Owl Family Update

Year 11

Les and Amy’s owlets are doing fine. The Great Horned Owls have moved a significant distance from their nest, but after six years of watching the parents raise their young, I am pretty good at knowing their favorite spots … longer hikes required!

Yesterday was the 61st day I have seen the owlets, and I think they are about 71 days old … getting big.

Momma Owl still watches out for her owlets

The youngsters still often perch together

A favorite tree …

Out in the open during the afternoon??! (still learning)

Harsh Light of the Afternoon

One owlet was still in the same spot come evening

Birding the Color Yellow!

Year 11

I did not start out yesterday morning to find yellow while birding, but heck … yellow found me. At this time of year, I very frequently start looking for grassland birds, if Boreal Birds up in Sax-Zim Bog are not performing for me, and they were not! Make certain you see my map at the end of the post. It defines the small area in which I was birding, and what I normally see / hear in the region.

A Sandhill Crane Couple seen in a sea of (??) wild mustard.

An Eastern Meadowlark Singing to find a Mate

Map of my Birding Region (descriptions of 3 regions beneath map)

  • Region 1 – Wild Mustard Field: The Sandhill Cranes like this field, and I often see various hawks perched on the edge of the field hunting.
  • Region 2 – Racek Road: Bobolinks and Dickcissels are my favorite finds. You will find other grassland birds. In the morning I drive from the east with the sun behind me.
  • Region 3 – Dart Road: Eastern Meadowlarks and Bobolinks. Sometimes I see Northern Harriers hunting the fields … mainly after their young have hatched.

There are obviously other Sax-Zim areas where one might see these birds , but these regions are very close together and easily birded. From Owl Avenue to the Mustard Field, look for warblers on the north side of the road. If the bugs are not to0 bad, I hike the trail next to the drainage ditch leading to the west at the southern most point (90 degree turn) of Owl Avenue (land owned by the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog)

Cabin Birds of Northstar Lake!

Year 11

Memorial Day is often thought to be the formal start of summer. Molly and I have had a small cabin the southern most lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed for 34 years. Summer is sometimes a state of mind in northern Minnesota. As I headed out birding one morning the mercury dropped to 38F, but of course … I was wearing shorts (and a sweater!).

My first task upon arriving at the cabin at this time of year is to get the water system working. In our case, we pump water out of the lake (and bring drinking water). Given we were expecting those aforementioned low temperatures on Saturday morning, I decided delaying dinner and working on the water system even given 52F and mosquitoes was the best choice. There is nothing like a brisk dip in the lake as the sun sets (required to get water system working) … water temp in the mid 50’s. However, I was rewarded for my efforts. At the end of my 90 minute task, and heading inside, it started to pour, but I had been inside for five minutes at that point taking a warm shower … enabled by my work.

One of my first birding trips on the lake is always to visit George Washington and Betsy Ross. Yup, for some strange reason I gave our Bald Eagles these two names. Apparently given the names the majestic raptors are living out wedlock!! Regardless, I kayaked the half mile over to the tall white pines, and was pleased to find our local eagles were in residence for the 34th year in a row.

George Washington … Taking Off!

We also have lots of Common Loons on our lake. They will nest soon, but not till the lake’s reeds emerge and grow (loons nest on heavy reed beds … preferably on an island or away from land). Surprisingly if I wish to photograph loons, I am better off using our pontoon boat. The loons recognize pontoon boats are not a threat, but red kayaks are an unknown quantity. If I am in the kayak, the loons always swim or dive away from me!

Northstar Lake Common Loons

The surprise of the weekend is a new cabin bird. We have never had a Black-Billed Cuckoo make our land its home. While BBQ’ing on Saturday evening, I suddenly heard of Cuckoo. Dinner was late. Here is a pic … not the best but gives me proof. I don’t think Molly was surprised that I stopped the evening cooking at the BBQ. She knows I go cuckoo for cuckoos. Once about ten years ago while bicycle touring in Scotland, a cuckoo started sounding off near the small inn where we were staying. I reappeared about 90 minutes later … again late for dinner!

Black-Billed Cuckoo

Finally some local color … Rose (more than one) are seeking prime breeding grounds near our cabin.

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak