Wilderness lakes up in the Northland have a certain magic. However, rather than take my word for this fact, trust the princesses! This Labor Day Weekend there have been three princesses (my granddaughters) running around with their magic wands. We feel very safe and special! However, if their magic is not strong enough … our local Ninja can protect us. (we did see a timber wolf near the cabin yesterday)
The birds are always special on Northstar Lake. This Bald Eagle juvenile was screaming “feed me”. I never saw Mom or Dad.
After visiting the eagle, I said hello to a couple of our Common Loons. These birds are in the process of either losing their breeding plumage (the adults), or testing our their flight wings (the juveniles)
I don’t normally post this kind of stuff, but I have been teaching my oldest grandson (10 years old) how to row this Labor Day Weekend. We are using a 12 foot Lund with oars! When we got back to the dock, one of my daughter’s-in-law got out her phone to show a YouTube video of Olympic rowers (Grampa rowed for Dartmouth in the 70’s and placed 2nd at the NCAA’s his senior year in college).
Heck … I thought, why should my grandson watch some unknown oarsman when he can watch Grampa! Thus, I bring you the Dartmouth 25th Reunion Regatta. I ended up in the boat with a bunch of lightweight rowers (maximum weight is 160 pounds … at least back in their college days). I rowed at 177 pounds … a rather light heavyweight rower. These days I tip the scale at 190 pounds.
Dartmouth College Reunion Regatta Row (link for email subscribers)
The location is the Connecticut River which forms the border between New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, New Hampshire). I am the #4 oarsman (counting from the bow). I did not have white hair back in 2003. I suggest skipping forward to 4:38 in the video where we get on the water. At 5:22 the theme from Chariots of Fire starts and the old guys row!
One funny aside … a few years ago I bicycle toured through Hanover and stopped to watch the varsity practicing. One of the woman from the 1st eight asked me if I rowed wooden boats and oars back in my day. Yes I responded … and then found the old black and white photograph of my varsity eight which was hanging on the wall in the boathouse. The question made me feel ancient, although both the men’s and women’s varsity claimed they were impressed with the 60 year old guy (and his wife) who were bicycle touring over 2,000 miles carrying their own gear. We looked like young bucks from pre-history.
Yesterday was a great day … another successful eye treatment which continues to prevent my going blind, and a fantastic dawn visit to Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. If you live in the NW Twin Cities this refuge MUST be on your bucket list. It is approximately 25 miles north of Elk River, and there a great trails and the Prairie’s Edge Wildlife Drive.
I utilized the wildlife drive yesterday morning, and although most of the grassland birds have already migrated south, the number of water birds was amazing. In addition, the water levels are down in the wetlands which really congregated the fishing birds. I don’t think I have ever seen so many Great Herons. I lost track of the numbers.
I really liked all the dead snags and their shapes.
Green Herons
While Pelicans
Bald Eagle (there was a pair of Bald Eagles trying to catch Cormorants)
I also found this image on my camera from a trip to the Joyce Estate one week ago. This Common Merganser Family was quite wet due to the morning fog. They never saw me till they swam within 5 yards.
Spending a sunrise on the wildlife drive was heavenly. I felt so blessed to have my eyesight and to be able to watch nature. Even better, not another person used the dirt road for the two hours I was birding. It was all mine! Upon getting back to my daughter’s house, my wife and I took our four grandchildren who live in Plymouth bicycle riding. The day ended with frozen pizza and a glass of Chardonnay back in Duluth. Life is good!
