Monthly Archives: June 2025

Common Loon Wolfpack!

My lake in northern Minnesota is quite deep, and the common loons often meet near the deeper spots and hunt together to try and catch ciscoes (whitefish). Such was the case this morning … final day of June. The loon wolfpack let me float to within ten yards … ignoring me as they would work together to obtain their breakfast (video link for email subscribers)


And some still images …

Feeding the Northern Flicker Chicks at the Woodpecker Hole!

This is the time of the year when new young birds are bursting on the scene … the end of June / the beginning of July. Over the past few days I realized there were some new residents in our yard. It helps to learn the begging call of your local birds. I knew that some time spent looking for my local Northern Flicker Woodpecker Nest would be time well spent.

These images and video (video link for email subscribers) were taken just before supper last night. The BBQ was lit and the coals were getting hot. In the meantime I spent time with the Flicker Chicks. The images are in succession over about 10 minutes. Enjoy!

Northern Flicker Chick Feeding at the Nest Hole


The Movie!

Boo-Boo the Black Bear Visits Hoeg Hollow

I was enjoying a morning read on the couch at 8:15 when I heard a crash. Boo-Boo was back and he was hungry. This younger Black Bear (a yearling?) proceeded to attack my five bird feeders. As always, suet is the favorite.  Apparently this bear is part of a Minnesota DNR research study as it has two ear tags (#108 and #109). I have submitted the sighting to the DNR. In total the bear was with me for about ten minutes. I was watching from about 15 yards away … at my window seat in my living room. Other than the suet feeder, everything looks quite repairable.

I did some editing to remove the ear tags in the photographs. I have provided one image at the end of the post with the tags still included.

Boo-Boo the Black Bear Visits Amity Creek (video link for email subscribers)


And the still images of my morning visitor …


With the tags …