Tag Archives: MN South: Fish Lake Nature Trails

Birding with Grampa!

Year 7

In this Coronavirus world, the simple pleasures in life are the most important … including Birding with Grampa. Yesterday I took my two oldest Grandchildren (ages 10 and 8) birding. Their world has been turned upside down. In mid March these young children suddenly found themselves at home, not being allowed to visit friends or playgrounds, and elementary school was now conducted via distance learning. I know this Pandemic has been hard on everyone, but we adults are better equipped to deal with the stress. For young children their world has been turned upside down.

Thus, it was supremely important for me to be Grampa! Outings with Grampa are fun, and he always makes certain their are plenty of cake doughnuts with NO LIMITS on how many of these sweets one may eat (after all … I turn the children back over to my daughter … she has to deal with the sugar high … not me!). Ben and Mya were still half asleep when Grampa (i.e. me) insisted we leave for birding at 6:15 am. Karen, my daughter, had managed to get the kids up and ready. While some folks might think it would be better to wait for a later hour … they would be wrong! I wanted us to see birds … and we did!

Our birding excursion took us to the Fish Lake Nature Trails (extreme northern Twin Cities suburbs). The University of Minnesota owns hundreds of acres of oak savanna and prairie which is managed as a very cool nature preserve. Obviously habitat like an oak savanna is unheard of in northern Minnesota, and it is even quite rare down south in Minnesota. I knew from prior hikes that the trails were made for easy walking, and in early June the birds should not disappoint. Except for Saturdays, only the main trail is open to help wildlife not be bothered by us pesky humans. However, the main trails is fantastic, and we had it all to ourselves.

The birds did not let us down! In an hour of hiking, we saw close up (i.e. not requiring binoculars):

  • Bald Eagle
  • Baltimore Oriole
  • Blue Jays
  • Brown Thrasher
  • Common Yellowthroats
  • Eastern Kingbirds
  • Eastern Meadowlarks
  • Great Blue Herons
  • Red-Headed Woodpeckers
  • Rufous-Sided Towhees
  • Sandhill Cranes
  • Scarlet Tanager
  • Trumpeter Swans and chicks (cygnets)

The kids favorites birds were the Eastern Meadowlarks and Red-Headed Woodpeckers, closely followed by the Trumpeter Swan family. We all ate way to many cake doughnuts, including me!

Ben and Mya both asked for framed photographs of the birds we saw. Two weeks from today they will each get images that include the words: Birding with Grampa … and the bird’s name! I am happy to oblige.

Remember, if you have young children, or know families with young children … I am giving away full PDF copies of my children’s bird books. I want to help more than just my own family. Follow this link to learn more and download your copies.

Red-Headed Woodpecker

Eastern Towhee

Trumpeter Swan Family

Scarlet Tanager

Eastern Meadowlark

Birding Luck!

Year 5,

When birding even with great knowledge of habitat, one should never underestimate the value of luck! Over the past two days Lady Luck has been kind to me. At times I can drive the back roads, and hike remote trails and see almost nothing, but then there are times when you just get lucky.

Yesterday, when I noticed on weather radar that the heavy rains would be ending soon, I quickly decided to head over to Sax-Zim Bog. I only saw one other birder, and beyond that two other cars. Given the birder was out of his car and had binoculars glued to the sky, I stopped.

Connecticut Warbler! This little bird is one of the hardest to find warblers in North America. Its numbers have fallen over the past two decades, and its preferred nesting location is in the middle of tamarack bogs. These two facts make finding this little guy difficult, but this Mr. Connecticut was singing his heart out at the top of a pine tree. My thanks to Steve Clark who had been looking for this warbler for well over a day. Me, I just stumbled upon him and his find. Here is the eBird report which gives the location. I really believe this warbler has a nest near by, and will stay in the same basic area for a few weeks.

Bog Birds: Connecticut Warbler and Eastern Kingbird

Today, I drove south to attend a wedding. I only had a few minutes to bird at the Fish Lake Nature Trails. Once again, luck was with me. This Red-Headed Woodpecker immediately greeted me and posed nicely for a photo.

As noted, birding knowledge is great, but I will take luck anytime!

Woodpecker Weekend: Black Backed & Red Headed

Year 5,

No trips to the owling grounds this weekend. Instead it was Woodpecker Weekend! I knew the winds would be light allowing me to use my ears to locate some birds. At 8 am with the temperature at -17F (not windchill) I arrived at the Warren Nelson Bog. However, my Steger Mukluks were up to the chilly weather and I began my search. After almost two hours and only one black backed and hairy woodpecker, I decided to warm up in my car. Those two hours saw the air warm to almost zero degrees.

My next move was to drive over to McDavitt Road. The air continued calm and very soon I found a very cooperative Black Backed Woodpecker in the Boreal Bog. It was interesting to see how many folks who were slowly cruising McDavitt for owls I could entice out of their cars to hoof it into the woods to see a woodpecker. I think I had about a 50% success ratio. Major, major kudos to the guy who said “Absolutely!” and then got out of his vehicle and followed me into the woods using a cane (leg mishapen due to an accident a few years back I learned). His personal fortitude was amazing! I say well birded, sir!

After this fun morning in the Bog, I needed to drive down to the Twin Cities for some social engagements. I exited the Boreal Bog and birded an Oak Savannah this morning. It was amazing the number of red headed woodpeckers which were wintering in Minnesota. A side bonus was the air temperature at 8 am was already +1F … a heat wave for this northern Minnesota kid. Check out the Fish Lake Nature Trails! (not the Hennepin County Regional Park)

Oh yeah, even though I was not looking for owls in the Bog yesterday, I guess they were looking for me. I found this Northern Hawk Owl 800 yards in off McDavitt via the South Logging Road. Moral of the story, dress warmly and get out of your cars, folks!