All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Subaru Birding! (videos)

Year 6

I’ll admit it … I love my Subaru Outback. Here in northeastern Minnesota I drive some very remote, ugly dirt roads. My Outback has never let me down, even when there might be 12 inches of new snow on the ground. However, this morning … my Subaru decided to take a more active role in my birding excursions … as a perch for an unusual bird migrating through from the Arctic. I always say … when you can’t find the birds, let them find you!

Many of us were birding Park Point Recreation Area this morning, and the beach near Sky Harbor. Basically we were all seeing little bird activity. Just as I was about to leave the fields, this Lapland Longspur flew over and landed on my Subaru Outback! Hmmm … me thinks … there must be Longspurs around. I now really checked the long grass on the playing fields, and discovered there were 50+ Longspurs hidden amongst the grasses. In fact, I almost stepped upon two different birds while they were feeding!  A few finally left the long grass and provided better photo opps! Have you ever needed birds to lead you around by the nose to insure you would see them? LOL.

First the Lapland Longspur Subaru Outback Photographs

And some Longspurs in more natural settings

Here is the Lapland Longspur’s Range Map courtesy of Cornell University.

And some videos from this morning. The noise in the background is from Sky Harbor Airport … both a float plane taking off and work on a runway extension.

Video 1 Link

Video 2 Link

And finally two photos I took while out birding a few winters ago … on a logging road where I was 18 miles from the nearest paved road. It was early in the winter and therefore the snow was not yet deep. Given our first snowstorm of the season is expected this weekend, it may be time for my Outback to earn its keep. I love Minnesota’s winters. Between my Subaru and Nordic Skis I spend a lot of time in the Boreal Forest. Think snow!

Fall Colors in Sax-Zim Bog

Year 6

While most people think “winter birding” and “great gray owls” when they think of the Bog, I find Fall a beautiful time to visit. The back roads and trails are my own. Over the course of time from September to November a diversity of birds are presented to me via the magic of migration. Right now in a few weeks, the majesty of Rough-Legged Hawks, one of my favorite birds, will start appearing from northern Canada and the Arctic.

While my exotics did not show their faces (or feathers) yesterday, it was still a delightful time starting right at sunrise. The temperature was 35F, clear skies, no wind, and great fall foliage. Who can argue with this scenario? I am actually going to work backwards in time. At 9:30 the Ruffed Grouse came out onto the back roads to  enjoy the sun and grab some gravel. Here are two different grouse I saw within minutes of each other, but a mile apart.

Both grouse were constantly checking the skies, which given the number of raptors I saw was a good idea. This Bald Eagle was hanging out on Sax Road 60 minutes after sunrise. I watched it for about five minutes till it decided to move locations.

Sunrise saw me on McDavitt Road … I suspect this Red-Tailed Hawk was one of the reasons I did not see any Great Gray Owls in my favorite location. I personally this bird needs to work on its tail feathers … they look a little bit worse for wear. The hawk was actively hunting, changing its perches every few minutes. Unfortunately I did not see it make a kill.

I suspect the look on the hawk’s face in the final image is its way of telling what the bird thinks of my opinion!

Snowy Owl Children’s Book Rollout | Birding Talks

Background

Snowy’s Search for Color Book Rollout! / Birding Seminars

  • Children’s Book Reading (age focus: 4 to 10 years old)
  • Winter Birding Talks (owls & more)
  • Saturday, Oct. 26th from 10 am to 12 pm
  • Duluth, Lester-Amity Chalet
  • Free Admission! (no registration required)

Details: Family event on 7 Bridges Road in Duluth, just below Hawk Ridge. Rich Hoeg, a Sax-Zim Bog volunteer naturalist, and local children’s book author will read his latest book, Snowy`s Search for Color. He will also give two talks on winter birding in NE Minnesota.

Schedule (attend any or all of the readings / talks)

10:00 Doors Open

10:15 Children’s Book Reading: Snowy’s Search for Color

10:30 Talk: How to Find Snowy Owls in Duluth / Superior this winter

10:45 Children’s Book Reading: Hey There Mr. Owl! (Susan Larson-Kidd)

11:00 Break

11:15  Talk: Winter Birding in NE Minnesota

11:45 Q and A

12:00 Event Ends … take a family hike on the Lester-Amity Trails!

Rich’s books will be available for sale at $12 per copy. All net proceeds will be donated to the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog, including Rich’s book earnings.

Download a free PDF version of Snowy’s Search for Color

Directions to Lester-Amity Chalet

  • Lester-Amity Chalet
  • 2940 Seven Bridges Rd (1.3 miles above Superior St.)
  • Duluth 55804
  • Note: 7 Bridges Road is also signed as both Skyline Parkway and Occidental Blvd at its start / intersection with Superior Street (near 60th Avenue East).

Snowy’s Search for Color … Story Overview: (after cover image)

Follow the adventures of a young Snowy Owl as it flies south from its home on the Arctic Ocean in search of color! The owl meets up with other owls, red foxes, and even Smokey the Bear! It is a magical journey.

Contact Rich Hoeg?

  • RichardHoeg (at) Gmail.Com