Tag Archives: MN North: Old Vermilion Trail

Day 358: Windblown Birds!

The sun was out today, but the wind was gusting to 25 mph. Given the late afternoon temperature almost reached freezing I went birding after going Nordic skiing at Brule, Wisconsin. Although the wind was really buffeting around all the birds, I actually found the northern hawk owl hunting at Kelly J’s. I’ve included a video on the wind blown bird!

Windblown Northern Hawk Owl & Black-Capped Chickadee
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Video of Kelly J’s Owl

Day 355: A Bird of Many Names!

Anyone who has canoed in the BWCA (Boundary Waters Canoe Area) may know this bird as the “campground thief”. This delightful visitor to the Duluth area in the winter has many other names: Whiskey Jack, Canada Jay, and the more common … Grey Jay. This morning I had the pleasure of watching two jays flit from tree top to tree top about one mile in on Old Vermilion Trail (see directions / map to my public feeders on the trail).

Canada Jay / Grey Jay / Whiskey Jack / Campground Thief!
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Days 348 to 350: Frozen Fingers Photography!

Each morning for the past few days the weather has dawned with temperatures of -10F and worse (plus 20 to 30 mph winds for even worse chill factors). Birding has been tough, both of me and the birds. I still try to get out shortly after sunrise as birds are most active right after the long cold nights as they search for feed to replace energy expended keeping themselves warm. Thus, here are a few photos from the last three days where I braved the elements, and often got extremely cold … finger hurting cold.

For the last photo, I can not resist …

Would you like to swing on a star,
Carry moonbeams home in a jar?
Or would you rather be a duck?

My apologies to Bing Crosby … here is the classic tune.

Day 348: White-Breasted Nuthatch
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Day 349: Blue Jay
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Day 350: Goldeneye during an “Alberta Clipper
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