Blizzard Birds

Year 3

Take one nasty storm with 50 mph wind gusts and add one crazy photographer and what do you get? Blizzard birds! While most people would be inside on a day like today, I tried to deal with horrible photographic conditions and take a few photos. Tomorrow I plan on driving up to Sax-Zim Bog. The snow is supposed to end overnight with clearing skies around 6 am. I hope the end result will be ice / snow plastered trees. All the raptors including owls should be very hungry and hopefully hunting all day long with a backdrop of a deep blue sky.

Blizzard Birds …
Red-Breasted Nuthatch, White-Breasted Nuthatch and Black-Capped Chickadee
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Good-Bye Pure Google!

Background

Pure Google Birding … alas, it is no more!

Four years ago I purchased a Google Nexus 10 tablet. I loved the “pure Google” platform w/o bloatware which also insured I received the latest Android operating system updates. This tablet went birding everywhere with me in northern Minnesota. My trips often took me off the grid deep into the boreal forest on unmarked logging roads. Thankfully my Google Nexus 10 had a gps chip, and by having downloaded Google Maps for offline use, even when off the grid and approaching remote dirt road intersections, I could figure out my location. Thus, when I spied some interesting new bird, not only did I know how to get home but had my birding apps to help with identification.

Yes, I originally  had cravings for a Google Pixel C, but their new tablet unlike the Nexus 10 no longer has a GPS chip. During my research I discovered that most “wifi only”(i.e. no cellular plan) tablets no longer have GPS chips . One of the few tablets with GPS is the Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 (9.7 inch screen with 32 gb). This morning I found out that if you are willing to be “uncool” and order a “gold colored” tablet, the price is marked down from $499 to $385. Now it is quite possible that some New York City fashionista will track me down near the Canadian border in Minnesota and look down their nose at my non chic tablet color … who cares!

Given my years of being known by my nickname, The Northstar Nerd, I will need consolation from my readers during my time of mourning over the loss of pure Google! However, I will still be on the Android platform. Apple? Eh gads, no!

Seriously … if your travels while birding or photographing often take you off the grid, when purchasing your next tablet, check VERY carefully to insure that device has a GPS chip.

Good-Bye Pure Google
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On the weather front, the promised winter storm / blizzard appears to be starting to make itself known early this morning in Minnesota. Birding will be difficult today. Thus, in the meantime here is a pic from a few nights ago … a calm, warm night down on the Duluth waterfront. A classic ore boat is approaching the Duluth ship canal with the moon rising immediately behind the freighter.
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Love of the Land!

Year 3, ,

Anyone who has followed my blog for a while should understand I love this land, and its people. For me, northeastern Minnesota is God’s Country! In fact, two days ago I was elected board chair of Destination Duluth. This 501c organization exists to encourage people, businesses and organizations to move to Duluth. If you like my images, you must visit Destination Duluth’s Facebook page (no account required), or install our IOS / Android app. Both resources have the work of phenomenal Northland photographers, and in the case of the app, many other items which will help you enjoy our area … better yet, no ads or sales pitches.

Although the birding has been a bit slow over the past week, the ability to enjoy this land, its wilderness, and beauty have been frequent. Two nights ago was the 41st anniversary of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald (Gordon Lightfoot song). Each year on the anniversary, Splitrock Lighthouse’s beacon is lit in honor of the 29 men who lost their lives.
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After enjoying a late night photographing the lighthouse, I was still up early the next two days. Yesterday Mr. Timberwolf was nice enough to pose for me at sunrise. One may distinguish a wolf from a coyote by its rounded ears, and the fact that it’s just plain bigger.
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This morning while putting out my feeders on Old Vermilion Trail for the winter season, I enjoyed seeing many grouse. While not a scientific study, I am convinced the numbers of grouse are way up and we are near the high of their cycle. The numbers of lynx, bobcat and foxes should also now increase due to increased numbers of prey! If you wish to visit my winter feeders on Old Vermilion Trail (a nice dirt road just north of Duluth), follow this link for a more detailed description and map! Do you think grouse are well camouflaged?!
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Finally an image of four freighters anchored out in Lake Superior. The time was about 45 minutes before sunrise this morning. Once again, I love this land and its peoples!
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