Tag Archives: MN North: Knife River

Day 310: Two Hikes … Two Birds

Year 1,

My morning hike took me down into the Knife River Ravine on the North Shore of Lake Superior. This ravine has old growth pines, with some dead trees. In short, great habitat for pileated woodpeckers. Shortly after arriving I heard the whack whack whack above me, and a few minutes of patience yielded today’s woodpecker photo.

In the afternoon I hiked out to the Superior Entry with my wife, son and his fiancee. Given all inland lakes and the harbor itself are now ice over, we found hundreds of goldeneyes in the channel to the open lake. Understanding how skittish goldeneyes are, I waited and soon walkers on the other side of the channel came to close and we had liftoff!

Pileated Woodpecker
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Goldeneye Takeoff
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Day 308 & 309: Late Migrants Through the Northern Forest

Year 1,

The last two days has seen me find two birds from farther north in Canada, that normally should have already migrated through my region. The Hooded Merganser totally surprised me as there is almost no open water anywhere for miles and miles around, yet it found an opening in a small stream to rest and eat.

In a similar sense, the Fox Sparrow was also attracted to a much larger river ravine where one could find a few open spots in the ice. Thus, find food and water in the winter, and you will find birds.

Day 308: Hooded Merganser
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Day 309: Fox Sparrow
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I also enjoyed photographing the arrival of this “laker” to Duluth late Thanksgiving afternoon. The sun and angle was perfect!
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Day 266: Black Birds and the Black of Night!

Year 1, ,

Today was a day for darkness … black, but laced with color! The day started with a hike along the St. Louis River. The fruit trees (dogwood and crab apple) were attracting the black birds, but with injections of color! Later during the night, the Northern Lights spiced up the night sky! It’s good to live in the Northland!

Grackle looking through Fall leaves!
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Red-Winged Blackbird and Crab A266-Birds-365-Red-Winged-Black-Bird-Crab-Applepples

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Northern Lights on the Horizon (Knife River Hiking Trail)
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