Blowout Birding

Year 10

Ever have a “blowout birding” trip? Molly and I are experiencing just such a trip right now. We love to travel up the shore of Lake Superior each November and stay at a cool Scandinavian modern apartment. November is the dead season time on the shore, which we love. The leaf peepers are gone, and the skiers / snowmobilers won’t arrive till shortly before Christmas. Grand Marais is only 1 hour and 50 minutes from our home, and while it would be an easy day excursion from our house, the getaway allows us to totally relax and enjoy each other

Okay, why a “blowout”? When we arrived last night there were 40 mph winds blowin gin off Lake Superior. As the winds picked up moisture they generated an early winter storm. The southerly headwinds to migration insured winter birds that visit our area stayed in Canada. The deep snow meant exploring remote backroads off the Gunflint Trail were not possible. While we did drive up the Gunflint Trail and took a shorter hike on a plowed dirt road, even that hike was shortened when we started slipping, and my case falling, on the ice underneath the snow. Thus, both birding and exploring are out of the question and we returned to our lodging.

Eventually cabin fever forced me out into the dizzle and I sat in my car next to the Grand Marais harbor. One lone bald eagle enjoyed scaring hundreds of gulls. Finally a flock of Buffleheads stopped nearby and snacked on whatever tasty bits they found on the harbor bottom. Thus, my camera did finally get a workout.

I am back at our apartment, The Aurora at the 3 Sisters. Please realize Molly and I are still having a most excellent time. We are spending lots of time together this afternoon without any distractions, which has always been too rare over our 40 years of marriage. Perhaps this blowout was a blessing?!

Sunday Night at the Movies … Minnesota Style

Year 10, ,

How many of you remember the days before one could even rent VCR tapes? In my youth during the early 1960’s this meant gathering around the TV as a family to watch “Sunday Night at the Movies”! Everyone hoped the two networks (CBS and NBC) had picked a film the entire family would love. Here in Duluth we had only two TV stations (ABC was still somewhere off in the future). Heck, our city at the time did not even have a McDonalds.

Thus, I bring you 365 Days of Birds at the Movies … on Sunday night (at least that is when I am blogging). (Image courtesy of FreePik.com)

Here is a short YouTube clip of the NBC Sunday Night Marquee Opener from the early 1970’s (video link for email subscribers).

Here are my movies, which started with an unexpected session the North Shore Duluth Scenic Railroad’s Steam Engine! I was hiking / birding in the woods near my home yesterday afternoon when I thought: “Is that a steam engine whistle?” Yup! The North Shore Scenic Railroad was out testing #332. The train was over three miles away from me when I first heard it. I upped my hiking pace … hurried home … and went to find a steam engine one mile away from my house!

And Now the Movies! (all videos taken during the last seven days)

North Shore Scenic Railroad Steam Engine #332 (video link for email subscribers)

Ring-Necked Pheasant near Sax-Zim Bog (video link for email subscribers)

Steam at Sunrise over Lake Superior (video link for email subscribers)

Great Gray Owl Sunrise … Rose, Orange and Gray!

Year 10

I was complaining (whining?) with my last post that I had gone the entire month of October without seeing an owl, but this morning that streak of poor luck changed. I arrived in Sax-Zim Bog long before sunrise, and as the pre dawn sky started to go orange, pine and rose I found a Great Gray Owl hunting for its breakfast (or for an owl that stays up all night is it dinner?).

It was a gorgeous morning.

Better yet, the owl then flew across the road and hunted with the first few moments of sun on its face. In total I only spent ten minutes with the hunting owl, but the time was precious.

Over the years November has often been one of my favorite months for finding Great Gray Owls. Juvenile owls  must increasingly hunt for themselves which means these youngsters are easier to find. The young Great Grays are poor hunters and this fact forces them to spend significantly more time hunting “per catch” than their parents.