Fall Arrives!

Year 7

The temperature this morning on Northstar Lake was 39F. There is a freeze warning for tonight. It was very obvious when the winds switched from the West to the North yesterday afternoon, and the temperatures started to drop. Migration is now in full swing, and we have entered the “no snowy owl period” in North America. Basically this means there are now zero eBird reports of Snowies on the shores of the Arctic Ocean, and these beautiful birds are now working there way south … generally in tandem with huge flocks of snow geese that provide easier food. The owls are south of the Arctic Ocean, but have not reached any small population centers in northern Manitoba or Saskatchewan when birders will file reports or their GPS tracking devices check in with Project Snowstorm. Sometime within the next few weeks the Snowies will check in. The earliest I have seen a Snowy along the North Shore is the end of October. However, some buddies of mine who hunt ducks and geese in North Dakota see them much earlier.

I found this Bald Eagle shortly after sunrise this morning. I think it was angry I had stopped near some roadkill, and was expressing its displeasure at me. I took a few photos and moved on quickly. If you maximize the first image, enjoy the eagle’s tongue!

The Magic of Northstar Lake

Year 7

Wilderness lakes up in the Northland have a certain magic. However, rather than take my word for this fact, trust the princesses! This Labor Day Weekend there have been three princesses (my granddaughters) running around with their magic wands. We feel very safe and special! However, if their magic is not strong enough … our local Ninja can protect us. (we did see a timber wolf near the cabin yesterday)

The birds are always special on Northstar Lake. This Bald Eagle juvenile was screaming “feed me”. I never saw Mom or Dad.

After visiting the eagle, I said hello to a couple of our Common Loons. These birds are in the process of either losing their breeding plumage (the adults), or testing our their flight wings (the juveniles)

Adult Common Loon

Juvenile Common Loon

Flashback Rowing

Background, Year 7

I don’t normally post this kind of stuff, but I have been teaching my oldest grandson (10 years old) how to row this Labor Day Weekend. We are using a 12 foot Lund with oars! When we got back to the dock, one of my daughter’s-in-law got out her phone to show a YouTube video of Olympic rowers (Grampa rowed for Dartmouth in the 70’s and placed 2nd at the NCAA’s his senior year in college).

Heck … I thought, why should my grandson watch some unknown oarsman when he can watch Grampa! Thus, I bring you the Dartmouth 25th Reunion Regatta. I ended up in the boat with a bunch of lightweight rowers (maximum weight is 160 pounds … at least back in their college days). I rowed at 177 pounds … a rather light heavyweight rower. These days I tip the scale at 190 pounds.

Dartmouth College Reunion Regatta Row (link for email subscribers)

The location is the Connecticut River which forms the border between New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, New Hampshire). I am the #4 oarsman (counting from the bow). I did not have white hair back in 2003. I suggest skipping forward to 4:38 in the video where we get on the water. At 5:22 the theme from Chariots of Fire starts and the old guys row!

One funny aside … a few years ago I bicycle toured through Hanover and stopped to watch the varsity practicing. One of the woman from the 1st eight asked me if I rowed wooden boats and oars back in my day. Yes I responded … and then found the old black and white photograph of my varsity eight which was hanging on the wall in the boathouse. The question made me feel ancient, although both the men’s and women’s varsity claimed they were impressed with the 60 year old guy (and his wife) who were bicycle touring over 2,000 miles carrying their own gear. We looked like young bucks from pre-history.