Sax-Zim Bog Ground Fog Raccoons

Year 9

Two mornings ago I drove over to Sax-Zim Bog (only a 45 minute drive) knowing that heavy ground fog was in the offing. I actually love visiting the Bog on mornings with heavy ground, and try to time my arrival to just about when I think the fog will start to burn off. My experience shows that I often find mammals or birds out in the open … hoping to dry off … or just find food that was impossible to see earlier in the dark, damp conditions. In addition days with ground fog tend to have very calm wind conditions.

This morning I found three juvenile Raccoons walking calmly down McDavitt Road. My presence was not concerning. I stopped and turned off my car a long distance off,  and let the youngsters walk towards me (video link for email subscribers).

I normally don’t like to post Northern Lights warnings, but the forecast for tonight, Wednesday August 17th is fantastic. Please note that Northern Lights forecasts are notoriously horrible. Learn more from the Northern Lights page of my blog. The times noted on this screenshot which was taken about 10:30 am are CDT.

Anchor Point Birding on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska

Year 9

This is my second of two posts about birding on Anchor Point near Homer, Alaska (see the first post … The Shifting Sands of Time). This will be the final post about my recent trip to Alaska. Without some of the tools I use for Shorebird Identification (see post on this subject), I would never had known that this morning of birding at Anchor Point accounted for not one, but two lifers.

I had only seen Black Turnstones once prior in my life. When you examine the four images shown immediately below you should understand how I was fooled. Most shorebirds change over to drab plumage during the winter, and in Alaska in mid August the southern migration is well underway. Anyhow, the dark brown birds in these photographs are Black Turnstones. I thought the rather drab gray birds present in most of these four images were just Turnstones in winter plumage. Wrong. These birds are “Surfbirds“, a new lifer for me!

In addition, I saw Bonaparte’s Gulls and a Short Billed Dowitcher (and many other shorebirds). It was worth the four mile hike from the parking lot along the beach to the kelp bed at Anchor River’s outlet.

North Shore Community School Birding

Year 9

Somehow I don’t believe I have ever blogged about birding the “North Shore Community School“, or “North Shore Elementary” (Google Maps Link). This charter school which is about midways between Duluth and Two Harbors, but inland from the lake, has a mission statement which reads: “NSCS’S mission is to excel in connecting our students’ academics and learning with their natural and social environments in a nurturing community setting.”

Given the schools location with open fields nestled amongst the Boreal Forest, and their focus at having superb wildflower gardens and other natural resources, at any time of the year the school attracts birds. Right now if you walk slowly around the school, viewing all the beautiful wildflower gardens in full bloom, you will find large numbers of birds trying to feed their fledglings. I had a great time yesterday afternoon birding at the school after completing a bike ride  which I had started and finished from their parking lot. If you bird the school, don’t just focus your attention on the gardens. Birds will be using fences, playground equipment, soccer nets, etc as bug ambush sites.

Bluebirds Fledglings … Soon to be Blue!

Dad

Female Baltimore Oriole

Eastern Kingbird