Meet “Red” … An Uncommon Loon

Year 6,

I had almost given up hope of seeing a Red-Throated Loon that was not hundreds of yards out on Lake Superior. The northward migration of these loons up to the Tundra and Arctic in Canada is almost finished. In fact, I thought the chance of seeing “Red” after Memorial Day was very unlikely. However this spring has been very cold, and the northern migration has been delayed. This morning a trio of loons were feeding on smelt near the Minnesota Point beach just outside the surf. Jackpot!

Believe it or not the Red-Throated Loons were actually my second neat find of the morning. My friend Jon and I had already spent 15 minutes watching a flock of ten Marbled Godwits feeding out on the Park Point Ball Fields. I’m really glad I did not decide to drive over to the ball fields last night as suggested by a friend because while yesterday evening’s weather was 41F, cloudy with a 20 mph wind, this morning it was 44F with clear skies and a light breeze … much more pleasant and better light for birding photography (thanks Greg for letting me know about the sighting).

Jon’s and my final stop of the morning was a visit to my Great Horned Owl family. Although we initially searched for over 30 minutes, we could not find the owls. However when 20+ crows, a few blue jays, and this Merlin decided to attack the family, we finally discovered their hiding spot. The sight lines to the owls was horrible, but here is a photo of Mr. Merlin screaming its displeasure with the owl family. If the Merlin has decided to nest in this area, it will be a regrettable decision … its chicks will end up as owl candy.

Quite frankly, even in my book, it’s hard to have a much better birding excursion. Jon and I left at 6:40, and were home by 9:30. We only spent 40 minutes in the car (20 minutes in each direction). We saw lots more birds than I photographed. These were just the highlights.

Strange Cabin Bird Bedfellows

Year 6

Another cabin season has started, and we are at our small northwoods cabin near the Canadian border. We are north of the Laurentian Divide. Thus, our water flows up to Hudson’s Bay. Given ice-out was only a little over two weeks ago, the water is very cold, and the birds seem to be a bit behind in starting their nests.

Two of my favorite Northstar Lake birds are Bald Eagles and Common Loons. We have a pair or each species which nest within 600 yards of the cabin. Surprisingly, even through loons fear eagles, the loons always nest right underneath the white pine where the eagles call home … thus strange bedfellows. This is our 30th summer season, and this odd nesting arrangement has been present every year.

Bald Eagle on Northstar Lake

Common Loon (and tons of black flies)

In this second photo, I finally realized after all these years that the loon’s neck band does not completely circle its neck. One is always learning something new!

Northern Minnesota Shorebird Invasion

Year 6

All the ugly weather we had recently seems to have had some benefits. Once the last big part of the migration started, it has been HUGE! Two days ago I went down to the Park Point Recreation Fields on Minnesota Point. The fields were flooded, and the shorebirds and gulls were happily eating drowned bugs. While the shorebirds don’t stick around as long during the spring migration compared to the fall, I get to enjoy seeing their breeding plumage! There is no reason for this birder to take a trip up to the Arctic tundra to see this bonanza, but I do need to stay “in tune” with what is happening locally. The window of viewing as noted is generally short in the spring.

Count the shorebird species in this one photo!

  • Black-Bellied Plover
  • Dunlins
  • Ruddy Turnstones
  • White-Rumped Sandpiper

Caspian Terns having an animated discussion

Ruddy Turnstones (and a Dunlin)

Dunlin

Black-Bellied Plover (and Ruddy Turnstones)

And two more images … an assortment

As a follow-up to yesterday’s post on birding safety and Google Location Sharing. Molly is out kayaking on Northstar Lake right now. I know exactly where she is located.