Breakfast Berry Birding

Year 7

Breakfast Berry Birding is done for another summer.  For the past month whenever I have gone out bird hiking, I have always been able to finish off my breakfast with fresh berries. Back in July I enjoyed wild raspberries, while over the past two weeks I have been consuming lots of thimbleberries. Thus, if I am lucky in addition to red stained fingers when I get home, I have both a full stomach and some nice images! However, summer is ending and this morning while looking for Hoot I came up empty both in terms of finding my owl family AND any berries!

However, seasonal transitions bring other opportunities. Yesterday morning I decided to visit the Park Point beaches and Recreation Area for the first time this summer. While I found a few shorebirds on the sand, I struck paydirt upon checking the trees against St. Louis River Bay. A huge south wind was beginning to blow, and birds will declare a stop to migration in the face of stiff headwinds. Such was the case and I experienced a mini fallout as suddenly I was surrounded by large flocks of Eastern Kingbirds, Baltimore Orioles, Cedar Waxwings, and various Warblers. Yup … the bug eating birds are definitely exiting the northern forest. As most of you live south of me, get ready for migration. It’s coming soon!

Female Baltimore Oriole (could not determine if they were finding bugs in amonst the pine, or sipping some sap)

Eastern Kingbirds (these birds would fight over the best bug ambushing perches)

Cedar Waxwing

Hunting with Hoot!

Year 7

Due to a minor medical procedure which involved getting some stitches, and not wanting to have the sutures pull out I skipped yesterday’s bicycle ride. The net effect was I had an extra few hours in the day … the joys of being retired! I decided I should spend quality time with Hoot, and thankfully she agreed.

Throughout the day I hiked over to my owling grounds, where two of the juvenile Great Horned Owls had been hanging out. Extensive off trail hiking and research a few days earlier had discovered lots of whitewash under certain trees (no owls on those hikes). When I checked those same trees yesterday morning and afternoon, jackpot!

Hoot on the Hunt at Sunrise (I dare you to walk under her tree)

Sleepy Time for Tired Owls

Hoot’s Brother Deep in a Pine Grove in the Late Afternoon

Crows! (The Great Horned Owl never got discovered! I think the crows were attacking one of the other siblings. You will also hear a lot of nuthatches in the videos. They knew where Hoot was perched! (email subscribers: video link 1 | video link 2).

Bird Your Local Cemetery

Year 7

During migration, in the Duluth area one of my favorite spots is Forest Hill Cemetery. If one of your local cemetery has a pond, during migration always make a quick check. Our pond has some domestic ducks and geese which attract their wild cousins to the two ponds.

Yesterday morning I found the leading edge of the shorebird invasion from Hudson’s Bay and the Arctic. This Yellowlegs was all by itself, and I took full advantage of a low angle early morning sun to have some fun. Yes, I was close but the sun blinded the bird … albeit shorebirds normally let you get somewhat close (sit down on a beach and let them walk to you)

Greater Yellowlegs (yes … they eat minnows, not just bugs)

Question: If your reflection also catches a minnow, do you get credit for two fish?!

Reflections (dark green from pine trees … blue from the sky)