You should be an adult before you look at these Goldeneye photos! These ducks normally spook oh so easily, but when love it on there mind, while still a ways off … I was able to watch! In addition, the wind stopped blowing out of the Northeast and very gently came out of the Southeast. The end result was for the first time in my life, I found a Killdeer in March. Click on any image to view at full size.
Goldeneye Love
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March Killdeer
Last night I photographed the Michipicoten as she steamed into the Duluth Harbor under the High Bridge. When I work up at 5 am this morning, I said: “Self, doesn’t an ore boat take about ten hours to load with taconite pellets?” Realizing the answer was yes I rushed down to the Duluth Waterfront and caught the Michipicoten as she sailed out of Duluth at sunrise!
Wait! Isn’t this a birding blog? Realizing I was already down at the waterfront I drove upstream along the St. Louis River to a parking spot which would allow me to hike the Western Waterfront Trail. Although the weatherman had promised us southerly winds today, Lake Superior had other ideas. Winds out of the Northeast meant no new arrivals in terms of the bird migration. All was not lost, the birds that are here are still pretty cool. Thus, I bring you the pride of the Western Waterfront Trail! (hint … the Michipicoten was Outbound, while the birds are Inbound from the South)
Looking for Love … Red-Winged Blackbird
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An Uncommon Common Redpoll
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The Outbound Michipicoten
Steaming Under the High Bridge | Making the Big Turn | Leaving Canal Park
However, I don’t mind. For the 1000th day in a row the cold winds blew out of the Northeast across Lake Superior and prevented the spring migration from getting started. A few early birds are around, but what we really need are some warm days with winds out of the south.
Although I did see birds, there was nothing of note, but did I mind? Nope! Lake Superior is a gorgeous lady and she distracted me from before sunrise to after sunset. Who needs birds? (sacrilegious comment!).
Lone Pine Sunrise on Scene Highway 61 … eight miles up the shore from Duluth
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The Michipicoten steams under the Duluth High Bridge about 1/2 hour after sunset this evening.
