Monthly Archives: July 2015

July Bird Boredom: Not!

July 31, 2015Year 2MN North: Amity, MN South: Sherburne National Wildlife Refugerichardhoeg@gmail.com

This is the second in my new series, July Bird Boredom (first post). Folks tell me that July means bad birding opportunities, which just is NOT true. Yesterday I needed to be down in the Minneapolis area, and thus I grabbed the opportunity to visit the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge shortly after sunrise.

Although the birding opportunities are not as dramatic as earlier in the summer when birds are “a courting”, I think you’ll find using these birds as evidence, birding in July is anything but boring. It is important to get out early. Given the sun rises in these parts not to long after 5 am, one must be willing to get up early. If one waits till 9 or 10 am to head out, you won’t see anywhere near as many birds.

Eastern Phoebe

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Dickcissel

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Bald Eagle (immature)

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Tree Swallows

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Trumpeter Swans

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White Pelican

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Pied Bill Grebe (chick)

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Wood Duck

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Sandhill Cranes

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Sharp Shinned Hawk (greeted me when I got home!)

Lester River Birding Report

July 29, 2015Year 2MN North: Mouth of the Lester Riverrichardhoeg@gmail.com

I took a sunrise bike ride up the shore of Lake Superior this morning from Duluth as far as French River. With the gale force winds there were not many birds out on the big lake itself, but I found huge numbers of birds at Lester River upon returning to Duluth and turning up the hill at 61st Avenue East. Unfortunately the sun had now disappeared behind the clouds which made for difficult photography. However, work all the overlooks from the river mouth up to the Lakewalk Bridge over the river. At 6:45 am this morning I saw:

A Family of Kingfishers
A Huge flock of Cedar Waxwings (berry supply is plentiful on the trees)
A new brood of Common Merganser Chicks and their mom.

I don’t expect any of these birds to move far today. The winds will keep the mergansers off Lake Superior. The chicks are only a few days old, and much to small to handle the big waves. The Kingfisher parents have been in this area for over a month and I would be extremely surprised if the newly fledged Kingfisher kids move out of the area soon. Finally the berry supply for the cedar waxwings should last a few days.

Cedar Waxwings

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Belted Kingfisher

Fledged in Northern Minnesota (yr 2, mth 7)

July 26, 2015Year 2MN North: Hartley Nature Center, MN North: NorthStar Lake Regionrichardhoeg@gmail.com

I hear many folks talk about how July is a horrible month for birding opportunities. Not true. While the unexpected jackpot finds during the spring and fall migrations are not possible, and the leaves block the view of birds you hear but can not see … July is a great month for birding. Think young! In other words, find the nests and the fledglings and you will be treated to neat views. Young birds have often not learned to be scared of us humans, and their parents are often so busy feeding their offspring who are almost their own size, that the adult birds sometimes lose a bit of their wariness.

The images below were taken over the course of the past week of fledglings. In short, get out there and enjoy the July heat!