Tag Archives: MN North: Canal Park

Day 066: Owl Alley Afternoon

Year 1,

Lester River Road, now known as “Owl Alley” is a great hangout for owls, and me. My birding spot is only 1/2 mile as the crow flies, and 1.25 miles by car. While a 1/2 mile walk might not seem difficult, I actually drive over because the hike would force me to ford two rivers and scale two deep ravines! This afternoon I drove over in search of my great gray owl, but was treated with spending two hours watching a northern hawk owl on the hunt. While the northern hawk owl was never successful while I was watching, it was fun to see him search and fly. Here are a few photos from this afternoon’s trip to Owl Alley.

I see you!
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I hate meeces to pieces!
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Hanging out in a grove a trees (very difficult photo to take)
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A Pair of Common Mergansers at Canal Park (first Spring sighting!)
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Day 065: Lake Superior Ice Defeats US Coast Guard!

Year 1

It was strange the way I captured today’s bird photo. Four US Coast Guard icebreakers are on Lake Superior trying to break our record ice pack which resulted from the colder Winter in history (As of today, there have been 74 days of super cold weather when the mercury plunged below zero beating the Winter of 1874 / 1875).

Well, the Lake Superior ice defeated the cutter, Morro Bay. It had to assisted into port by the larger cutter based out of the Duluth, the Alder. The mallards in today’s photo were not impressed, and refused to move even after the cutters entered the Duluth Ship Canal. You may view more photos of the three cutters returning to Duluth via Lake Superior Waves.

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Day 057: Lighthouse Ducks!

Year 1

In my continuing series of ducks photographed with lighthouses, or if you prefer … lighthouses photographed with ducks, here is today’s input. The picture was taken about 1/2 hour before dawn in the Duluth, Minnesota ship canal (i.e. the entrance to the harbor from Lake Superior). The two ducks are mallards.

Here are some of the prior duck / lighthouse photographs

And today’s effort … different lighthouse. As this has now become a sub-theme, I figure there are four other lighthouses within 60 miles which are target duck / lighthouse photoshoots!

Post Update: This bird has been laughing at me for weeks (see below lighthouse pic), and I could not get a photograph. If you know what a Pileated Woodpecker sounds like, you’ll understand my reference to laughing. Finally … today … deep in a pine grove way up high …

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My Laughing Friend: Mr. Pileated Woodpecker
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