Monthly Archives: January 2024

Shipping Winter Layup Ice Breaking

Year 11

The Duluth / Superior Shipping Season ended two days ago on January 17,  and will not resume until this spring on approximately March 25, 2024. The formal opening depends upon the amount of ice down at the Soo Locks. I had fun watching the Heritage Marine Tug, the Helen H. and the US Coast Guard Cutter, Spar, break ice. The law requires the Coast Guard to keep the shipping channels open, but the shipping companies must pay tug boat companies to keep the slips and wharves ice free. The ice breaking effort was to make it possible for the ore boat / freighter, the John G. Munson, to dock for the winter. In total eight freighters are doing their winter layover in our harbor (maintenance, repairs and upgrades). Much of the work is performed at the Fraser Shipyards.

The end result was the John. G. Munson was able to dock. I took this photo that night after the Munson had arrived. The ice has already refrozen and locked the freighter in her winter home. Three videos of the ice breaking operations follow the still images.

The Helen H. combined with the US Coast Guard Cutter, Spar, to break the harbor ice.

And some videos of the ice breaking operations … (links for email subscribers: one | two | three)

This definitely fits my January 10th Anniversary Hashtag theme of #365Birds01White

Northern Hawk Owl a Hunting!

Year 11

My middle child came to visit this weekend, and this provided me the opportunity to take an extended birding excursion yesterday morning as he would be there for Molly. While everyone else seems to head to Sax-Zim Bog these days, I decided to trust in my own birding skills and avoid the crowds by going elsewhere. About 45 minutes after sunup I struck gold! I found a Northern Hawk Owl well north of Duluth.  Although it was -22F (not windchill, but actual temperature), I spent almost 75 minutes with the owl as it hunted less than 15 yards from where I was standing. You will see by watching the video (video link for email subscribers) the owl barely acknowledged my presence.

And some still images plus Northern Hawk Owl impact points … where prey met their demise.