All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Owling by Bicycle!

Year 12

I have taken three amazing bicycle rides in the past week. I load my bike on the car’s rack, and drive somewhere deep into the Minnesota Boreal Forest Wilderness. Once I reach my desired starting point which is always near a bog, I then bike for about 8 miles on a dirt or gravel road. My last three rides have yielded sightings of a Black Bear, a Bull Moose, and yesterday morning a Great Gray Owl. My private STRAVA account indicated for yesterday’s owl ride I biked for one hour, and spent 52 minutes stationary with the owl!

Here are a lot of images, but the morning was extra special. The Great Gray Owl granted me amazing views while it hunted, often near where I was standing. You will note that the owl in a number of pictures is holding its wings a bit open. The tall grass and trees were wet from both overnight rain and morning ground fog. The owl was drying off as it hunted.

And my Owling Bicycle Birding Setup (video link for email subscribers)

And me … check the background … an owl!

Common Merganser Morning! Ducklings Learning to Fish!

Year 12,

Two mornings ago I walked the stairs down to the Lester River at 61st Avenue East. This dead end road rives access to both the Lakewalk, the tunnel to Brighton Beach, and the ability to observe the Lester River from both the ravine’s edge, but also from the shore deep within the ravine. The trees provide the ability to hide from animals and birds, and I took full advantage of that fact and watched Mom Merganser shepherding her brood through their first fishing lessons. I personally think there is nothing “common” about these ducks! Enjoy.

Common Merganser Family on the Lester River (video link for email subscribers)

Blue Bonanza Birding Drive!

Year 12

Perhaps I should also add “purple passion” to the post title. Regardless, folks get out in the countryside. Summer has arrived in the Northland. Actually I think we are about 7 to 10 days late this year thanks to all our cold winds off Lake Superior. However, nature is now full of color and it should be appreciated!

I always tell my Twin Cities friends we are always one month behind them every Spring. Down south lilacs and the first wildflowers blossomed one month ago. Up near Duluth, if you are within six miles of the big lake, and not over the ridge, the lilacs and lupines are in their glory right now (not to mention buttercups and the first daisies of the year)

Lupine Birding Drive (Finish before 9 am and the sun gets high in the sky / harsh)

Do NOT take my birding / lupine drive this Saturday morning (June 21st) if you need to drive Hwy 61 (the Expressway) to reach my starting point at North Shore Community School. Grandma’s Marathon will be in progress on Scenic 61 and traffic will be horrible from 5:00 am through about 12:00 noon.

  • Drive to the North Shore Community School
    • Google Maps GPS Link
    • Check out the power lines in front of the school directly opposite Ryan Road for  Eastern Bluebirds. Use the school’s parking lot.  Check the surrounding trees and shrubs for other birds. This spot will get better for birding in July as the various bird species young hatch.
  • Drive West on Lismore Road to McQuade Road
    • Google Maps GPS Link
    • Turn inland away from Lake Superior onto McQuade Road
    • Enjoy the Lupines as you drive to the “birding pond”
    • The pavement will become dirt
  • Stop when you reach the Birding Pond on McQuade Road
    • Google Maps GPS Link
    • Pull your car over and park next to the Marsh (on the wrong side of the road … very safe … zero traffic with room for any random cars to easily get by you)
    • Put your windows down
    • Enjoy (I had lots of birds and a large snapping turtle laying eggs)
  • Turn Around and drive back towards the Lake on McQuade Road till your Reach Pioneer Road
    • Google Maps GPS Link
    • At the intersection of Pioneer and McQuade, turn right / west to parallel Lake Superior
    • Enjoy the Lupines! (the sun will be directly behind you early in the morning)
  • At the Intersection of Lakewood and McQuade your route ends
    • Google Maps GPS Link
    • Either drive further on Pioneer or back down to the Lake of Lakewood
    • There are lots of Lupines on Lakewood till you reach Lismore Road

My Lupine Photographs from this morning

My house on Amity Creek

My bird photos taken at the North Shore Community School (Eastern Bluebird and Chipping Sparrow … not blue, sorry!)