Rocky Mountain High: Calliope Hummingbird

June 14, 2016Year 3MN North: Hartley Nature Center, MN North: Minnesota Pointrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Sunday’s thunder storms brought a rare visitor to Duluth, Minnesota at the head of Lake Superior. For only the second time in known history a visit by a Calliope Hummingbird has graced our state, and the first male in full breeding plumage! This bird should be hanging out in the Rocky Mountains, or even further west. (Cornell Ornithology Lab Information)

Actually it’s kind of amazing this small bird was even found. It’s hanging out at the end of Park Point in an area with tons of blooming shrubs, and some protection from Lake Superior’s strong northeast winds. Quite the celebrity … this little bird … while I was there four people from the Twin Cities arrived (175 miles to our south) just in the hopes of seeing this beautiful bird.

Calliope Hummingbird (2 Videos … preening and sitting … the bouncing branches courtesy of Lake Superior’s strong winds, even in a protected thicket)

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Some still images of the Calliope Hummingbird

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Finally … An American Redstart (lots of color in the Northwoods!)

Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge

June 13, 2016Year 3MN South: Sherburne National Wildlife Refugerichardhoeg@gmail.com

Whenever I visit my kids and grandkids down south in the Twin Cities, I like to take an early morning sojourn over to the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge. This excellent birding spot is only 45 minutes northwest of the Plymouth area, and on a Sunday morning when I left at 5:00 am, traffic was non-existent! There are a number of excellent hikes, but in addition I like driving slow loops of the DNR Wildlife Drive. When one arrives shortly before 6 am, the preserve is mine alone. It was only as I was leaving around 8:15 am that other folks were arriving.

The refuge is in its early Summer finest. If birds have not already paired off, they are actively seeking a mate. The prairie grass and flowers are starting to come into full bloom. Given we do not have yellow-headed blackbirds here in northeastern Minnesota, this bird was my target of opportunity. While there song would never be called melodious, the color of this bird in the early morning light is striking. I enjoyed watching many of these birds sing and enforce their territories at the Urban Pete Nelson Memorial Pool. This spot, 2.7 miles after the start of the DNR Wildlife Drive (i.e. from the spot the return loop meets the Wildlife Drive, not the highway) even has a bench and a grassy knoll. The blackbirds seemed to like the combination of some dry land and marsh.

Sherburne Yellow-Headed Blackbird

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Some Still Photos of the Yellow Headed Blackbirds

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Sandhill Crane Amongst the Blooming Prairie

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Trumpeter Swan Love

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Common Loons

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Ring Necked Duck

Sing Out for Summer … Part 4 (American Redstart)

June 10, 2016Year 3MN North: Hartley Nature Centerrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Another day, another warbler! Today I spent some time over at Hartley Nature Center. The small stream that is below the dam is a favorite for warblers (the thicket of trees immediately below the dam, and continuing for about 100 yards). Found this female Redstart and her mate, but only catch the female on my camera. At one point the male landed 10 inches from my head, and hung on the branch for about 5 seconds!

I also enjoyed this male Common Yellowthroat. These birds are often so deep in the heavy grass surrounding streams and swamps one never gets to see them, but you also “hear” them!

American Redstart (female) Sing Out for Summer!