Category Archives: Year 3

Sing Out to Summer Reprise: Yellow Warbler!

June 8, 2016Year 3MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Are you a golden hour snob? I have to admit over the past few years I have become such a beast. I tend to go birding right around sunrise. If I can’t get decent photos, I bemoan my fate and wait for the sun to work its way through the sky to its evening positions.

Today was different. Due to some stressful meetings in which I had participated, and even though I had already taken a bike ride up the shore of Lake Superior, I realized I needed to spend more time outdoors. Thus, although the sun was essentially 100% overhead at 2 pm with glaring light, I took a hike along the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth.

Not only did I have a good time, but I captured some fun photographs of a number of Yellow Warblers … in the glaring light. Shame on me. Are you a golden hour snob?

Yellow Warbler in the Glaring Midday Light!

Blue on Blue looking out over Blue!

June 7, 2016Year 3MN North: Hawk Ridgerichardhoeg@gmail.com

Hawk Ridge was an explosion of color this morning! Arrived around 6 am … not a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. One could gaze out over Lake Superior in her majesty. The wild roses are starting to bloom in addition to all the other flowering bushes, etc. Warblers and other birds were a plenty. Just a great morning to be alive. After birding Hawk Ridge for 90 minutes, I then took a 16 mile bike ride up the shore on Scenic 61. Life is good!

I call the first image … Blue on Blue looking out over Blue (i.e. An Indigo Bunting Against a Perfect Blue Sky while looking out over Lake Superior)! Most of the Indigo Buntings I saw were below Skyline Drive.

The Chestnut-Sided Warbler agreed with my opinion about the fantastic morning as it sang out in song! The American Goldfinch decided to also get in on the act (third image).

Indigo Blue!

June 6, 2016Year 3MN North: Hawk Ridgerichardhoeg@gmail.com

Home! As much fun as bike touring in Scotland was, it is nice to be home and back in the Northland. The past few days I’ve spent some time on the cliffs at Hawk Ridge. Many of the trees and shrubs are blooming, attracting bugs and therefore birds! I’ve found that although lots of warblers are present back in the bush beyond the viewing platform, the easiest way to actually see and photograph birds is by descending from Skyline Drive and hiking the cliffs. From the cliffs one can look down to the lower tree tops and observe birds such as the Olive-Sided Flycatcher from a unique perspective, or look up back towards the road and find warblers on the tops of small trees and bushes.

Indigo Bunting