Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Pouring Rain Polka Party Birding!

May 5, 2024Year 11MN North: Greenwood Forest Fire Area, MN North: Two Harbors Highlandsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

When it was pouring rain at 6:30 am yesterday morning, what was the correct action for the morning? The obvious answer was to go birding! I decided I didn’t want to be house bound and therefore I drove well north of Two Harbors to cruise back roads. This was a great decision.

First, I was able to listen to the Fun Time Polka Party. Thus, as I drove north my car was filled with polka power music. This was a significant episode because the premier polka king of the Northland, Florian Chmielewski, whose granddaughter hosts this show had unfortunately died this past week. I can remember watching the Chmielewski Fun Time Hour with my parents years ago (news report of the passing of the former musician, state senator and dairy farmer … video link for email subscribers)

After enjoying music and interviews with an icon, I was surprised and dumbfounded when my birding was fantastic. It just shows, when migration is in full force it is ALWAYS a good decision to go birding!

Trumper Swans on Langley River

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Broad-Winged Hawk and its Prey … a Ruffed Grouse

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Ring-Billed Ducks on Stoney River Forest Road

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

And from a few days earlier … some Ruffed Grouse seen in the same area. During yesterday’s time with the victorious Broad-Winged Hawk, even though it was raining a grouse was drumming near by. I almost wonder if the hawk was hiding and waiting to see if someone would be attracted by the drumming. During courtship most birds are not very careful. Love is dangerous!

Fox Hunt … the Pounce and Kill

February 12, 2024Year 11MN North: Two Harbors Highlandsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Saturday morning I was treated to something I rarely get to watch. While I often see both Red and Gray Foxes (Gray frequents my feeders), it is unusual that I get a nice vantage point for watching a hunt. These canines have a particular way to capturing their prey … launch off their hind legs … leap through the air … and land with their front legs down to capture their prey.

I was quite a ways distant, but if I had been close the fox would have seen me and run into the woods.

Red Fox … Hunt and Pounce

Sunday Night at the Movies … Minnesota Style

November 5, 2023Year 10MN North: Amity, MN North: Sax-Zim Bog, MN North: Two Harbors Highlandsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

How many of you remember the days before one could even rent VCR tapes? In my youth during the early 1960’s this meant gathering around the TV as a family to watch “Sunday Night at the Movies”! Everyone hoped the two networks (CBS and NBC) had picked a film the entire family would love. Here in Duluth we had only two TV stations (ABC was still somewhere off in the future). Heck, our city at the time did not even have a McDonalds.

Thus, I bring you 365 Days of Birds at the Movies … on Sunday night (at least that is when I am blogging). (Image courtesy of FreePik.com)

Here is a short YouTube clip of the NBC Sunday Night Marquee Opener from the early 1970’s (video link for email subscribers).

Here are my movies, which started with an unexpected session the North Shore Duluth Scenic Railroad’s Steam Engine! I was hiking / birding in the woods near my home yesterday afternoon when I thought: “Is that a steam engine whistle?” Yup! The North Shore Scenic Railroad was out testing #332. The train was over three miles away from me when I first heard it. I upped my hiking pace … hurried home … and went to find a steam engine one mile away from my house!