Musky Morning Fog (birds too!)

Year 13

Since Monday Molly and I have been hosting a small family reunion at Vintage Vermilion on the lake with the same name. This retreat is nestled in a private wilderness bay and has 2,400 feet of shoreline and 40 acres. The location is reached after driving inland from Cook, Minnesota and then Vintage Vermilion’s own two mile long gravel road / driveway. We have the entire small resort … five cabins for five families!

At this time of year the mornings dawn clear but cold, and when the sun tries to make an appearance heavy ground fog appears which will not totally burn off till mid morning around 9:30 to 10:00 (sunrise is at 6:50). Ground fog makes birding a challenge as it masks the ability to see much of anything. However I still tended to head out a few minutes before sunrise and hope for gaps in the fog. The ground fog can actually lead to unexpected visua pleasures … like these musky fisherman I watched for a short while as they chased the fish of “10,000 casts” (link to Outdoor Illinois).

Once the ground fog burned off I did find a family of Black-Billed Magpies which were definitely not happy with the presence of a Bald Eagle. The plumage of the Bald Eagle (white head and tail feathers finally turning white) shows it to be about three years old, and about to reach adulthood!

Spruce Grouse Courting (video)

Year 13

I have mentioned in prior posts that as strange as it may seem, male grouse often strut their stuff every Autumn as they try to attract the ladies! Who needs to wait till spring? Such was the case two mornings ago up in the Greenwood region of NE Minnesota (Sand Lake / 7 Beavers Nature Conservancy Wilderness Area) . I was out well before sunrise in hopes if seeing “moose in love”, but happily settled for these grouse. (spruce grouse courting video link for blog email subscribers).

Of Dragonflies, Monarchs & Spruce Grouse

Year 13,

Today was a great migration day … just not perhaps for hawks. Okay, I understand that Spruce Grouse do not migrate, but if you enjoy seeing amazing spectacles spend some time on the North Shore of Lake Superior between Duluth’s Lester River and Two Harbors. Folks already know I like Stony Point, but today anywhere along Scenic 61 resulted in amazing numbers where one found the combination of:

  • Protection from the strong NW Wind
  • Flowers
  • Safe place to stop your car

The strong NW wind blew both monarchs and dragonflies down against the shore in amazing numbers. In a few minutes one might see “tens” of monarchs & dragonflies. While most people know that Monarchs are long distance migrants, dragonflies are also migrating and often fly 80 to 100 miles south in one day. Eventually the monarchs reach Mexico (may take multiple generations); conversely dragonflies reach ponds in American’s Deep South through Central America. Once again this is a multiple generation migration. When the right pond presents itself, dragonflies lay eggs and their offspring will eventually fly north to Boreal ponds. Read more about the dragonfly migration via the Wolf Ridge Environmental Learning Center in NE Minnesota.

Oh yes … Spruce Grouse. Now is the time for the Moose rut. This morning I was inland well away from Two Harbors on boggy back roads well before sunrise. I was looking for Poppa Moose in various locations where I already know Bullwinkle hangs out. However, I saw no moose … just Spruce Grouse (which do not migrate).

Finally … this Pileated Woodpecker near my house wanted its photograph taken. I obliged.