Are you a golden hour snob? I have to admit over the past few years I have become such a beast. I tend to go birding right around sunrise. If I can’t get decent photos, I bemoan my fate and wait for the sun to work its way through the sky to its evening positions.
Today was different. Due to some stressful meetings in which I had participated, and even though I had already taken a bike ride up the shore of Lake Superior, I realized I needed to spend more time outdoors. Thus, although the sun was essentially 100% overhead at 2 pm with glaring light, I took a hike along the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth.
Not only did I have a good time, but I captured some fun photographs of a number of Yellow Warblers … in the glaring light. Shame on me. Are you a golden hour snob?
Over the past few days, the winds out of the Northeast off Lake Superior have blown themselves out, and warm southern winds have taken over in the Northland. With this change of wind direction, along with a few showers, the first bug hatches have occurred and the local flora and fauna have begun to get ready to raise families.
Two days ago, I drove up to NorthStar Lake which is a bit shy of the Minnesota / Canadian border. We own a small cabin on Federal forest land which is our special place in the wilderness. In addition to chores such as setting up the water system (i.e. wading out into the lake … 40 degree water), I took my first kayak paddle and said hello to our local loon family. I look forward to seeing their chicks in late June and early July.
Yesterday, the south winds blew fiercely and for a short time in the afternoon our local temperature (95F) was warmer that Death Valley, California! Go figure!? With the warm weather and bug hatch the first warblers have returned to the woods, and the local Osprey and Great Blue Heron families are getting on with family planning!
Sunrise Rainbow … on the way to the cabin.
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My first Common Loon photo of the season
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Cabin Scenes … Good Books! / Dock in the Water / Back Yard (in addition to some classics, books by my friend, Outdoor writer, Sam Cook)
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Ospreys Making Love!
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Setting Up the Nest (Great Blue Heron)
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A Porcupine Watches all the Bird Families
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Brown Thrashers Sings out for Spring! (2 different birds)
Two days ago it was a red fox which snuck up on me while birding; yesterday a coyote checked me out, and today it was Merlins mating at dawn! One had to wonder what tomorrow in the Northwoods will hold!
The spring bird migration is finally now in progress along Lake Superior. Minnesota Point (Park Point) is a gauntlet of these fierce falcons which songbirds have to fly on their way north. These Merlins follow the migration north, feeding on the tired birds.
This couple may have decided to stay in Duluth this summer. The hike from Sky Harbor Airport out to the Superior Entry is beautiful walk, and you never know what wildlife will make itself known! I actually found these Merlins yesterday afternoon, and this morning before dawn I started my hike out to the same location in an attempt to get some “nice light” pics . Even I was surprised when I captured their mating on camera. When I arrived at the same deadwood snag this morning it was faith that made me point my camera skyward. Nary a Merlin was in sight, but I had “faith” that the falcons would reappear on their favorite snag.
Capturing this pair falcons actually involved lots of hard pre-work. For almost a week I had been visiting the end of Park Point wondering when the migration would really get started. A few days ago as songbirds started to appear, I started hiking out to the end of the point. My hikes helped me identify good habitat and eventually this pair of Merlins. Finally, this morning I had to drive down to the end of Park Point and start my walk before sunrise (6:15 am). Thus, I was in position when the sun came above the horizon and my pair of falcons decided to get amorous in the early morning light. (video of the female screaming may be found below)
Yesterday was an excellent day in addition my afternoon research hike on Minnesota Point. Dawn saw me north of Two Harbors on Rossini Road. Over the course of the winter I had driven this remote logging road a number of times. My inspection made me believe that when the deep snows melted, the habitat of wetlands, meadows and forest would yield good times. My research was rewarded when I found a coyote searching for breakfast rodents, a snowshoe hare, and lots of migrating ducks and songbirds.
Late morning saw me hiking along the Western Waterfront Trail on the St. Louis River in Duluth. Once again, prior research yielded good results with finding a Townsend Solitaire deep in the thicket of trees next to Kingsbury Creek. All in all, it has been a great few days in the forests of Northern Minnesota … these Tales from the Northwoods are true!
The female Merlin a few minutes prior to the big event!
