All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Minnesota Birding News Reprise!

Background, Year 6

I hated to remove the old Minnesota Birding News App. Over 2,000 individuals had downloaded and installed the app on their iOS or Android device. Unfortunately, the cost to maintain the app (paid by me) had grown too expensive.

I am creating a new Minnesota Birding News Service which reduces both the initial financial outlay and ongoing support costs. It is in beta and uses an RSS Feed Reader App named Feedly. Like the old app, the new service is free and contains no advertising.

If you wish to try the new Minnesota Birding News service, please be my guest … BUT given the service is in beta I WILL NOT YET ANSWER questions for folks needing installation help. Ultimately this information will be included.

Automatically received updates from 38 birding sources with a primary emphasis on Minnesota.

I welcome feedback and suggestions.

Two Harbors Tugboat Morning!

Year 6

Today was a perfect morning. When I left the house right at sunrise the sun was just popping over Lake Superior’s horizon … the temperature was in the high 30’s with a light wind out of the Northwest. In my book, the birds should be migrating south under what appeared to be fantastic conditions. My eventual goal was Castle Danger on the North Shore, but first I wanted to check some of the points that jut out into Lake Superior. My two stops were Stony Point and Two Harbors. The birds were present in numbers. In fact I even saw a Scarlet Tanager in a Mountain Ash tree. Unfortunately this bird was camera shy, but I immensely enjoyed the sighting.

Upon arriving in Two Harbors I quickly started whistling a different tune. Who cares about birds when there are boats?! Even at age 63, I am still a young boy at heart who likes tugboats. The MadisonR (formerly the NelsJ) was leaving port for another day at work out on Lake Superior. Whereas in other parts of the world, harbor areas tend to be ugly, not in northern Minnesota! (see the comments … Tugboat Hunter has helped out this slightly confused birder! … this is in fact the NelsJ owned by HeritageMarine)

Tugboat MadisonR / NelsJ Steaming Out of Two Harbors, Minnesota

Tugboat … the Movie (YouTube link)

Oh yes … I did see a lot of birds. At one point in a Two Harbors park over 50+ Yellow-Rumped Warblers were feeding all around me. I was a non-entity. The birds were hungry.

Birds … Smart | Humans … Not!

Year 6

This Bald Eagle was migrating south with a north wind providing a push. I was bicycling up Scenic 61 right next to Lake Superior into an 18 mph wind in 41F (windchill 32F).  Who do you think was more intelligent this morning?! Thankfully I did get to turn around at Talmedge River and ride the wind home. (day #2 of Sclera Contacts Lenses went well)