There were black heads! Yup, Red-Headed Woodpeckers have to wait to get their brilliant scarlet heads. When these chicks first fledge they do not win beauty contests when compared to their parents, but their day will come. I had been monitoring this woodpecker family for a few weeks, and although I never found their nest hole, I knew their haunts. I first had to wait for the Lake Superior fog to burn off this morning.
In addition to visiting Cloverland this morning, over the past few days I have been back to the duck pong to check on my Green Heron chicks many times. As the winter migration of shore birds is beginning, I also have to keep my eyes open for new arrivals. Yesterday morning it was a few Sanderlings, and in the afternoon a Solitary Sandpiper. Birding should improve in terms of species as the winter migration gets going. The heron chicks are starting to look less dorky! No ID is necessary for the the final duck pong bird.
On this afternoon’s bike ride, my Talmedge River Belted Kingfisher was sitting it her normal spot on a tree in the fog!
Finally, Turkey Vultures can also be beautiful, particularly when one photographs them just a few minutes after sunrise (image taken during last week’s trip over to Cloverland).
I know it’s Wednesday, but if it were Saturday this blog post title would be 100% appropriate. After all, before there was Netflix, Hulu or even Blockbuster Video, there was Saturday Night at the Movies. For those of us who grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, NBC would pick a film and the nation would tune in their television sets. No options!
Enjoy a short clip of the opening credits …
Here in Duluth while I was growing up we had two TV stations, CBS and NBC. Today the options are endless, including YouTube. Over the past few mornings I have made the short drive over to Cloverland, Wisconsin. Both the birding and weather has been fantastic. Thus, I bring you Saturday Night at the Movies … the Birding Special. (still images follow the movies)
Upland Sandpiper Singing: This bird is somewhat rare. It will start is winter migration back to South America within the next week or two. This Mom and its chick hang out near the Cloverland Town Hall.
Red-Headed Woodpecker: This pair hangs out at the corner of Green Acres Road and Wisc. Hwy #13. This kind of woodpecker is rare for the Northland, and Cloverland is at the edge of its northern range. In the first movie, you will watch and hear the woodpecker singing. In the second film the bird chatters and drums.
Not only was I seeing “red” but often double! Some photos of “Red”
Here are some images of the Upland Sandpiper mom and its chick.
Equal time was demanded by the raptors. I have been having fun watching both a pair of Red-Tailed Hawks, and some Northern Harriers. I was lucky enough to see the Harrier make a kill. Always pay particular attention to newly mowed fields and hay bales. These fields are cafeterias for birds and animals.
The Upland Sandpiper was not the only “piper” around. This Solitary Sandpiper likes to visit a small farm pond every morning.
Post Update on July 23rd: I received a comment to this post correctly pointing out that the bird shown below is “not” a Solitary Sandpiper. That assessment is correct and I definitely ID’d the bird wrong. At this point, I am undecided between a Stilt Sandpiper, Long Billed Dowitcher or Short-Billed Dowitcher. Merlin Bird ID’s best guess was a Stilt Sandpiper.
Please note I did not approve the comment which informed me of my incorrect ID, but only because the person used a fictitious email account. Should people desire privacy and not have their names listed in comments, my email address may be found in the “About Me” section of this blog. Thank you.
Farms also mean barns, which mean Barn Swallows. I finally found a Barn Swallow perched lower to the ground.
This ends today’s version of Saturday Night at the Movies!
I love this time of year. I never know what will catch my attention on a birding expedition. New chicks fledge daily, and make their presence known to the world. While tree swallows were definitely not the focus of my trip to the Wisconsin Grasslands near Cloverland, when presented with 30+ screaming tree swallows demanding food from overworked parents, I stopped to enjoy the show.
I also enjoyed a hike into a forested glade where my Red-Headed Woodpeckers are nesting. The tall grass now reaches over five feet. At one point I heard something swishing through the grass. Moments later a fawn was staring at me from ten feet away. Mom was obviously out foraging.
