Tag Archives: MN North: Forest Hill Cemetery

Snow Buntings Herald the start of Winter

Year 10,

Most folks think winter starts on December 21st. People who pay attention to the “meteorological calendar” might say December 1st, but individuals who live in northern Minnesota would be excused if they said about November 1st! Yesterday I was wearing shorts for a hike in the woods (47F and some sun), but today required a heavy jacket gloves and pants. Future weather forecasts have lows in the mid 20’s, and highs in the mid 30’s.

The blast of cold weather with strong NW winds, and even a sprinkling of snow on the ground brought snow buntings south with a vengeance. The number of these small birds hanging around is amazing … from flocks to well over 300 birds to just a few. By the time the snow buntings reach northern Minnesota from their summer homes in the Arctic, they have significantly less white plumage. Hopefully I will see some late this winter on their way back north. They are little white puffballs. When I see snow buntings I know that this season’s migration is over in terms of birds which “pass through”. The only remaining birds to now arrive are those Arctic birds which will winter on the Arctic Riviera (Duluth area)

Anyhow … some pics of buntings from the last two days

Some unexpected sunshine yesterday afternoon

This morning with snow on the ground.

Bad Birding … Great Colors!

Year 10, ,

The last week has been horrible for birding. Almost all our locals have departed south, and the Arctic and Tundra arrivals are staying north (think southerly headwinds). Add almost nonstop dreary skies and frequent rain showers and a person could almost decide to move to the desert southwest (almost … but not quite). When the sun did pop out on a few occasions and I was poised with my camera. It was beautiful.

Last Monday Molly suggested at the last moment we enjoy some unexpected sun and eat out at the top of Mont du Lac. This is the hill where we both learned to ski back in our youth, and over the past few years a new owner has invested lots of money in what was a tired ski resort. This image was taken at sunset from the restaurant at the top of the hill overlooking the St. Louis River.

Tuesday afternoon found me escaping the “blah” conditions next to Lake Superior and driving over to Sax-Zim Bog. The Tamaracks are golden, and the late afternoon sun made for brilliant birding, but someone forgot to tell the birds! I walked for three miles and saw only three of our feathered friends … a chickadee, crow and blue jay.

Here is a photo of Admiral Road from that afternoon.

Finally yesterday afternoon I heard there were some local Arctic celebrities at the Forest Hill ponds. I enjoyed the four Ross’s Geese and the one Blue Morph Snow Goose.

This Monday morning … more rain … I am NOT out birding.

Cooper’s Hawk Mantling its Prey

Year 10

My expectations upon heading out birding this morning were infinitesimal. The wind was gusting over 25 mph … not to mention the rain. In fact I wondered why on earth I was even trying to find birds. Only a person with a “birdbrain” would decide to go birding in such horrible weather.

With these extremely high expectations I drove over to the Forest Hill Cemetery (see Minnesota birding locations web page). Immediately I found Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers looking for breakfast at one of the ponds. Moments later I discovered a “non fisherman” mantling and then enjoying its meal.

When hawks catch their prey, these birds often “mantle”. The goals of this behavior is to spread their wings and hide their catch from other predators. This juvenile Cooper’s Hawk was NOT interested in sharing!

Cooper’s Hawk Mantling its Prey

A few moments later … enjoying breakfast.

I watched the Cooper’s Hawk eat for over 20 minutes. Its prey (duck or goose??) was obviously too heavy to be moved.

Oh yes … the horrible weather?? On a normal morning Forest Hill Cemetery would have been full of folks taking a morning walk. However, this morning I had the cemetery to myself which turned horrible birding conditions into a fantastic time. I doubt my special time with the Cooper’s Hawk would ever had occurred on a nice day.

And two videos from this morning (video links for email subscribers: one | two)