Tag Archives: MN North: South Bog

The Colors and Sounds of Summer!

Year 10, ,

Tuesday will be the 1st of August, and the formal kickoff of the fall migration here in the Northwoods. While a few bird species are already southward bound, the bug eaters will pull out of the woods in early August. Chirping warblers will be history for another year. In the meantime, it is a time of plenty. I’ve been enjoying both the sights and sounds of Summer.

Most days start off around 5 am when my resident pair of White-Tailed Deer Bucks visit my bird feeders. The bucks are in velvet.

White-Tailed Bucks in Velvet

and the movie (video link for email subscribers)

This morning it was 5:45 am when I started my morning hike. Sunrise on July 28th was at the same time, and by being out in the woods right at sunup it is easy to find hungry owlets which are begging for a handout from Mom. Such was the case this morning with the Great Horned Owlets. I heard them from 250 yards away, and quickly set up shop underneath the white pine tree where they were hoping to get a visit from Mom. I could hear her responding to their calls about another 200 yards distant, but there were no food deliveries this morning.

FuzzBall and Junior Great Horned Owlets

And the movie … I have no idea what the owlets were watching! (video link for email subscribers)

Did I mention the sounds and colors of summer? This is the time of year when I often sit in the garden next to the Bee Balm. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds often announce their visits by first checking me out inches away from my head … thus the humming sound. If the wind is calm enough I am able to hear the hummingbirds singing to each other.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (female getting food for nestlings)

The Red-Fox kits are still leading a life of leisure. Hunting excursions to the near by hay bales are required, but still the kits do not head out on true hunting excursions.

Red Fox Kit Hunting on a Hay Bale

One event that takes place now is many loons, ducks, grebes and geese lose their ability to fly as flight feathers moult.  This Red-Necked Grebe was fishing Lester River three afternoons ago. There are lots of first of year smelt, trout and salmon begging to be eaten!

Red-Necked Grebe

Quite often the drive over to where I intend to bird is beautiful. Yesterday morning a bit before 6 am rain was working its way out of the region, and thus I was able to chase a rainbow near the Artichoke River.

Chasing a Rainbow in Bog Country

Artichoke River at Sunrise

Finally I love living near Lake Superior (about 800 yards). While most of North America is in the midst of a heat wave, our temperatures rarely exceed 75F. The windows in our home are always wide open which brings the sounds of summer inside every minute of the day. Life is good!

Finally, I initially forgot to insert the Alligator Snapping Turtle in yesterday’s post. Thus for my email subscribers … here is “Speedy with an Attitude”

Raspberries +Thimbleberries = Owls!

Year 10, , ,

I had my first “yummy” owl hike yesterday afternoon. Summer’s berries are becoming ripe in the Northwoods, and the birds (and small mammals) are very aware of this fact. For me ripening berries means I get to snack as I walk, but it also attracts other consumers which are perfect prey for young owls learning to hunt. In one of my bigger berry patches I found both Great Horned Owlets yesterday afternoon. Thimbleberries like shade, and the owls love the fact that this fruit grows underneath some of their favorite white pine perches.

I am pretty certain FuzzBall is the owlet in the back of these photographs. Fuzz is the older owlet, and thus has darker plumage. Junior still looks younger. Regardless, it was great to find them.

The Osprey Twins are getting big! As I drove past them once again an hour later Mom Osprey had left them in the nest alone for the first time. Big chicks require both parents actively fishing.

Once I actually got to Sax-Zim Bog, my best “bird” was this Alligator Snapping Turtle on Admiral Road. I was hoping I might find a few juvenile Great Gray Owls. I did see multiple Northern Harrier Couples hunting. Just like the Osprey family, the Harriers need to have both parents hunting for their young.

Finally, as the sun rose a bit in the sky and the day warmed, I was reminded by this Red Fox Kit of the song … Bring Back the Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer.

In closing pay attention to mid Summer to late Summer food sources. The birds are not starting to actively use these foods. Here on the shores of Lake Superior, some of the first southern migrants are now appearing as they leave the Arctic and start their long journeys to winter habitat. Remember, during the fall migration, birds will often linger in an area for significant periods of time if good food sources are near by.

In my own garden, the Bee Balm is starting to bloom, which means Chardonnay and Hummers!

Red Fox Kit Learning to Hunt

Year 10

Yesterday morning I went straight to the fox den I recently found NW of Duluth. As a fyi, whenever I head out before sunrise I always have a primary target opportunity. Three days ago it was the Black-Eyed Susans in the first morning misted light. Even though I normally leave well before sunrise, I know from experience that during summer and the time of bountiful food, within 90 minutes of actual sunup, many mammals and birds become much less active, and the light becomes harsh. Thus … red fox kits mean no wildflowers and vice versa. Obviously I will always find wildflowers, and often the fox kits will be snoozing near the den, but …..

As noted yesterday morning I was back at the fox den just as the sun peeked over the tree tops. The fox kit did not disappoint. Soon the den will be abandoned as the kits now must go on hunting expeditions and then fend for themselves. Yesterday one of the kits was practicing its hunting skills from atop some hay bales. In the final image the same red fox has returned to the den area. It was time for a morning snooze which started within minutes.

During my early morning meanderings three days ago, I also found these Sandhill Cranes. They had also completed their morning feed, and were now grooming themselves. The cranes were hanging out by a small pond about 300 yards from the fox den.

And finally one close-up from my “barn” owl morning a few days ago. Please remember no photograph is worth trespassing upon private property. I first discovered that the Great Horned Owl loved the barn window perch six weeks ago. Over the intervening time period I met the farm couple, introduced them to the life cycle of nesting owls and gained their friendship. I now have rights to walk their property at any time!

Northern Minnesota “Barn” Owl (close-up … see the barn image)