Tag Archives: MN North: Canosia Wildlife Area

Bald Eagle Migration Day … Change in the Wind

Near the end of Mary Poppins – when the blue bird of happiness a-wing -there comes a shift in wind direction. This was important because Mary Poppins had agreed to stay only until the wind changes. With the weathervane’s spin, it is time to leave.

Birding is a bit like the Mary Poppins movie. This morning the winds blew strongly out of the south for one of the first times this late winter. When I went out birding this morning I saw numerous bald eagles migrating north on the south wind. This evening I will drive over to Superior, Wisconsin in search of Snowy Owls. The same strong winds which brings Bald Eagles back to the Northland, will drive the Snowys up to the Arctic. Today is a changeover day.

Bald Eagle taking off in the Canosia Wildlife Area.

Osprey Feeding Time

Yesterday morning at 7 am I checked up on one of my local Osprey families. I knew that fledgling will soon occur, and I wanted to see them once more before that becomes much more difficult. I think Mom Osprey wants her youngster to fly. At one point she flew to a dead snag 20 yards distant from the nest and spend the next 20 minutes screaming at her children!

Canosia Wildlife Preserve Osprey Photographs

The other fun event occurred during my bicycle ride yesterday afternoon. While cycling past McQuade Harbor I spied a wedding couple with a classic ore boat in the background. I jumped off my bike and took this photograph. Via a local Facebook group I managed to track down the wedding couple and will be delivering to them at no charge a high res, non watermarked version of the image. While their photographer certainly took great photos, it was only from my perspective across the small harbor that this pic was possible. I wanted the new couple to have the image as a wedding present.

It’s nice to see happy events in these unsettling times. As a fyi, I always carry a camera and monopod when cycling.

Double Your Pleasure Owling! (and other birds)

Ever wonder why it is hard to find owls? This was my view yesterday afternoon around 4 pm. My thanks to the Blue Jays which led me to the tree. At first, I only saw one Great Horned Owl. I keep wondering how long the parents will continue to help feed the youngsters. My understanding is a helping hand (or talon) will be given into the Fall. Most nights the young owls fly over to my yard, start screeching (begging) in the hopes Mom or Dad will bring them some food.

Individual Portraits

I also stopped by one of my local Osprey nests where food was also in the process of being delivered.

Even though today is July 30th, winter migration has definitely started. I found these two Great Yellowlegs enjoying some insects in a local pond. Their summer breeding range starts about 500 miles north of Duluth, and they will work their way down to the Gulf Coast of the United States and Mexico for the winter.