Per normal I went birding at sunrise this morning, While I had fun watching a rough-legged hawk hunt as the initial rays of the morning popped up over Lake Superior, it was even better when I got home and discovered some purple finches had “invaded” my feeders! Like any true Minnesota Vikings fan, I love the color purple! The today I bring you purple finch power! (and the hawk at sunrise)
I enjoyed watching this Rough-Legged Hawk hunt this afternoon on the North Shore of Lake Superior. In total I spent 18 minutes with this hawk. When it made its kill, I worked my way in a bit closer to get these photos. When it took off, it only flew up to the nearest telephone pole and continued hunting. Please note the hawk took off because it was finished eating, not because I scared it!
Looking at me to insure I did not come any closer … I did not!
———-
Finished lunch and about to take off.
———-
Takeoff!
My morning hike took me down into the Knife River Ravine on the North Shore of Lake Superior. This ravine has old growth pines, with some dead trees. In short, great habitat for pileated woodpeckers. Shortly after arriving I heard the whack whack whack above me, and a few minutes of patience yielded today’s woodpecker photo.
In the afternoon I hiked out to the Superior Entry with my wife, son and his fiancee. Given all inland lakes and the harbor itself are now ice over, we found hundreds of goldeneyes in the channel to the open lake. Understanding how skittish goldeneyes are, I waited and soon walkers on the other side of the channel came to close and we had liftoff!
Pileated Woodpecker
———-
Goldeneye Takeoff
