Castle Danger Birding

Year 5

Yesterday morning, I finally had the opportunity to head out birding for the first time in several days. Both a paid photography assignment and shutting down my cabin’s water system for the winter have been my priorities. (Note to self: Wading into the water in a lake  that flows north to Hudson’s Bay in late October is dumb, and very, very cold).

Thankfully for me, if not the birds, the winds blew out of the south yesterday warming the northern Minnesota boreal forest. I decided to head up to Castle Danger, and then a bit inland to the Silver Creek area. I knew that migration would be on hold as birds would not be interested in flying against the strong southern wind. This is the same area where I hand captured / rescued Silver the Snowy Owl last Fall on October 30th. Soon Snowy Owls will invade the Northland for another winter.

Regardless, Castle Danger did not disappoint. I found lots of birds taking advantage of ponds which still had insects. Here are some of my image captures.

Rusty Blackbird

Lapland Longspur

Rusty Blackbird and Pectoral Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper and Dunlin

Dunlin

Pagami Creek Wildfire Area Birding

Year 5,

The operative words this morning were snow and ice in the Pagami Creek Forest Fire Area on Tomahawk Road! There were not much of each, but definitely both were around. Backwaters, ponds and small lakes are almost frozen over. A light dusting of snow covered the ground, which may have melted by this afternoon (28F at 7:45 am).

I only saw one Spruce Grouse. In talking with the game warden I met up with near Isabella River, he mentioned that he had seen one grouse, but also two Lynx kittens! Snow buntings were definitely around, but only in small flocks of 5 to 10 birds. I did not see any other winter finches.

The Tamarack are at their golden peak. It was a great day to be out and about in the wilderness. Hopefully the winter snows will not sock in Tomahawk Road right after deer hunting concludes. I love this wilderness region, and hope to make one more trip this year in early December.

Red-Tailed Hawk Hunting an Isabella River Backwater

Snow Buntings

Oh yes … here are a few photos from yesterday … Two Harbors and along the shore.

Ore Boat Arriving Before Dawn at Two Harbors

Sunrise Snow Geese in Two Harbors

Amity Purple Finches

Black-Bellied Plover near Lakewood

Merlin on the Hunt!

Year 5

I was down on Park Point before the sun rose this morning. At first birding was slow, but when the golden orb’s rays finally began to provide some warmth the birds appeared. Apparently the songbirds had spent the night deep in some thick cedar trees. I suspect the branches kept them both warmer and shielded from the strong SW wind.

Most of the song birds did not venture far from the cedars. The SW wind made migration unwise, and the Merlin which was hanging around made a decision to forage near heavy cover a life extending wise decision.

Merlin in search of songbirds

Yellow-Rumped Warbler giving a Bronx cheer to Mr. Merlin

Hermit Thrush