Bog Bluebirds!

Year 11,

This post will begin a series of entries to my blog about “Grassland Birds”! It is time to get out in the countryside and enjoy summer, the grassland birds, and explosion of colors. The Black-Eyed Susans are starting to blossom, and the grassland birds are having their young. Nature is providing a feast for the eyes.

With respect to the Black-Eyed Susans I have two favorite spots both of which should be visited early in the morning. The first is just south of Sax-Zim Bog. MacArthur Road which is just west of the Cloquet River Bridge on County 8 already has flowers in full bloom. Here are the Google Maps GPS Coordinates for the turn onto MacArthur Road (County #868) off County #8. I love this dirt road for its varied habitat … forest, farms and wetlands. While the Black-Eyed Susans are in full bloom on MacArthur Road, soon my focus on these flowers will shift to near Gowan, Minnesota (just east of Floodwood). Visit very early in the morning when the skies are clear, but ground fog is present. There are thousands and thousands of Black-Eyed Susans along the pipeline right of way. The pipeline company obviously planted the flowers. Here is a post from last summer which will help you understand why an early morning trip should be in your plans.

Did I mention Sax-Zim Bog Bluebirds? Yup! In over 10 years as a volunteer naturalist in the Bog I have never seen bluebirds, until this week. My apologies that the images aren’t as good as I would like. The bluebirds forced me to photograph them while looking directly into the sun … lousy for photographs.

If you decide to cruise the backroads both for wild flowers and birds, pay attention to any freshly mowed hay (and hay bales). Birds understand that freshly mowed hay means easier eating. Bugs find it now much harder to hide in the tall grasses, as the grasses are no longer tall! In addition to hay bales, check out cows! Bessie can provide a nice bug hunting platform for birds seeking bugs. Although the birds in these images aren’t very exotic (starlings), I enjoyed their hunting activity!

Bluebirds in the Bog (Just north of Dart Road on Cty. #201 area)

Cow Hunting Platforms for Starlings

Ground Fog Osprey

Year 11

Summer is finally here in the Northland, and while we may not have the scorching heat seen throughout most of the rest of the country, the amount of humidity in the air is now rising … which means Ground Fog. Most mornings now across northern Minnesota there will be ground fog present, which if I time my excursions wrong can mean I see very little on birding expeditions. However, most days the ground fog burns off quickly and time spent outdoors is most pleasant.

I personally know of five active Osprey nests, and each of those nests now have hungry youngsters. Within 7 to 14 days these new Ospreys will fledge. Here are three great Osprey nests to visit:

  • Intersection of Hwy 53 & Hwy 8 in Twin
  • Steam Shovel Sam and Sally on Lavaque Road (one mile east of Martin Rd)
  • Canosia Osprey (West Lizmore Road at the trailhead where the road becomes private)

These images were actually taken on Itasca County #45 approximately one mile east of Minnesota #38. This nest is very near my cabin and I visited the nest location multiple times last week while up at our cabin.

Ground Fog Osprey (as the sun rises)

Other Osprey Pics

Northern Saw-whet Owlet Fledge Day

Year 11

Recently I had the privilege to be present when a Northern Saw-whet Owl chick, an owlet, fledged. Like most birds after a first flight, this owlet rested for almost 4 hours while its wing muscles recovered from the effort. I took these photographs during that rest period. I waited over two months to post images as it was important to protect the young owls. The owlets now have long since moved far away from their nest cavity. A huge thanks is owed to a friend who was kind enough to point me towards this nest. I would never have found the cavity on my own.

Hello! My plumage color is unique … nothing like my Mom or Dad.

Sometimes an owlet just needs to sleep!

Did you see that?! This world is amazing.

Now I’m just posing for that “owl guy”, the photographer.

Yup, I need to scratch. My talons are sharp.