Tag Archives: MN North: Canosia Wildlife Area

Bog Stompin to the Heron Rookery!

June 11, 2018Year 5MN North: Canosia Wildlife Arearichardhoeg@gmail.com

This morning, shortly after 6am, I found myself squishing, stompin, and kerplopping along a Northwoods trail. My goal was to visit a Great Blue Heron Rookery and see whether the chicks were ready to make an appearance. Upon my arrival I was pleased to see the hike through the mosquito infested forest had been worthwhile! The melodious sound of Great Blue Herons greeted me, and for the next two hours I watched these huge birds glide into and do a somewhat controlled crash landing at their own nest to deliver breakfast.

This first image shows where I hung out in the Bog. I never approached closer than this spot. With my super zoom camera and binoculars I could easily watch the proceedings. Thankfully my viewing location soon caught a morning breeze and the bugs became less of a nuisance. The rising sun also raised the temperature from 45F to 63F. Life was good!

Here are the photographs from my morning at the rookery. I will have to return in about one week when the chicks are bigger. I’ll lead off with a video from this morning!

Images

While I was watching the herons, this Osprey was watching me! Its nest was only 200 yards distant. In total I found two active Osprey nests and one Common Loon’s nest while travelling to the rookery this morning! As some haze moved in, I decided to call it quits and come back another day.

Re-Engaging with Warmth … Birds “Loving” It!

May 7, 2016Year 3MN North: Canosia Wildlife Area, MN North: NorthStar Lake Region, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Over the past few days, the winds out of the Northeast off Lake Superior have blown themselves out, and warm southern winds have taken over in the Northland. With this change of wind direction, along with a few showers, the first bug hatches have occurred and the local flora and fauna have begun to get ready to raise families.

Two days ago, I drove up to NorthStar Lake which is a bit shy of the Minnesota / Canadian border. We own a small cabin on Federal forest land which is our special place in the wilderness. In addition to chores such as setting up the water system (i.e. wading out into the lake … 40 degree water), I took my first kayak paddle and said hello to our local loon family. I look forward to seeing their chicks in late June and early July.

Yesterday, the south winds blew fiercely and for a short time in the afternoon our local temperature (95F) was warmer that Death Valley, California! Go figure!? With the warm weather and bug hatch the first warblers have returned to the woods, and the local Osprey and Great Blue Heron families are getting on with family planning!

Sunrise Rainbow … on the way to the cabin.

———-

My first Common Loon photo of the season

———-

Cabin Scenes … Good Books! / Dock in the Water / Back Yard
(in addition to some classics, books by my friend, Outdoor writer, Sam Cook)

———-

Ospreys Making Love!

———-

Setting Up the Nest (Great Blue Heron)

———-

A Porcupine Watches all the Bird Families

———-

Brown Thrashers Sings out for Spring! (2 different birds)

Canosia State Wildlife Refuge – Opsreys & Great Blue Herons!

April 27, 2016Year 3MN North: Canosia Wildlife Arearichardhoeg@gmail.com

Here in northern Minnesota, given ice out finally occurred, birds who eat fish have returned. Yesterday evening I hiked back into a rookery with the goal of determining whether my friends were back. Yes!

Thus, this morning I set out before dawn and ended back at Canosia. After a hike I arrived at the rookery. The Great Blue Herons and Ospreys tolerate each others presence. Such was NOT the case when a local bald eagle dive bombed the herons, but struck out on obtaining breakfast.

The Ospreys nest must be prime real estate. At one point I saw from a distance four male birds sitting on the nest and calling out to attract a female! Still it was fun when I got closer to see the remaining three squabbling over who got to keep the nest. A video may be found of the “trio” at the bottom of this post.

Squabbling Ospreys