Tag Archives: MN North: Brighton Beach

Ice Berries for Breakfast!

Year 5,

Depending upon where one was relative to Lake Superior this morning, it was between 5 and 10F at sunrise. One rare occurrence at sunrise this morning was I could actually see the sun. However, given the cold temperatures the morning feed was slightly delayed as many birds decided to wait for some solar warmth. I could have stayed home a bit longer.

A stop at my favorite set of pygmy crab apple trees in Two Harbors yielded a huge number of pine grosbeaks, which only increased as the temperature rose through the teens. In addition there was one Bohemian Waxwing which was obviously cold. Ice berries were on the menu for all the birds.

Pine Grosbeaks and a Black-Capped Chickadee

Near home this Red-Tailed Hawk got mobbed by some Crows.

By Dawn’s Early Light! Arctic Riviera!

Year 5,

There is a good reason photographers love the early morning light. Today’s images explain why it is absolutely necessary to be out before dawn.

Even though it was -20F well before sunrise as I was walking along the Arctic Riviera, and I did not find the Snowy Owl for which I am looking, the sunrise made the cold hike worthwhile! After my visit to Lake Superior I drove up to my owling grounds and found four Great Gray Owls including this individual flying across the frozen tundra.

Ice Ducks … The Movie!

Year 5

Lake Superior is fickle. Yesterday my end of Lake Superior was iced in as far as the eye could see … thus my ice sunrise photographs. Today, a very strong wind out of the west blew most of the ice away from Duluth. Thus, we have open water once more 1/2 mile downhill from my house. There is a small stream that is underground for a while just where these mallards are congregating. I think they like the relatively warmer water, and the fact that the HUGE ice build-up on shore is protecting them from the wind.

These first two images show how a photographer is able to dramatically change an image. The point of view is the same, but in the first photo I chose to focus on the ice leaving the ducks out of focus, and in the second image I kept the foreground ducks in focus.

An overview of the Brighton Beach ice and mallards

A flock of ice ducks

Ice duck love!

and finally … Ice Ducks … The Movie!