St. Louis River Mudflats

Year 5

I spent a lot of time this past weekend hiking into a spot where I check for late migrating ducks, and earlier arriving shorebirds. This was my first trip of the spring and I was thrilled to discover the water level was down slightly which has resulted in some nice mud flats. While I saw a reasonable number of Greater Yellowlegs, it was obvious the shorebird migration up to the Arctic with stops near Lake Superior has not started in earnest yet.

Although my primary target was shorebirds, I was thrilled when shortly after sunrise I was able to get close to two of my more favorite ducks. The first was Northern Shovelers, which although some might claim look a bit dorky, I like. The other duck was Green Winged Teal. Due to a large dirt mound, and a rising sun directly behind me, I was able to get closer than normal to these two spooky birds.

However, when on a follow up hike I tried to get close to a small flock of Bonapart Gulls, I failed miserably. In this second instance I had little cover, and the birds quickly became aware of me. Finally, it was nice to do these hikes in weather that allowed for shorts and a t-shirt. Prior to this weekend, northeasterly winds had made it difficult to get out on the low 40’s near the big lake.

Greater Yellowlegs

My Favorite Ducks … Together!

A Green Tealed Quack

Swimming Shoveler

Amity Creek Birding

Year 5,

I live across the road from Amity Creek. The local birding habitat is mixed pine and deciduous forest. Our home is about 1/2 mile above Lake Superior and the end result is the migration often stops off in our yard both due to excellent habitat (my cleared yard is tall grasses and perennials) the proximity to the big lake … a migration route northward, and my six bird feeders which I keep filled all year round. While black bears are a problem (they knocked down three feeders within the past week), it is worth my becoming an expert bird feeder repairman.

Over the past few days, I have been experiencing a HUGE sparrow migration. The ground is often covered with over a 100 sparrows at once … many working their way north to their tundra breeding grounds.

White-Crowned and American Tree Sparrows

In addition, these locals have arrived back and are found in my yard. White-Necked Sparrows, Yellow-Bellied Sapsuckers, and Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks. The woodpecker starts drumming each morning shortly after 5 am … looking for love!

Finally, the smelt are entering the Lester River. A few Common Loons are always having breakfast each morning at sunrise. The mouth of the river is an easy walk from my house. It is nice to have all the birds back in the Northland. The warbler and shore bird migration is just beginning.

Tree Swallow Attack!!!

Year 5
To the uninitiated and those of us who do NOT think like tree swallows, this may look like a wood duck house, but NO! This is obviously a tree swallow house.
 
Tree Swallow #1 (lower bird) does not know this fact, but it is about to get attacked by Tree Swallow #2 (upper bird). The fight was over this bird house, AND a nearby female. These are the first tree swallows I have seen this spring near Duluth.
 
Attack! … image taken of the same two birds a moment or two later.
It is interesting to note that there were three other wood duck houses (unoccupied) near by, but the swallows only showed interest in this house, and contested it fiercely. Two more pics from this morning. Apparently whomever controls the door, controls the bird house.