Tag Archives: MN North: Canal Park

Sea Smoke Deep Freeze Birding on the Arctic Riviera!

December 13, 2016Year 3MN North: Canal Park, MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: Two Harbors Highlandsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The temperature fell to -7 last night with a HUGE wind to create dangerous windchills and Sea Smoke on Lake Superior. Thus, what’s a photographer to do? Enjoy the weather!

In my first image, the ore boat / freighter … the Great Lakes Trader arrives at Canal Park in Duluth this morning surrounded by Sea Smoke. After my Sea Smoke sunrise photo, I’ve included a pic taken a few moments later with seagulls. The birds are not scared by the freighter … rather the immense engines and propellers suck up and kill fish … free food for gulls to snatch out of the ship’s wake.

This image was my final photograph at Canal Park. I had to run with my gear to change my perspective and capture the ore boat showing the other lighthouse at Canal Park and the ice encrusted bow of the Great Lakes Trader.

This cold has finally driven some northern birds down to the Arctic Riviera. Pine Grosbeaks consider our northern Minnesota climate balmy compared to the northern Boreal forests in Canada. We are the southern Boreal forests! In addition, many northern eagles have now flown down to our area courtesy of strong northwest winds. Finally goldeneyes are making their winter home in the Duluth area now that Lake Superior is the only open water around.

Good-Bye Pure Google!

November 18, 2016BackgroundMN North: Canal Parkrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Pure Google Birding … alas, it is no more!

Four years ago I purchased a Google Nexus 10 tablet. I loved the “pure Google” platform w/o bloatware which also insured I received the latest Android operating system updates. This tablet went birding everywhere with me in northern Minnesota. My trips often took me off the grid deep into the boreal forest on unmarked logging roads. Thankfully my Google Nexus 10 had a gps chip, and by having downloaded Google Maps for offline use, even when off the grid and approaching remote dirt road intersections, I could figure out my location. Thus, when I spied some interesting new bird, not only did I know how to get home but had my birding apps to help with identification.

Yes, I originally had cravings for a Google Pixel C, but their new tablet unlike the Nexus 10 no longer has a GPS chip. During my research I discovered that most “wifi only”(i.e. no cellular plan) tablets no longer have GPS chips . One of the few tablets with GPS is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7 inch screen with 32 gb). This morning I found out that if you are willing to be “uncool” and order a “gold colored” tablet, the price is marked down from $499 to $385. Now it is quite possible that some New York City fashionista will track me down near the Canadian border in Minnesota and look down their nose at my non chic tablet color … who cares!

Given my years of being known by my nickname, The Northstar Nerd, I will need consolation from my readers during my time of mourning over the loss of pure Google! However, I will still be on the Android platform. Apple? Eh gads, no!

Seriously … if your travels while birding or photographing often take you off the grid, when purchasing your next tablet, check VERY carefully to insure that device has a GPS chip.

Good-Bye Pure Google

On the weather front, the promised winter storm / blizzard appears to be starting to make itself known early this morning in Minnesota. Birding will be difficult today. Thus, in the meantime here is a pic from a few nights ago … a calm, warm night down on the Duluth waterfront. A classic ore boat is approaching the Duluth ship canal with the moon rising immediately behind the freighter.

The Strawberry Moon Over Lake Superior

June 20, 2016Year 3MN North: Canal Parkrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Now arriving tonight at Canal Park in Duluth, the freighter Whitefish Bay under the Strawberry Moon! (and some lighthouse photos)

The first image is a particular favorite of mine. I was almost ready to call it quits last night, when I noticed the Whitefish Bay approaching the entrance to the Duluth harbor. I then positioned myself and hoped the moon would not get too high. During the wait I played around with higher ISO settings because I knew I would need a faster shutter speed to insure the ship was not blurry due to motion. In addition, I worked my zoom lens in and out, trying to insure the moon did not get too small, but also allowing me to zoom out for a wider image. I settled on 1,600 ISO. Normally I like to photograph the moon with an ISO of 100 which will yield less noise in a finished image. Finally I set my aperture open wider than normal for a moonrise (5.6) to capture more light. The end result was I was able to have an exposure of only 1/200th of a second and render the Whitefish Bay motionless.