Cabin 2022: It’s a Wrap!

Year 9,

Molly and I just returned from two nights at our small Northwoods cabin not to far south of the Canadian border. Temperatures were forecast to reach the 20’s each night, and I knew that meant it was time to pull the water system out of the lake, and get the boat out of the water. We pump water directly from our lake, NorthStar Lake, which is the first lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed. Yup, it would be possible to canoe downhill all the way from out lake north to the big bay and then the Arctic Ocean. We bring drinking water in portable containers, but Northstar’s clean spring fed H2O is perfect for everything else. Pulling the water system and perfectly draining it is required because water in pipes or the pump freezes … then expands … and then breaks whatever within it is contained. We still visit from this point on, even through the winter months, but the wood stove and outhouse become very important! I was glad to get everything out of the lake by October 1st. The water is getting rather chilly when one has to spend significant time in same. Two mornings ago I took these photographs 15 minutes after sunrise. You can see my view from inside, and then one is looking the other way in the “great room” (Kitchen, Dining, Living Area).

I also had some fun with this image and video! (link for email subscribers … 15 second’s of a wood stove)

Given all my chores that needed to be done, I obviously could not go birding at sunrise. Instead, I took a break around mid day to explore some roads which were new to me. I was surprised to find amazing numbers of Black-Billed Magpies. I think I stumbled upon their southern migration near the western edge of the boreal forest.

Now Arriving from Hudson Bay on Track 9!

Year 9

It’s only 8:40 pm, and the temperature has already fallen to 40F. I suspect it will be in the 20’s by morning. Molly and I are up at our small cabin on Northstar Lake. The weather is telling us it is time to pull the water system out of the lake and get our 3 season cabin ready for winter. While the weather has been mild in the Northland, I was dumbfounded to find myself birding in snow squalls north of Two Harbors this morning, with snow sticking to the ground.

Thus, it is somehow poetic that the Hudson Bay birds are now starting to arrive and pass through the Northland. Yesterday Hawk Ridge saw their first Golden Eagle. Based upon years of tracking and banding it is known that the Golden Eagles that fly through Duluth each fall are from the Hudson Bay region, and they often winter in extreme southeastern Minnesota near the Mississippi River.

Today also saw good flights of American Pipits and Lapland Longspurs. Both of these bird species breed in the northern reaches of Hudson Bay, but now are visiting us on their way south. One of my favorite spots for finding / watching these two species is Lakeview Cemetery in Two Harbors. Both species are not comfortable in Boreal Forest, and the open spaces of the cemetery is one of the first non forested areas they find while migrating south.

American Pipits

Lapland Longspur (it looks grumpy)

Great Horned Owl Talons

Year 9

About an hour before supper last night while relaxing and resting after doing lots yard work to get ready for winter, I heard a crow! This crow sounded very upset, and given I have learned to speak the black bird’s language, I got my tired old duff off the couch and went hiking into the forest. 2/3’s of a mile down the trail I discovered one of my Great Horned Owls … I believe the mom both due to her larger size and well developed horns … eating crow! Thus … I bring you “talons”!

Great Horned Owl: I’m a sweet, innocent bird!

Great Horned Owl: I do have some cool feet!

Talons!

That’s all folks!

On another note … Hawk Ridge banded quite a few northern saw-whet owls last night, Sunday the 25th. The weather forecast is for decent winds out of the north for the next few days. With lots of birds moving through northern Minnesota right now, yesterday my own feeders were also very active with migrants. Thus it is time to look for perched saw-whet during the day up north.