Weather conditions were unexpected this morning, but drove me to make a 2.5 mile hike to Mud Lake (St. Louis River Backwater). While the forecast was for sunny and calmer winds, as usual Lake Superior thought otherwise. I arrived at Morgan Park’s Slag Point to discover finding birds given the wind would be very  tough. However if one walks to the end of the trail and then along some old railroad tracks next to the river, one reaches a protected area named Mud Lake. I was hoping migrating birds would home in on the protected area.

While the number of species was underwhelming,  Common Tree Swallows put on amazing courtship / fighting displays. Along the railroad tracks out over the water there are very few trees, and the many swallows enjoyed the one dead birch … as did I! Given the aforementioned wind, the swallows stayed in a small area which had bugs. The metallic blue of the males was very much in evidence. Not as many females were back on the scene.

Mud Lake Courtship Flights and Fights!