Tag Archives: MN North: Lake Vermillion

Beauty in the Countryside

Year 10, ,

Life has been good to this intrepid wildlife lover over the past 48 hours. If viewing the wildflowers (Black Eyes Susans now appearing) as I cruise and walk the backroads and trails were not enough, beautiful birds keep jumping in front of my camera. One HUGE thing I love about northern Minnesota is the serenity and peacefulness I experience. It is not unusual to drive or hike for over 30 minutes without seeing another car on the road or human on the trail. In addition, no matter what you think you may see, nature provides a different playlist. Yesterday evening while birding an old apple farm just before sunset I was hoping to see Barred Owls I know live in the area. However, much to my surprise male Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers kept landing on fence posts a short distance away. I spent over 20 minutes with the sapsuckers!

Of course my own Great Horned Owls have entered into the equation. In the last 48 hours I have taken four hikes in the Lester / Amity Forest, and found the owls every time. The youngsters are now screeching softly as they beg for a meal.  Thus, if you recognize the sound it really helps find the owl family. In addition, the thimbleberry plants where I hike have leafed out and often provide evidence of owl whitewash on green leaves. Two evenings ago I found Mom Owl based upon the whitewash on the thimbleberry plants at the base of a white pine. I stopped, stared up and guess who was staring right down at me?!  I then paid attention to which way mom owl was looking most of the time and the location of one of the owlets was revealed 100 yards distant. 

Of course, even “ugly” can be beautiful. It would appear Turkey Vulture young have fledged if the number of vultures I am seeing now is any indication … and yes … turkey vultures can be beautiful!

Finally, did I mention wildflowers. Apparently Ruffed Grouse also like flowers. I think these yellow flowers are a kind a pea plant that grows commonly up here in the Northland on the sides of the road.

I was out this morning and had more unexpected finds, but that is a story for tomorrow! I need to work on the photographs I took this morning. Stay tuned …

Belted Kingfisher Falling Backwards

Year 10

Even the East German judge had to give Mom Belted Kingfisher a perfect “10” for her takeoff from the nest hole! Until this morning I never knew that kingfishers often fall out of their nest holes backwards and upside down after feeding their young.

While birding near Lake Vermilion this morning (thanks once again to Vermilion Dam Lodge) I noticed some chicks making themselves known at the nest hole opening. The end result is the nest hole is really full of small birds which leaves very little room for mom or dad kingfisher when they land to deliver a meal. Apparently the practical result of a hole being full of kingfisher chicks is that there is very little room, if not any, for the parent birds to turn around when taking off to leave. Look closely at the first “takeoff” photograph of mom and you will see she is upside down facing the wrong way. Within a micro second this problem is alleviated and she is in proper flight mode. The total elapsed time for this sequence of images is only a few seconds. Thankfully, I had noticed that mom kingfisher had landed on a nearby boulder, and when she took off in the direction of the nest, I pressed the shutter down (and kept it down). My camera was already pointed and focused on the nest hole area.

Belted Kingfisher Approaching (overall scene)

Mom Kingfisher Approaching (close-ups)

Feeding Chicks

Mom Kingfisher Exiting / Takeoff

Lake Vermilion Belted Kingfishers

Year 10

Although Belted Kingfishers spend most of their time fishing ponds, marshes and shallow bays of lakes, these birds may actually nest a short distance from the water. Kingfishers do not make nests but rather tunnel into the sides of steep banks where predators can not reach their young. Often the nest holes are in the sides of a stream or river ravines, but in my case this morning I found quite a few active nest holes in an optimal habitat area about 1/2 mile distant from Lake Vermilion. I also owe a HUGE thanks to the Vermilion Dam Lodge who gave me permission to bird their private property. The nests were NOT located in a public area of their resort.

Mom Kingfisher with a minnow for her newly hatched young.

Dad Kingfisher (he makes extremely quick visits to the nest hole to deliver food)

Visit #1

Visit #2