Monthly Archives: June 2015

Boats, not Birds!

One of the treats that comes with living up here in the Northland is the world is a beautiful explosion of color and scenery. As much dawn’s early light will often find me chasing brightly colored birds that are enhanced by the shadows and nuances of the golden hour, Lake Superior often pulls me down to her shore before sunrise.

Such was the case yesterday. Awakening at 4:15 am I glanced out the window. Some scattered storm clouds were moving off to the east. Although still half asleep, I jumped out of bed, threw on shorts and a t-shirt (plus a sweater … this is Lake Superior land after all!) and drove down to Canal Park in Duluth.

I took this photo while dawn’s early light was just being hinted. The sun would not come up for some time yet. I like the resulting image; hope you do also!

Twilight Storm Rise!
Twilight-Storm-Rise

Sax-Zim Bog at Sunrise: Courting Turkeys!

While people travel from all over the country to Sax-Zim Bog in the winter in hopes of seeing great grey owls, and other feathered friends from the frozen north, summer is also a great time to visit the bog. This blog post documents one of my favorite June birding excursion in the bog (map included).

Shortly after sunrise this morning I had a fantastic time watching some Tom Turkeys court and strut their stuff for a lone hen. She did not seem as impressed as I was with the gobbler’s courting displays! Eventually the group decided I was harmless, and I was able to slowly approach the lovefest!

After watching the turkeys try to improve their love life, the moment the sun popped out from behind the clouds, male bobolinks started singing in their attempts to attract a mate. The farm meadows and pastures at the corner of Overton and Arkola Road are a great place to watch birds. Park your car and sit for an hour. In addition to bobolinks, I saw a sandhill crane and multiple magpies while stopped.

You will find in this post:

  • Photos and two short videos of the courting turkeys
  • One photo and video of a bobolink singing to attract a mate
  • Summer Sax-Zim Bog birding map with annotations

I hope you enjoy these photos, videos, and find the map useful. It was a super fun outing.

Turkeys Gone a Courting!
Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-04-Hen-Checking-Them-Out

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Turkey Courting Videos (24 and 46 seconds in duration)

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Wild Turkey Time on Overton Road
Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-01-Two-Toms Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-02-Hen-Checking-Them-Out Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-03-Hen-Spurning-Toms Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-05-Hen-Checking-Them-Out Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-06-Tail-Feather-Display Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-07-Forest Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-09-Wings-Spread Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Turkeys-08-Meadow

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Singing to the Sun … Bobolink Looking for a Mate
Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-Bog-Courting-Bobolink-Singing-Meadow-1

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23 Second Video: Singing for a Mate!

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June Sax-Zim Bog Birding Map
Y2-M06-Sax-Zim-June-Birding-Map

Bobolink Bonanza

Yesterday I saw the first bobolinks of my life. These are cool looking birds. I found the two meadows where the male bobolinks were singing to find a mate while on my bike. Cycling often helps me ID locations where I will return later by car for some serious birding. Such was the case with my bobolinks. This morning at sunrise I drove to the two meadows in search of the bird, and was successful! Here are the results. I also was serenaded by a sandhill crane, but I do not believe anyone alive today could call its song melodious!

Bobolinks of Sax-Zim Bog
Y2-M06-Bobolink-04-Grass-Jungle Y2-M06-Bobolink-02-Fence-Post Y2-M06-Bobolink-01-Singing-to-the-Morning

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Y2-M06-Sandhill-Crane-01-SingingSandhill Crane