Yesterday the Cedar Waxwings were at it once again, with flocks containing hundreds of birds working their way south. The magic spot for the morning shortly after sunrise were the Mountain Ash Trees and their berries near McQuade Harbor. Before I provide images of yesterday’s beauty, here are my favorite spots with Google Maps links for the Autumn Migration between Two Harbors and Duluth. Generally bird these spots first thing in the morning driving towards Duluth which puts the sun behind you. This list presents my favorites in that direction.

• Two Harbors:  Two Harbors locations do better once fewer people are present …  tourist season is over after the fall foliage.
  • Lakeview National Golf Course
  • Burlington Bay / Burlington Bay Campground
  • Agate Bay / Lighthouse Point Hike
  • Lakeview Cemetery
• Knife River Marina and Beach
• Stoney Point Drive & Alseth Road
• French River Lutheran Church Bird Feeders (Ryan Road … 200 yards uphill from Scenic 61)(bird feeders are around back next to parking lot … watch out for pre-school children)
• McQuade Harbor (McQuade Road)
• Lakewood Pumping Station Area and Lakewood Road
• Brighton Beach and Mouth of the Lester River

And here are just a few of the Cedar Waxwings which were gorging themselves yesterday morning on mountain ash berries 300 yards up Scenic 61 from McQuade Harbor.

During September and October I often drive the backroads of Minnesota looking for Mountain Ash, Crabapple and believe it or not … Buckthorn Trees. While these fruit trees may be devoid of birds in the Fall, I know these locations will “bare fruit” (sorry for the pun) both in the winter, and early Spring.

Today I found Pine Grosbeaks in a crabapple tree. A few days back it was Bohemian Waxwings gorging themselves on buckthorn berries. While the Minnesota DNR for understandable reasons despises buckthorns, fruit eating birds would beg to differ. Thus in the winter I check back at fruit trees, and in the Spring these same trees will attract birds with their blossoms (the blossoms of some fruit trees are edible, and the same blossoms attract bugs).

Both of these birds have been a somewhat difficult find this winter, which is why my Autumn pre-work is important.

Pine Grosbeaks

Bohemian Waxwings