Weekend Sub-Tundra Raptor Time

Year 13,

The BIG hawks from up Hudson Bay Way are arriving (and eagles). Saturday morning in a little over one hour at some prime spots in Sax-Zim Bog I spied nine Rough-Legged Hawks and two Bald Eagles. Basically I drove a big loop … Sax Road … Admiral Road … Zim Road … McDavitt Road … Sax Road … Highway 7 to the Greenhouse and back. The raptors were everywhere and I’m certain I missed some birds. Yup, it was the Hudson Bay Express! I assume quite a few of these birds will hang around till snow is on the ground (hawks do not like to hunt through snow).

Two Rough-Legged Hawks

One

Two

Friday morning I had a nice time on Stony River Forest Road, except now the “birds of the day” were Red-Tailed Hawks.

In closing, deer hunting season starts next Saturday (November 7th to 22nd) … the next three weekends. While deer hunters are very responsible, and I love birding in November here are a few of my reminders:

  • Wear Blaze orange or red while hiking
  • If you see vehicles pulled over, bird elsewhere (over one mile away). Most deer hunters use deer stands and this “distance” should keep you out of their hunting zones.
  • There are extended seasons for bow and muzzleloaders, but their range when firing is MUCH smaller
  • Remember, deer do NOT like bog habitat. If you bird true bog areas it is unlikely you will see many hunters. Note: Sax-Zim Bog has bog habitat that changes over to open meadow quickly.

I also found this Spruce Grouse which posed nicely for me on Stony River Forest Road.

Tundra Time Birding!

Year 13

The tundra birds are arriving in NE Minnesota. Yesterday I found this Snow Goose (wrong turn at Winnipeg??) which really should not be in Two Harbors on Lake Superior. Take a look at this screenshot from Audubon’s Bird Migration Explorer (a tool worth an inspection and learning). Apparently a strong NW wind must have blown this goose well off its migration path. You’ll notice how much smaller a snow goose is than the Canada Geese with which it is hanging out.

This morning I attempted to get near snow buntings, which tends to be an exercise in futility. Apparently the snow bunting is the land bird which has been recorded the closest to the North Pole! Eventually I will get close to one of these buntings. I need to find a small group of only two or three birds. Larger flocks flush when even just one bird takes alarm.

The Weekend of Gold Ends

Year 13

I just got inside after standing next to the Amity Creek Ravine and listening to my Great Horned Owls hoot their love. I stood next to the creek for over 20 minutes and while I have walked back home, the owls are still hooting! Thus … Home Owls … Cabin Owls … life is good when my friends decide both my home and cabin are excellent habitat for raising owlets. Want to listen to my owls? Use BirdWeather (free … no account required)

  • Amity Creek & Gardens – 800 yards upstream from Lake Superior … Boreal Forest at the edge of an urban area … one mile below Hawk Ridge (Private Land)
  • Northstar Lake – Boreal Forest on a deep spring-filled lake 30 miles north of Grand Rapids. The lake is the most southern lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed (Private Land)
  • BirdWeather Instructions

I get notifications send to me from both locations. While my Amity Creek Great Horned Owls were hooting, my Northstar Lake Barred Owls were also singing!

Back to Gold! The weather was most excellent this weekend. Sunny Skies, low winds and unseasonably warm. Enjoy!

The Moose Family of Greenwood Creek (video link for email subscribers)

Sunrise at Greenwood Creek (video link for email subscribers)(phone pic and video)