Category Archives: Year 7

Boats, Not Birds. Breaking Ice!

Year 7

I went out birding today. While looking for Bald Eagles on the harbor ice, I became distracted. After all, what little boy does not love boats? Particularly boats which break ice?! Yup, the United States Coast Guard Cutter Alder was hard at work breaking ice in the harbor. This year’s shipping season will open within two weeks. I walked out upon the old Interstate Bridge which was built in 1897 and enjoyed the spectacle.

USCG Cutter Alder (In the second image you are able to see Duluth’s ski hill, Spirit Mountain in the background. In the third image the Alder steams past the Paul Tregurtha, a 1,000 foot ore boat / laker)

Video of the Alder breaking ice (video link for email subscribers)

Crooked Crossbills!

Year 7

Two weeks ago I posted about my excursion up to the Superior National Forest where I saw Red Crossbills and Spruce Grouse. Today in Sax-Zim Bog I saw the other Crossbill which visits our region when a bumper pine cone crop exists, the White Winged Crossbill. These birds with the hooked beaks are uniquely adapted to breaking open pine cones. Other birds need not apply! The White-Winged Crossbill is my favorite of the two (Cornell eBird link). Here are a few images I took this morning while this gorgeous male was “gritting up”. Notice how it has to turn its head sideways to pick up grit sand. While its beak works well for pine cones, gritting up is a bit more difficult.

White-Winged Crossbills (I found one lone male and he allowed me to get real close! When you have an opportunity like this, get very low to the ground. First, you are less likely to scare the bird. Second, an image at the same level is better than one looking down from on high)

Canada / Gray Jays are always a favorite when I visit the Bog.

Wisconsin Point Sunrise!

Year 7

Daylight savings time meant it was easier to arrive at my selected locations before sunrise. After two owling stops before sunrise I moved over to Wisconsin Point for sunup. Yesterday’s strong winds from the south had resulted in a major movement of Bald and Golden Eagles through the region. As expected, I found some stragglers this morning. The combination of the early morning light on this immature Bald Eagle was gorgeous.

A few minutes later I drove down to the actual harbor entry and caught this one one fisherman out on the breakwater next to the lighthouse.

Even with the snow and ice, everyone has spring fever! It’s now 49F at 1:40 pm. Time for a bicycle ride up the shore of Lake Superior. However, in during my 800 yard descent to the road along the lake, I know from experience the temperature will drop into the high 30’s!