Tag Archives: MN North: Forest Hill Cemetery

Summer’s End Sunflowers & Birding

Year 8,

Today is August 12th, and it may seem strange to be talking about summer’s end, but “meteorological summer” ends with August, not September 21st. Here in northeastern Minnesota over the next few days temperatures will drop into the mid 40’s at night, and ground fog / lake steam will be common at sunrise. While there are still hot days ahead, the “times are a changing”. Many birds have already started their southward migration. Warblers are the latest bird specie to start exiting the northern forests (monitor this Fall’s migration via BirdCast).

Today is one week since my two surgeries which means I am now allowed to take some longer excursions. At sunrise I visited MK3 Hardwood Farms. This family farm plants a field of sunflowers and includes a walking path through the blossoms. Sunflowers are at their peak right now, and one would be hard pressed to find a better morning walk. (MK3 Hardwood Farms: corners of Cty 18 and Matten Road near Wrenshall). If you are not able to visit at sunrise, arrive 90 minutes before sunset. The colors early in the morning and late in the day are amazing, and it’s cooler! Although there is no “admission charge”, make sure you leave a donation in the wooden box at the entrance to the walking path.

Here are some photographs from my visit early this morning

Someone always has to be different!

With the end of summer approaching, birds start to feed in ways you may not anticipate, but they are just taking advantage of great food sources. Many of you may think Cedar Waxwings are berry eating birds. Actually this Cedar Waxwing was ignoring the berries and acting like a fly catcher. They will eat berries once bugs disappear.

In fact, hundreds of waxwings were diving out over the pond to catch bugs … very common for August. The final image is a juvenile. Note how its colors are not as bright, and the streaking. Camouflage for when it was in the nest. There are a lot of predators around.

Smoke Town Birding

Year 8

Have you ever heard of S.A.D.? Seasonal Affective Disorder is a depression (Mayo Clinic Link) most common as the amount of daylight shortens as winter approaches. In much of America this summer, the disorder should be renamed to Smoke Affective Disorder. If you’ve looked up in the sky almost anywhere in the United States or Canada, blue skies are extremely rare as smoke fills the skies from forest fires.

When I got up this morning it was dark at sunrise. An hour later it was still dark. I hate all this wildfire smoke. The forest fire season started early this year due to the drought, and will likely last till the fall rains come in September. Ugh. Do you have S.A.D.? I certainly do.

Regardless, I did go birding around 10 am this morning … very late for me. Stopping at Forest Hill Cemetery in Duluth, I was pleased to find three green herons hunting the pond with islands. I suspect there is a nest tucked into the willow trees on the island. Even with S.A.D., I had fun!

Some notes:

  1. I’ll be offline for about one week. Was thrilled to learn some heart surgery was moved up 1.5 months to Thursday. I am doing fine, but still have issues related to my new heart valve. Not in any danger.
  2. Yogi continues to attack my bird feeders. I am stubborn in keeping them up all summer long. The latest attacked was at 3:30 am two night ago. Heard and then saw Yogi. He is BIG!
  3. The Great Horned Owl chicks start begging every night about 9:15 pm. Occasionally they visit my yard. Have not been able to find their daytime perching spot. If you live in Duluth Lakeside and hear night time screeching look up to the tops of the trees. You may see an owl silhouetted against the sky.
  4. The second Red-Headed Woodpecker nest ever found in Duluth (any year) was successful!
  5. There are some Chukars running around Duluth Lakeside. As these birds would be crazy out of range, must be escapees from a game farm, . Tend to be found around 46th Avenue East.

Know Your Local Ponds! Great Birding

Year 8, ,

Yesterday morning I “did the ponds.” These small bodies of water are great birding opportunities. Better yet, if the ponds have small islands to make wildlife feel safe, even better. Quite often cemeteries will have ponds. The best ponds do NOT have manicured lawns next to them. Tall grasses and wetlands are the best. In Duluth I often visit Forest Hill and Sunrise Cemeteries. In addition, Sam’s Club has a nice pond opposite its car service area. One final advantage of urban ponds, the wildlife is often accustomed to people which makes getting close much, much easier.

Pond Pics … A Otter, Kingfisher (female) and Green Heron

After a day at the ponds, I was out hiking before sunrise at 5:30 this morning. My local Red-Eyed Vireos started screeching in alarm and thus I was rewarded with finding two owlets.