Outbound / Inbound!

March 29, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: Western Waterfront Trailrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Last night I photographed the Michipicoten as she steamed into the Duluth Harbor under the High Bridge. When I work up at 5 am this morning, I said: “Self, doesn’t an ore boat take about ten hours to load with taconite pellets?” Realizing the answer was yes I rushed down to the Duluth Waterfront and caught the Michipicoten as she sailed out of Duluth at sunrise!

Wait! Isn’t this a birding blog? Realizing I was already down at the waterfront I drove upstream along the St. Louis River to a parking spot which would allow me to hike the Western Waterfront Trail. Although the weatherman had promised us southerly winds today, Lake Superior had other ideas. Winds out of the Northeast meant no new arrivals in terms of the bird migration. All was not lost, the birds that are here are still pretty cool. Thus, I bring you the pride of the Western Waterfront Trail! (hint … the Michipicoten was Outbound, while the birds are Inbound from the South)

Looking for Love … Red-Winged Blackbird

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An Uncommon Common Redpoll

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The Outbound Michipicoten

Steaming Under the High Bridge | Making the Big Turn | Leaving Canal Park

Birding Lake Superior … Unsuccessfully!

March 28, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

However, I don’t mind. For the 1000th day in a row the cold winds blew out of the Northeast across Lake Superior and prevented the spring migration from getting started. A few early birds are around, but what we really need are some warm days with winds out of the south.

Although I did see birds, there was nothing of note, but did I mind? Nope! Lake Superior is a gorgeous lady and she distracted me from before sunrise to after sunset. Who needs birds? (sacrilegious comment!).

Lone Pine Sunrise on Scene Highway 61 … eight miles up the shore from Duluth

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The Michipicoten steams under the Duluth High Bridge about 1/2 hour after sunset this evening.

Turkeys Gone A Courting! (video)

March 24, 2016Year 3MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Courting is in full swing at the Sax-Zim Bog. The sharp-tailed grouse dance every morning in the field just NE of the intersection of Racek and Cty #29. The turkeys strut their stuff in a field east of Overton Rd, about 300 yards south of Arkola Rd. The video is at the bottom of this post.

Make certain you arrive by sunrise or shortly thereafter. All the dancing will be over by 8:30 or 9:00 am. Even though the Spring migration has not really started, I had a fun morning in the Bog. In addition to all the birds with romance on their mind, I found a small flock of gray jays which were feeding in a marshy area mostly devoid of snow.

Turkeys Gone a Courting!