Category Archives: Year 3

Fox Sparrows Going North!

April 2, 2016Year 3MN North: Amity, MN North: Forest Hill Cemeteryrichardhoeg@gmail.com

I went birding in the Bog today. Nothing! The strong NW wind kept birds deep in the cover, but when I got home I was treated to a nice sized flock of Fox Sparrows using my yard as a layover on their way up to northern Canada. My home is right across the street from a stream, and heavily wooded, which is appreciated by the birds. In addition, although the Fox Sparrows and Slate Colored Juncos (relating and flocking together) do not use my feeders, I believe they are attracted by all the “feeder birds”. One of the feeder birds did attract my attention. I have also included one photograph of a particular Common Redpoll which has been around for a few days. I am trying to decide if it is slightly leucistic (around the eyes). Finally … one very wierd looking mallard I found yesterday at the Forest Hill Pond in Duluth.

Fox Sparrow

———-

Slate-Colored Junco

———-

Common Redpoll (leucistic around the eyes and head?)

———-

Off Color Mallard in a Snow Squall

Goldeneye Love!

March 30, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

You should be an adult before you look at these Goldeneye photos! These ducks normally spook oh so easily, but when love it on there mind, while still a ways off … I was able to watch! In addition, the wind stopped blowing out of the Northeast and very gently came out of the Southeast. The end result was for the first time in my life, I found a Killdeer in March. Click on any image to view at full size.

Goldeneye Love

———-

March Killdeer

Outbound / Inbound!

March 29, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Last night I photographed the Michipicoten as she steamed into the Duluth Harbor under the High Bridge. When I work up at 5 am this morning, I said: “Self, doesn’t an ore boat take about ten hours to load with taconite pellets?” Realizing the answer was yes I rushed down to the Duluth Waterfront and caught the Michipicoten as she sailed out of Duluth at sunrise!

Wait! Isn’t this a birding blog? Realizing I was already down at the waterfront I drove upstream along the St. Louis River to a parking spot which would allow me to hike the Western Waterfront Trail. Although the weatherman had promised us southerly winds today, Lake Superior had other ideas. Winds out of the Northeast meant no new arrivals in terms of the bird migration. All was not lost, the birds that are here are still pretty cool. Thus, I bring you the pride of the Western Waterfront Trail! (hint … the Michipicoten was Outbound, while the birds are Inbound from the South)

Looking for Love … Red-Winged Blackbird