All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Colder by the Lake Birding (and foxes!)

Year 10, , , ,

Colder by the Lake! As we drove home two days ago, the temperature was 65F across Minnesota … until Molly and I approached Duluth. Any weather forecast for the State of Minnesota at this time of year will always end, but “colder near Lake Superior”. The water temperature in the big lake is in the high 30’s F, which makes it hard to warm up the air if you live near Gitchi Gummi. Thus, 45F is a pretty common temperature at my house 800 yards above the shore if the wind is off the lake (or colder).

One practical effect of “colder by the lake” is spring food production starts later than spots inland. The Black Bear which raided my bird feeders last night understands this issue very well. Find a food source and stick with it! For birding, find the local micro-climate with food and migrating birds will be easily be found. Here are a few images I took over the past few days.

Amity Creek (my home area)
Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Canosia Wildlife Preserve (Pioneer and Rice Lake Road Wetlands)
Greater Yellowlegs

Forest Hill Cemetery
Hooded Merganser

St. Louis River at Chambers Grover
White Pelican

Duluth Area
Fox Kits

Stoney River Forest Road (Greenwood Forest Fire Region)
Ruffed Grouse

Note: Stoney River Forest Road is clear of snow, but as you can see, not Whyte Road. The snow in the Boreal Pine Forest is still about one foot deep.

Fuzz Ball Birding!

Year 10

I was amazed yesterday afternoon when I discovered that my owlets had not been welcomed into the Northland while I was down in Costa Rica. I thought I had seen some fluff just before heading south, but I was obviously mistaken. When the sun finally warmed the Boreal Forest around 3 pm yesterday, I saw my first fluff ball! The owlet did not stay out long (only a few minutes) before heading back under Mom. I could tell the chhick’s eyes were not yet open which happens about 9 days after hatching. (See Cornell GHO Nesting Timeline). The photos of the parents were taken about 30 minutes before sunset when the yellow orb made an appearance. Sadly, the owlets decided the cold wind off Lake Superior meant they stayed under Mom.

Momma Owl

Poppa Owl

Junior! (I have no clue yet as to the number of owlets)

 

Costa Rican Pale-Billed Woodpecker & Trogons Reprise

Year 10

I don’t normally post the very next day about the same two bird species, but oh my … what a morning! I started my birding at 6:20 am to both beat the heat (95F plus high humidity) and find the birds during their morning rounds. I started by looking for the Pale-Billed Woodpecker, and I struck gold. While watching one woodpecker, its mate unexpectedly flew in for a mating dance which I caught on video!

After the woodpeckers I left the Savannah habitat and visited the deep forest stream  crossing, and immediately a Black-Headed Trogon performed for me. Like I said previously, what a morning! We head back to Duluth tomorrow, and I am ready for some cold weather, but the birding was definitely hot!

Between birding in the morning, and riding the surf on a boogie board in the afternoon this has been a fantastic vacation … not to forget the Highlands Rainforest. Molly and I were supposed to take this trip right at the beginning of the Pandemic. Three years later this journey has been a treat, just delayed a bit. My own owlets are most likely started wondering where is “the owl guy”. I am looking forward to hikes in the Northwoods to visit my northern friends! Homeward bound now.

Pale-Billed Woodpecker
(video links for email subscribers … mating dance and drumming)

Both close-ups and some images which show the pale-billed woodpecker’s environment.

Black-Headed Trogon (video link for email subscribers )