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

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)