Bohemian Waxwing Bonanza!

Year 6

A few years ago, the Bohemian Waxwing was my nemesis bird. No matter how many fruit trees I checked during the winter, nary a Bohemian. These waxwings are a sub-Arctic bird which often “winter” in the Duluth area. Large flocks of Bohemians have now started to appear in the Two Harbors area. This morning I found a flock of over 400 birds eating berries for breakfast near the Dairy Queen in Two Harbors, followed by a flight across town to hang out in some pines. After the storm it was great fun to enjoy some sunshine and beautiful birds.

On the way home I avoided the expressway and took the slow road, Scenic 61. I had to stop at the Sucker River crossing. This is why. Never take a fast road when a slow road is available! It was a glorious day to be alive! By 1 pm the temperature soared to 25F and I hit the ski trails.

Snowplow Train … The Movie!

Year 6

I had never seen a snowplow train at work until this morning. While out looking for Bohemian Waxwings I became distracted by this “boy toy”! We have had approximately 20 inches of snow in Duluth over the past five days. This amount of snowfall requires some work on the part of the local railroad, particularly clearing the “high and deep” snowbanks which have been created by “road plows” at each railroad crossing. The video … three parts in total … runs about two minutes. Steps #1 and #2 for clearing the snowbank may catch you by surprise. There are a lot of gadgets and attachments on this train!

Snowplow Train

Video

Bohemian Birds!

Year 6

As in waxwings … the latest in my sub-Arctic birds seem to be arriving in the Duluth area. Given Lake Superior is 100% iced over in our neck of the woods, my friends should feel right at home. Yesterday morning I watched a flock of over 200 Bohemian Waxwings undulate through the sky, occasionally stopping in some preferred tree to eat.

These are the best photographs I could get. It was early morning with thin clouds, not the best for photography/ However, the best time to find any bird is to get out early when my fine feathered friends will want to feed. Given the cold temperature (about 7F), the waxwings were all puffed up against the cold. I tired to refind them this afternoon when the sun finally popped out, but nada.

Actually, my primary activity these days is shoveling (two 6+ inch dumps in the past four days, with another due to arrive after midnight) and cross-country skiing. The snow depths in the woods are amazing.

Bohemian Waxwings