An Alberta Clipper roared down to northern Minnesota and delivered a burst of snow overnight. Given the temperature was near freezing, the pines and aspen were encrusted with a beautiful coat of white. The scenery demanded a hike into the forest. However, what I thought was pretty now has made food much harder to find for our winter bird population. Upon returning home from my hike, I discovered a huge number of purple finches and goldfinches in the feeder … and also for the rest of the day.

The first photo is of a small stream which is a tributary to the larger Knife River. The location is the north shore of Lake Superior.

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My Morning Hike

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Ma and Pa Purple Finch

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American Goldfinch