (above or below) means that in the summer months the Land of the Midnight Sun means Aurora watching is just not possible. Down here in northern Minnesota as the days stretch towards the end of summer, we actually have some darkness. After the moon set last night at 11 pm there was a fantastic Northern Lights display.

Earlier last night I had driven up from my home at the northern edge of Duluth to the Isabella area near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), but I found the best show was when I returned home. Up by the BWCA there was too much water vapor in the air (it rained during my drive north). This image was taken at “The Deeps” … Duluth Lester / Amity Park (200 yards from the end of my driveway).

Sand River near the BWCA

Lake County 2 … Road Scene and Zenith

Please note … many Northern Lights photographs you will see from the Lower 48 will show more dramatic colors, including red tinges to the images. I like a photograph that more accurately reflects what I am able to while Aurora watching. Thus, in post image processing I lessen the color and saturation found in my Northern Lights photos. The camera can see more light, and more spectrums than the naked eye. The other images are not wrong, but I prefer to capture something much more in line with what I actually am able to view.

Birding Little Free Library & Boardwalks

Year 11

The last two mornings have seen me walking some boardwalks up at Sax-Zim Bog. It is nice to have the bugs finally taking a break from their all out attack mode, that I can even consider walking in a Boreal Forest Bog. One thing which I am now noticing is that the Fall Migration has definitely started. The bug eaters are definitely on their way south, with the numbers of warblers in the Northwoods starting to get much smaller. Remember to take a look at my past post: “Planning Your Migration Birding: BirdCast and HaikuBox” No matter where you live in North America there are good, free tools that will inform you as to the birds visiting your geo location today, and in the days to come.

I mentioned a Birding Little Free Library! If you decide to visit Sax-Zim Bog and the Winterberry Bog a few miles west of Cotton, Minnesota on Arkola Road, there is a a library right at the start of the Bob Russell Boardwalk. Just in case, you are not familiar with the concept of Little Free Libraries  … browse and learn. I personally dropped off a number of books late this spring about birding in Minnesota which I was pleased were picked up quickly. Remember these libraries are community supported and free.

Yesterday morning I walked the Warren Woessner Boardwalk on Blue Spruce Road. Canada’s National Bird, which I still think of as a “Gray Jay” posed nicely for me near the boardwalk. This bird is now named a “Canada Jay”.

Anyhow, get out there and enjoy the migration. Unlike the Spring migration when birds are in a hurry, if a suitable food source is present, birds will often linger during the Fall migration for days and days at a given site.