Category Archives: Year 3

Birding Lake Superior … Unsuccessfully!

March 28, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

However, I don’t mind. For the 1000th day in a row the cold winds blew out of the Northeast across Lake Superior and prevented the spring migration from getting started. A few early birds are around, but what we really need are some warm days with winds out of the south.

Although I did see birds, there was nothing of note, but did I mind? Nope! Lake Superior is a gorgeous lady and she distracted me from before sunrise to after sunset. Who needs birds? (sacrilegious comment!).

Lone Pine Sunrise on Scene Highway 61 … eight miles up the shore from Duluth

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The Michipicoten steams under the Duluth High Bridge about 1/2 hour after sunset this evening.

Turkeys Gone A Courting! (video)

March 24, 2016Year 3MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Courting is in full swing at the Sax-Zim Bog. The sharp-tailed grouse dance every morning in the field just NE of the intersection of Racek and Cty #29. The turkeys strut their stuff in a field east of Overton Rd, about 300 yards south of Arkola Rd. The video is at the bottom of this post.

Make certain you arrive by sunrise or shortly thereafter. All the dancing will be over by 8:30 or 9:00 am. Even though the Spring migration has not really started, I had a fun morning in the Bog. In addition to all the birds with romance on their mind, I found a small flock of gray jays which were feeding in a marshy area mostly devoid of snow.

Turkeys Gone a Courting!

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Wetland Gray Jays

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The Michipicoten Opens the Duluth Shipping Season at 4 am!

March 23, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: Mouth of the Lester Riverrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Today is my 60th birthday, and the Michipicoten honored me with her presence shortly before 4 am as this ore boat became the first ship to arrive in the Duluth / Superior Harbor to start the 2016 shipping season. Normally I would not attempt such “long distance” photographs in the middle of the night, but the full moon gave me hope that the extra light would allow me to “stop action” of the Michipicoten while still keeping my ISO to a reasonable level.

More photos, including my dramatic 60th birthday sunrise and of course … some birds, will be added to this blog post throughout the day.

The Michipicoten steams into the Duluth Harbor!