Turkey Trot Ballet!

Year 5

Yesterday I knew the winds and cloudy skies would be present along the shores of Lake Superior; thus I escaped to Sax-Zim Bog where the weather forecast promised lighter winds and some clearing skies late morning. I was not disappointed!

If one knows where to look, there are signs of spring with lots of courting! These turkeys know a warm spot with southern exposure where the snow melts early in the season, and the protection makes for warmer days. They are not stupid!

Later I found two Northern Shrikes looking to find a tweet bird or vole to eat.

Finally, some Gray Jays worked there way along a back road to within feet of me. The snow cleared portion of the road offered tasty seeds!

Transitions: Deserts to Ice Flows

Year 5,

Molly and I have arrived back in the Northland from Tucson. An attitude adjustment due to Duluth’s cold weather might seem to be required, but I actually am thrilled to be back to Lake Superior.

Sunrise is now much earlier, 6:38 am. As my credo is to get going with the sun, or earlier, my wake-up times are moving towards 5 am. This morning, I wanted to take a bicycle ride up the shore before the forecast winds reached 30 mph. Biking into that kind of a head wind aside from being cold, is real hard work. Thus, with only 15 mph winds I biked up to McQuade Harbor … 38 minutes to McQuade … 22 minutes back with the tailwind!

Although there is over two feet of snow on the ground, the early migrants are working there way along the shores of Lake Superior … Bald Eagles, Crows, Gulls, Mergansers and Ravens. These hardy birds push hard to be the first returnees to the Boreal Forest. Here are a few images taken over the past two days.

Ice Flow Gulls

First Active Bald Eagle Nest on the Duluth Waterfront

Darth Vader Bird

A Sabino So Long!

Year 5

For the past nine days Molly and I have rented a super condo from Jim, about one mile south of the United States Forest Service Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. This area allows us to easily escape into the desert wilderness, but also utilize Tuscon’s bicycle riding lanes and trails.

After I finished work upon the materials I will soon present to the Minnetonka Birding Club, I took one last bicycle birding trip over to the Canyon. Before I get to this morning’s birds, all are welcome to attend my presentation. There is no admission charge. I will speak about birding northeast Minnesota and the use of super zoom cameras in birding photography.

On to this morning’s birds … one final lifer!

Anna’s Hummingbird (lifer)

Ladder-Back Woodpceker

Phainopepla

Northern Mockingbird