The Magic of Crisp Point Lighthouse

Year 9

For seven seasons Molly and I have made an annual trek to the eastern end of Lake Superior near Whitefish Bay. Soon we will make this trek once more, our eighth. There is a remote spot 20 miles west of Whitefish Point called Crisp Point. We serve as lighthouse keepers at Crisp Point Lighthouse (Google Maps Link). There is no lighthouse keepers residence. Our “residence” is our three person pup tent which is pitched 30 yards from Lake Superior. Only keepers may camp at the lighthouse. Crisp Point is reached by travelling a 19 mile long dirt logging road, but only after one first drives 20 miles on a paved road from the nearest small town (Newberry, Michigan). You do not go out for pizza, as the round trip would be 3 hours. The lighthouse is remote! If you are ever in the eastern Upper Peninsula (U.P.), the light is worth a visit. One may walk for miles and miles on remote sandy beaches. Once you put a bit of distance from the lighthouse and other guests, you will have the world to yourself!

Here are a few pics from our previous years at Crisp Point.

The Magic of Crisp Point!

Sunrise

Daytime

Sunset

Night

Migrational Pause

Year 9, ,

The winds have switched strongly from the south (30+ mph) and the southern migration has stalled out. Birds are much more frantic during the spring migration to reach prime breeding territories and lay a claim to a prime area. In the Fall, without this need, one waits for a nice tailwind.

Thus, I am finding some of the same birds in the countryside. While wild turkeys don’t migrate and seeing one or two used to be unusual, I saw over 250 turkeys feeding in fields bordering forests yesterday morning! Turkey Vultures are also now pushing south when favorable conditions are present.

Here are a few pics from the last two days …

Wild Turkeys Galore (Sax-Zim Bog)

Eastern Phoebe (Northstar Lake)

Turkey Vulture Drying Off from the Morning Ground Fog (Sax-Zim Bog)

Broad-Winged Hawks (Pine-Island State Forest)

Belted Kingfishers (Pine-Island State Forest)

Returning Birds! Frozen in Flight and Northern Hawk Owls!

Year 9

In August I wrote about a new tool I was using to help process photographs, Topaz Labs’ Sharpen AI (see post). While one may never revisit all of one’s photographs (too time consuming), it is fun to rework certain images. Thus a blast from the past … selected photos from Year #2 of my blog (this is year #9). I would hope that in addition to upgraded camera equipment and editing tools, I have just plain become a better birder and photographer. While I can never retake the same image, Topaz AI does yield some amazing results on old friends.

Northern Hawk Owl (my signature bird)

Nordic Skiing

Red Fox

Frozen in Flight (Goldeneyes)

Ice Planet Moonrise (Lake Superior’s North Shore)

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird in our Garden (Bee Balm)

Wisconsin Ice Caves

House Wren

Notes

  • I took the Northern Hawk Owl photographs after three straight days of stormy weather off Lake Superior. When the day finally dawned sunny, clear and cold, I spent hours trying to find a Northern Hawk Owl I had been tracking all winter. Success was finally achieved!
  • For the Frozen in Flight Goldeneye photographs I was standing at the end of Duluth’s old Interstate Bridge. I saw the ducks swimming towards the dead end of an ice lead. I knew the birds had to either dive or take-off. I was poised and ready!
  • For the hummingbird photograph, notice the bird’s shadow. The last light of the day (or first light) is golden for many reasons. The shadow’s angle shows the sun would set within minutes.
  • And yes … while I love being out in the woods throughout the year, winter is my favorite time of year in terms of photography.