The last three days have seen HUGE winds here at the head of Lake Superior. Yesterday afternoon winds were clocked at 65 mph on the bridges across the Duluth/Superior Harbor. More normal speeds were 40 to 45 mph. I took these two images and video at Stoney Point which is about 12 miles up the shore from my home (video link for blog email subscribers)
Not too surprisingly these fierce winds (and cold … it was 38F at my house yesterday afternoon) blew down some trees. Of course I went birding early this morning inland from Two Harbors. On Stoney River Forest Road I ran into this roadblock! No problem! Anyone who birds remote roads should carry a bow saw in their car. Although it took a while, I was able to continue my birding excursion after some elbow grease. I like this 30 inch box saw from Amazon, which has a permanent spot in my car’s trunk. As always I have zero sponsored links on this blog, and receive no compensation from any person or company. I purchase everything reviewed on this site with my own money.
I visited Sax-Zim Bog last Wednesday, and while it was not as “birdy” as the migration in progress along Lake Superior near Duluth, I had fun hiking along McDavitt Road. This Rose-Breasted Grosbeak was proclaiming its territory just north of the “Miracle Mile”. Make certain you watch (and listen) to the video. I love old Red’s singing, and to me his song sounds a bit like American Robin but where the songster didn’t quite pull off the imitation exactly. You decide! (video and singing link for email subscribers)
And more from my McDavitt Meanderings …
Brown Thrasher
Black-Billed Magpie
This Killdeer couple were actually hanging out on Hwy 229. There are quite a few hay bales that never were put up last fall, and I assume they are now bug magnets.
Yesterday songbirds, but mainly migrating warblers were almost falling out of the sky … known as a bird fallout. I spent 90 minutes on a protected St. Louis Bay (Duluth Harbor) beach which had some small mud flats which screamed bugs (i.e. food) to the migrating birds. I saw hundreds and hundreds of warblers and most of the time they were within ten yards of me, if not closer (think a few feet). The warblers would move up and down the beach, and just ignore me … landing two feet in front of me, and then behind me. When birds are extremely hungry, almost starving, a big monster (i.e. me) is not a concern.
I discovered yesterday when I used the term “fallout” with birds many folks did not know what I was talking about. Here is my definition … others might describe a fallout better. The term refers to what happens when birds almost “fall out of the sky” during migration due to weather conditions and often a migration barrier (like a barrier of water … think Lake Superior). Here in Duluth warblers were running into dense fog, and fierce winds out of the NE off Lake Superior. The fog brings warblers out of the treetops towards the ground in their search for bugs, and the wind makes it almost impossible for them to continue their migration northwards. The beach where I was standing was protected from yesterday afternoon’s wind (35 mph as measured by a buoy just off shore), and the lower level of Lake Superior water this year also means there is a small mud flat against the harbor shore (St. Louis River Bay) with bugs. Food!
Here are some of the photographs I took yesterday during the fallout. Make certain to watch the videos! I also spent some time up at the Hartley Nature Center. There is a stream immediately next to the parking lot, and over the years I have discovered that during migration warblers love the large culvert right next to the parking lot. Once again, the protected stream as it flows through the culvert tends to have some of the first bug hatches in the area.
Hartley Nature Center Birds
American Redstart
Black and White Warbler
Veery
Park Point / Minnesota Point Birds
American Redstart
Blackburnian Warbler
Chestnut-Sided Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Palm Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Tennessee Warbler
And when I got home … this Scarlet Tanager was hanging out within a few feet of our living room windows … next to my feeders, on our deck’s Adirondack chairs and one of the trailcams!
