Birding the Northwoods Seasons: Summer!

Year 10, ,

Over the past two days I have had the pleasure of birding many of my favorite summer time haunts … from our own cabin on NorthStar Lake (southern most lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed) to north of Two Harbors. Get out in the Northwoods folks! The wildflowers are gorgeous, and the birding ain’t bad either!

My first stop was NorthStar Lake. I needed to get the cabin ready to receive my daughter and her family. My jobs ranged from mundane tasks liking changing the beds to more unusual activities including putting a new prop on the pontoon. Obviously a new propeller demands a shake down cruise!

Whereas Common Loons further south in Minnesota already have hatching chicks, a deep northern lake like ours is way behind its southern brethren. Common Loons like to nest in reedy areas, preferably next to islands which means protection from land-based predators. Remember, Common Loons are NOT able to takeoff from land or a stationary position. In fact, loons do not walk very well at all. Thus, you can understand their nesting preferences which include avoiding land. Given NorthStar Lake only iced out one month ago, reed protection and nesting is lagging this year.

With that huge preamble, I found two very cooperative loons which were courting.

Boy Sees Girl

Boy Meets Girl

Love!

On a Date … Fishing!

Moving along in my travels I spent time north of Two Harbors on Lake County 2 and Stoney River Forest Road. Relaxation was the name of the game, and for over an hour while on the forest road, I never saw another human … just birds.

Langley River (Summer)

And the changing seasons at Langley River … working our way back in time.

Langley River (early Winter)

Langley River (Fall)

Even at home, there is excitement. Last week I had noticed a White-Tailed Deer hanging around our yard and not showing any inclination to move. I mentioned to Molly this doe looked like it was about to deliver a fawn. Yesterday morning we were introduced to the youngster (seen from our house). Over the years the does have often left their fawns in our tall grass (well hidden) while they go forage. However, from our vantage point inside we are able to look down and see the young deer in their hiding spots.

 

Grassland Shorebirds

Year 10

Sounds like a naming conflict, but not! On this last day of Spring I drove over to the Wisconsin Grasslands (quite different habitat from the Boreal Forest near my home). I enjoyed seeing the bug eating grassland birds which are normally the last to arrive in the Northland, and the first to leave. While most shorebirds hang out near bodies of water, a smaller number of species call the grasslands their home. The Upland Sandpiper and Killdeer are two such birds. Unfortunately as grasslands have disappeared across North America, the Upland Sandpiper is becoming more rare.

Thus, I was thrilled this morning when not one, but two sandpipers perched on fence posts only ten yards from my car (see map for location … must be a nesting pair). In addition, there were lots of Killdeer at the Cloverland Town Hall area. In fact, driving any back road slowly in this region will yield fun finds. I saw Indigo Buntings, Eastern Meadowlarks, Bobolinks and many, many more species. Take Wisconsin Hwy 13 towards Bayfield, which is the first exit after you leave Superior on US Hwy 53/2.

 

Killdeer at Cloverland Town Hall

Upland Sandpiper

TakeOff and Flight (I thought I had perhaps spooked the bird, but it actually flew over to within ten yards of me, and then its mate flew up from the grass and landed on the next nearest fencepost. Some years I am lucky to see even one of these birds, and today I had the happy couple within ten yards!)

E is for Encyclopedia, L is for Lupine!

Background, Year 10

Yes, E is for Encyclopedia and L is for Lupine! With that preamble, I will now show my archaic interests and announce I just purchased a set of encyclopedias. This in turn leads to the question in this era of the internet and Wikipedia, why would one ever spend money for an encyclopedia?  My answer is … because!

Okay, perhaps I should give a more involved answer. While growing up and into my adulthood I often liked to pull an encyclopedia volume off the shelf, perhaps “B”, or “R”, and read/browse that particular book. Normally I just opened the book to a random page and started reading.  When my Dad died eight years ago, and we sold my childhood home, I lost that option. After all, at the time who wanted (including me??) a 1960 copy of the World Book Encyclopedia?

I was mistaken in allowing the encyclopedia to be deep sixed. Although one may read Wikipedia in “random mode“, this capability is just not the same or particularly relaxing. In fact, Wikipedia describes their random mode in this manner: “The Special:Random page is a link which will automatically (and randomly) take you to any article on Wikipedia. It is useful for random page patrollers, curious readers and bored people (my italics and bolding). I like to think of myself as curious person, but not bored!  LOL.

Earlier this week while reading “H”, quite by accident I learned about Hannibal’s father, Hamilcar Barca. Apparently both father and son Carthaginian generals had a name beginning with “H”. I certainly knew about Hannibal, but definitely not his Dad. You might ask what difference it makes? The obvious answer is not much, but I enjoy learning about the world!

I did use a bit of restraint with my purchase. Molly and I have a rule that any extra money we make through writing or photography may be spent as that individual desires … no questions asked. In my case, recently I have written a a few articles for some regional magazines. Thus, I had money burning a hole in my pocket (not much … writing does not pay very well). Anyhow, as the 2023 edition of World Book Encyclopedia is about to be released (price will be over $1,000), I was able to purchase the 2021 edition for only $350 … such a deal! Apparently World Book is the only encyclopedia still in print … sorry Encyclopedia Britannica lovers.

Yup … E is for Encyclopedia and L is for Lupine!

Which leads me to one of today’s photographs … Lupines in our yard. The vantage point is about 15 yards from our dining area. If the opportunity arise, drive some Northeastern Minnesota back roads right now. The lupines are drop dead gorgeous.

Oh yes … I did find the owl family yesterday. They have moved away from the nest area and my home. It took a decent hike to find the owls, both hiking on and off trail, but here is Momma Great Horned Owl on the hunt.