Tag Archives: MN North: Hawk Ridge

Indigo Sunrise

Year 11

My Haikubox told me within the last week that Indigo Buntings had arrived back to the Northland (see my review of Haikubox and bird migration). For me this means I have to take my annual trip to Hawk Ridge just after sunrise. I wait for a sunny day with light winds. It was 45F when I left for Hawk Ridge (only 4 miles from my home via 7 Bridges Road). Light winds are necessary to insure I don’t freeze up there since I am always wearing shorts! Light winds also means better birding.

By 5:30 am (sunrise is at 5:15 am) I was walking down the wooden stairs from Skyline Parkway to the ledge. I waited for the singing to begin, and It only took a few minutes before I heard multiple male Indigo Buntings singing out to show their territories.

Indigo Sunrise – the view back towards the harbor. The large white building is Northland Country Club where I caddied for many years. Imagine carrying two large, heavy golf bags up the rather steep Duluth hill. My biggest fear was getting assigned two golfers who would end up duffing balls to opposites sides of the fairway / rough (remember the hill). Back in the early 1970’s one was paid $5 for 18 holes of caddying (6+ hours of work). Normally a caddy could also expect a $1 tip and a can of pop after nine holes. It was not easy work. Monday’s caddies were allowed to golf free at Northland Country Club, but one had to tee off by 8:00 am. I don’t believe I ever saw a member play early on a Monday morning!

Indigo Bunting Sunrise

Indigo and Red Were the Colors of the Day

Year 10,

Late Spring is a time of plenty for us birders. My first stop shortly after sunrise was the Hawk Ridge Ledges where Indigo Buntings were advertising for mates in full force.

Next I walked the woods only 800 yards from my own house. Apparently a pair of Red-Headed Woodpeckers are considering making my forest home their home! (Thanks to Ben Anderson who posted on eBird!) Red-Headed Woodpeckers may be expanding their range into the Duluth area. Each year a few more seem to nest locally, and now near my house!

NE Minnesota Birding Updates

Year 9,

Okay … my owls will have to wait a while before I am willing to visit. The mosquitoes are horrible in the woods. Even though I’ve heard crow attacks, the buzzing monsters have forced me to turn back several times.

Thus, northeast birding (not just Duluth) should be limited to areas somewhat out in the open. This morning I discovered that Sax-Zim Bog has a record number of bzzzzzing bugs. However, there are options …

  • Hawk Ridge is a great for finding Indigo Buntings at sunrise. This little guy shown below was singing his heart out yesterday morning at 6:30 am.
  • The Red-Headed Woodpeckers on the Western Waterfront Trail were also still courting yesterday morning
  • A hike along the railroad tracks out into Mud Lake did NOT yet yield any yellow-headed blackbirds