Tag Archives: MN North: Minnesota Point

Arctic Invasion Reprise at Sunrise!

May 31, 2015Year 2MN North: Minnesota Pointrichardhoeg@gmail.com

It was brisk, but sunny down on the end of Park Point (Duluth) by Sky Harbor at 5:40 am yesterday morning. A very strong wind blowing out of the north kept the Arctic shorebirds I had first spotted the day before around for another day. I actually saw one large flock flying south off Lester River. I believe they all decided it was not worth pushing north … too strenuous.

View this project’s Flickr photo stream. (click upon images to view at full size)

Ruddy Turnstones greet the sunrise!

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“The Local” gets invaded by Ruddy Turnstones and Sanderlings!

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Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings & Dunlins at Sunrise!

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A lone Ruddy Turnstone greets the sunrise … and “Follow the Leader”

Arctic Shore Birds Invade Duluth! (year 2, month 5)

May 29, 2015Year 2MN North: Minnesota Pointrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Sometimes the fog rolls out and one gets lucky. Shortly after 5:45 am this morning I went out birding, and after a quick check of the mouth of Lester River, I drove down to Park Point. The murky conditions improved when I reached Sky Harbor Airport, and after a short hike across the dunes on the boardwalk, I stopped behind the taped off area for piping plovers.

While I did see or hear any piping plovers, a huge number of migrating shorebirds which were having breakfast worked their way along the shoreline towards me . A few birds actually walked right up to within 10 feet of me! The combination of this closeness and my Canon 65x optical zoom yielded some neat photos.

My new lifers were:

Dunlin
Red Knot
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper!

Here are my photos from this morning … a very neat experience:

Ruddy Turnstone & Dunlin

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Sanderlings & Semipalmated Sandpiper (The Semipalmated Sandpiper is the little bird right in the center of the photo.)

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Red Knot and Ruddy Turnstone (The Red Knot is the bird right at the far left of the photo.)

Sanderling

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Dunlin

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Student Body!

Warblers Gone Wild! (year 2, month 5)

May 17, 2015Year 2MN North: Minnesota Point, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

For the past two days, strong northeast winds off Lake Superior have stopped the northern warbler migration. If one has been willing to brave the ugly weather (40F, 20+ mph winds, and drizzle), hundreds of warblers may be seen at the end of Park Point and on the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth. These birds are smart, and do NOT want to fly against such strong winds.

The two locations noted channel birds into high density concentrations as the birds definitely do NOT want to fly out over Lake Superior in these conditions. Thus, the birds hold in location, or work their way along the shoreline. Although Park Point may have had more warblers, I prefer the Western Waterfront Trail. It allows better opportunities for photographs. The trail works its way along the St. Louis River, and one may often look down, or level with small trees which sometimes makes bird photography easier.