Ever have a “blowout birding” trip? Molly and I are experiencing just such a trip right now. We love to travel up the shore of Lake Superior each November and stay at a cool Scandinavian modern apartment. November is the dead season time on the shore, which we love. The leaf peepers are gone, and the skiers / snowmobilers won’t arrive till shortly before Christmas. Grand Marais is only 1 hour and 50 minutes from our home, and while it would be an easy day excursion from our house, the getaway allows us to totally relax and enjoy each other

Okay, why a “blowout”? When we arrived last night there were 40 mph winds blowin gin off Lake Superior. As the winds picked up moisture they generated an early winter storm. The southerly headwinds to migration insured winter birds that visit our area stayed in Canada. The deep snow meant exploring remote backroads off the Gunflint Trail were not possible. While we did drive up the Gunflint Trail and took a shorter hike on a plowed dirt road, even that hike was shortened when we started slipping, and my case falling, on the ice underneath the snow. Thus, both birding and exploring are out of the question and we returned to our lodging.

Eventually cabin fever forced me out into the dizzle and I sat in my car next to the Grand Marais harbor. One lone bald eagle enjoyed scaring hundreds of gulls. Finally a flock of Buffleheads stopped nearby and snacked on whatever tasty bits they found on the harbor bottom. Thus, my camera did finally get a workout.

I am back at our apartment, The Aurora at the 3 Sisters. Please realize Molly and I are still having a most excellent time. We are spending lots of time together this afternoon without any distractions, which has always been too rare over our 40 years of marriage. Perhaps this blowout was a blessing?!

One of the nicest spots on the North Shore of Lake Superior is Grand Marais, Minnesota. This small town is 100 miles up the shore from my home at the northern edge of Duluth. Since I was a little boy, my family has come up to this region. When I was in junior high, on busy holiday weekends my brother and I would help friends who ran a business right on the Canadian border. Given the Pandemic there is no border traffic, but after work we we loved fishing  on the Pigeon River just downriver from High Falls (park did not exist back then). Occasionally if the weather allowed, we would take the small 12 footer out on to Lake Superior in search of Lake Trout.

My point in my preamble is to demonstrate my family has history in this area, and a deep love of the region. Two days ago I photographed the small lighthouse that guards the harbor … 12 hours apart. In between it stormed like crazy till the sun finally returned two hours before sunset.

Finally … good news coming. Hoot will have a second printing. Expect the formal announcement in a day or two. Reserve your copy. They sold out fast in the first printing. Anyone on the list (see form) is guaranteed to Hoot!

Red in the Morning … Sailors Take Warning

Moonrise