Birding, It’s Elementary My Dear Watson!

Year 11

As in Lakewood Elementary (GPS Google Maps Link) … just north of Duluth in Lakewood Township. If you park behind the school, and walk down the stairs behind the playground there are delightful wetlands with a nature trail. If you can handle the bugs, you will enjoy all the birds. There trail snakes its way through the woods as it circles part of the wetlands. However, while the trail is not difficult in terms of elevation or distance, it should NOT be hiked by anyone who has balance issues. There are some unusual wooden bridges on the trail that have short, but very steep decks. Having said that these wetlands have great birding. I only wish I could have photographed even 1/10th of all the warblers, waterbirds, and songbirds I saw. Sometimes birds just won’t perch still long enough to give me a chance to press the shutter!

I waited till today to post this information, as school is now out for the summer. During the school year … spring and fall … one should only bird this location during NON SCHOOL HOURS. Given all the young children that may be present, you don’t want to alarm staff, particularly if you carry cameras with long reaches. (Google Maps Link to Lakewood Elementary)

Map: Lakewood Elementary School Region

Some pics of the wetlands …

Standing in the middle of the bridge … pics show both directions. In the final wetlands image you can observe the school in the upper left hand corner of the photograph. It shows how close these wetlands are to the school and its parking lots.

Great Crested Flycatcher

Northern Flicker

Canosia Wildlife Preserve Birding

Year 11

I don’t think I have given enough emphasis to birding the Canosia Wildlife Preserve just north of Duluth. There are many birding options available … hikes or drives. On the car front any of these roads are worth your time:

  • Lavaque Road (north of Martin Road)
  • West Lismore Road to Hiking Trailhead (private road beyond that point)
  • Ugstad Raod to the Hiking Trailhead

The trails leading from either of these two trailheads are easy, but very buggy. Use bug goop. Eventually via the trails you want to reach the wetlands (more bugs). Here is a map I created. Please note the Great Blue Heron Rookery. It may only be reached by hiking off trail. In May, June and early July you will hear the herons long before you see them. Given sun angles, an early morning visit is best whether you are just birding, and / or wanting to take some photographs. There is also an osprey nest in the wetlands next to Trailhead #1. On Lavaque Road you will drive by “Steam Shovel Sam & Sally) (osprey nest in the shovel’s bucket).

These images were taken early Sunday morning.

Canosia Wildlife Reserve Map

Osprey

Broad-Winged Hawk

Indigo Sunrise

Year 11

My Haikubox told me within the last week that Indigo Buntings had arrived back to the Northland (see my review of Haikubox and bird migration). For me this means I have to take my annual trip to Hawk Ridge just after sunrise. I wait for a sunny day with light winds. It was 45F when I left for Hawk Ridge (only 4 miles from my home via 7 Bridges Road). Light winds are necessary to insure I don’t freeze up there since I am always wearing shorts! Light winds also means better birding.

By 5:30 am (sunrise is at 5:15 am) I was walking down the wooden stairs from Skyline Parkway to the ledge. I waited for the singing to begin, and It only took a few minutes before I heard multiple male Indigo Buntings singing out to show their territories.

Indigo Sunrise – the view back towards the harbor. The large white building is Northland Country Club where I caddied for many years. Imagine carrying two large, heavy golf bags up the rather steep Duluth hill. My biggest fear was getting assigned two golfers who would end up duffing balls to opposites sides of the fairway / rough (remember the hill). Back in the early 1970’s one was paid $5 for 18 holes of caddying (6+ hours of work). Normally a caddy could also expect a $1 tip and a can of pop after nine holes. It was not easy work. Monday’s caddies were allowed to golf free at Northland Country Club, but one had to tee off by 8:00 am. I don’t believe I ever saw a member play early on a Monday morning!

Indigo Bunting Sunrise