Sandhill Morning in Canosia Wildlife Preserve

Year 8

Live in Northland (or visiting the Duluth area)? Folks need to bird a hidden gem not known to most people named the Canosia State Wildlife Management Area. My favorite entry point is at the end of the public part of West Lismore Road (parking area and DNR trail gate). With a short round trip hike (1 mile) I can visit an active osprey nest, a huge Great Blue Heron rookery, and enjoy a large beaver dam which attracts all kinds of other birds and mammals (rookery involves some bushwacking). Keep your eyes open while driving along the Lismore Road (off Lavaque Road). The pond and surrounding woods often yield other sightings. Most years, early in the morning I find Sandhill Cranes.

Here are a few Sandhill Crane images I took at sunrise three days ago. My goal was to see if the Osprey chicks were yet making an appearance, but given they were still too tiny to really show above the edge of the nest, I spent time with the Sandhills. One photography note for these cranes. You need to take your photographs soon after sunrise. Their plumage is pretty but the light colors get blown out by bright sun later in the morning.

Northstar Memories and Magic

Year 8

Apparently yesterday’s post was popular. I heard from many of you via the comments, or privately. A rather large number of folks know the song My Paddle is Keen and Bright. This fact is not surprising.

While I normally do not post family photographs on my blog, I’ve decided to make an exception. This small Northwoods cabin was a major purchase for a young couple many years ago. Molly and I have never regretted spending the money. Our cabin is the kind of place most folks do not think still exists … small, cozy and warm. We do have running water pumped out of the lake, and a 1950’s era white GE refrigerator, but no microwave, TV, and heat other than a wood stove. In short Northstar Lake, “Hoeg Hollow”, is one of those special spots where families recharge and experience the passing of the years.

Molly kayaking under the Northern Lights

Three princesses and a ninja in front of the outhouse (all grandkids)

A selfie … watching last summer’s comet

The cabin …

Molly swimming with the loons …

Family boat rides … Spot and Cyrus. Spot was my fishing buddy for many years. She is buried at the cabin.

Magic nights … Milky Way overhead

Winter … wood stove heat … use the outhouse … running water is me (Dad) drilling hole with manual ice auger 200 yards offshore and “running” it back up to the cabin in buckets pulled on a sled.

My Paddle is Keen and Bright

Year 8

Childhood memories of days long ago up here in the Northland …

How many of you without thinking sometimes burst into song … a song taught to you many, many years ago? For over 65 years I have been visiting the Chippewa National Forest wilderness near the Canadian border. As a young boy I learned to sing this song … My Paddles is Keen and Bright (YouTube song link for email subscribers). This morning I found myself unexpectedly singing the song:

Northstar Lake is magical. The waters flow north to Hudson’s Bay, and last night I heard both a pack of timber wolves howling at the moon, and the loons yodeling through the darkness.

Here are two photographs of Common Loons from Northstar Lake taken early this morning … wolfpack fishing and on the nest. Places like this require song.