North Shore Birding

Year 6,

Need  a quick birding fix and in the Duluth area? At this time of year I love driving the Two Harbors Expressway in search of hawks up to the Stoney Point area, and then take Alseth Road to the shore (birds pile up on Stoney point during migration). I drive home on Old Superior Street (starts at McQuade Road). Most folks don’t even realize that there is another road between Scenic 61 and the Expressway. Total miles driven round trip from Lester River are only 15, and during migration there can be all kinds of surprises.

While not a surprise, I enjoyed watching this Red-Tailed Hawk hunt near Stoney Point.

Red-Tailed Hawk Take-Off

When I got home, a visitor came to my yard in search of leftover birdseed on the ground. Wonder what the buck is saying to me? (photo take from my window seat in the living room)

Sax-Zim Bog Great Gray Owl (video)

Year 6

When is a vole not a vole? When it is a small rock!

This morning I had the pleasure of watching a juvenile Great Gray Owl hunt. I was dumbfounded when the owl repeatedly dove to capture a certain rock. However, this bird is still learning to hunt, and I also noticed its landings are not picture perfect. Quite frankly I am not used to watching a Great Gray Owl land on a road.

The final bit of amusement was when the owl disappeared into the forest. For over ten minutes I watched the area into which the bird had disappeared with extreme concentration. When I finally turned around I discovered the owl was toying with me, the human. It had come back out to the road and landed on a tamarack pine less than 10 yards behind me. Who knows how long it had been watching me! LOL!

There not feet, they’re talons!

I see you!

Watch Out Vole (or rock!)

(link to YouTube)

Next Birding Seminar: Sunday Evening, November 3rd

Background

Snowy Owls and More … Birding the Northland this Winter! (free talk)

Ever wanted to view a Snowy Owl at close quarters in the Port Cities? Or watch a Great Gray Owl hunting on the Northshore?  Or see colorful winter finches and waxwings? If you answered yes to any of these questions, come to French River Lutheran Church on Sunday evening, November 3rd at 6:30 PM. Rich Hoeg, a volunteer naturalist at the Sax-Zim Bog winter birding wilderness 40 miles NW of Duluth will give a free birding talk on finding our feathered friends in the Northland this winter. With Q &A the talk will be 60 minutes in length.

There is no fee or advance registration to attend this event. Just show up! Light refreshments will be served.

Note: French River Lutheran Church is located between the Two Harbors Expressway and Scenic 61 on Ryan Road, which is two miles past McQuade Harbor coming from Duluth.