Tag Archives: MN North: Western Waterfront Trail

Bald Eagles Behaving Badly!

Year 3,

At least this would have been your opinion this morning if you were one of the Canada Geese or Trumpeter Swans hanging out in the few open water spots at Chambers Grove on the St. Louis River. Some early Spring migrants are making their appearance in the Northland, and the Bald Eagles were hoping to have waterfowl for breakfast! Take a look at the last flight sequence photo for the mature bald eagle, and you will spy two geese paying close attention to Mr. Eagle!

In addition to checking out Chambers Grove, I found a large number of early migrating songbirds along the Western Waterfront Trail (63rd Ave. West). In addition to the mourning doves and red-winged blackbirds pictures, I saw pine siskins, song sparrows, grackles and robins! I hope they all know snow and cold weather will return within 24 to 48 hours. Today’s sunny 60F is an anomaly for Duluth at this time of March, but we all enjoyed it!

Immature Bald Eagle: Dive, Captain, Dive!
Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-1 Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-2 Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-3 Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-4 Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-5 Y3-M03-Signs-Of-Spring-Bald-Eagle-Immature-6

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An Adult Bald Eagle Gets in Upon the Act
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Mourning Doves Times 4, Times 3, Times 1!
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A Red-Winged Blackbird Sets its Territory
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Boreal Bog Birds

Year 3,

Frozen Bog! It doesn’t get much better in terms of winter birding! As mentioned before, I often work as a volunteer naturalist at the Sax Zim Bog Visitor Center. The area just north of Duluth is the premier location for finding northern birds which travel south to enjoy our warm winters. Although yesterday’s bright sunny skies made finding the elusive Great Gray Owl difficult, humans and birds enjoyed the balmy weather that saw temperatures climb above freezing for the first time in months. Birds easily found yesterday just to name a few included Boreal Chickadees, Common Redpolls, Evening Grosbeaks, Gray Jays, and Pine Grosbeaks. Before actually driving up to the Bog, I stopped by my favorite Snowy Owl right at the moment of sunrise. Given sunny mornings have been rare recently, I wanted to take advantage of the “golden glow” on a Snowy as the sun shone its initial morning rays.

Sunrise Snowy!
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Great Jay or Canada Jay
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Pine Grosbeak (female)
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Roadkill Cafe Mapgpie
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Common Redpoll … Sleeping Snowy

Year 3,

Once again I watched a Snowy Owl sleep today. Some Snowies actually hunt during the day, but not my friend. I spent almost one and one half hours on a beautiful clear afternoon waiting and watching. Watching this owl is kind of like watching paint dry. Some day I will see it hunt!

At least my bird feeders on Old Vermilion Trail are now attracting common redpolls in addition to millions of black-capped chickadees.

Common Redpoll
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Sleeping Snowy Owl … moments before sundown
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