Lake Superior Snow Buntings! (Yr. 2: Day 17)

Year 2

Snow Buntings, guests from the Arctic Ocean where they spends their summers, are beautifull small birds which visit northern Minnesota in the winter. Minnesota is their winter warm climate destination, not Florida. Quite frankly, they are true snowbirds!!!

There are two difficulties when trying to photograph these birds:

  1. Snow Buntings are hard to find
  2. Snow Buntings are small and spook very easily

Today, in what can only be described as miserable conditions (freezing drizzle and 35 mph winds), I hit the jackpot! I found a small flock of snow buntings, and after over 40 minutes of trying, was able to maneuver within fifteen yards while they rested after their morning feed. Approximately every minute I had to stop and clean the accumulated frozen sleet off my camera lens. However, the results were worth the effort!

Snow Buntings of Lake Superior!
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Now Visiting from the Frozen Tundra! (Yr. 2: Day 16)

Year 2,

It may be hard to imagine that some birds consider the winter climate in northern Minnesota warm, but that is truly the case! Today I had the pleasure of seeing not one, but two visitors from the frozen tundra. Both of these birds summer and raise their young on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. I’ve also included three photos I took this afternoon 50 miles up the Lake Superior shore from Duluth. Perhaps these birds understand that Lake Superior is a bit like the Arctic. Take a look!

Snow Bunting
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Hoary Redpoll
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Ice Waves on Lake Superior
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Two’s Company, Three’s a Crowd, Four’s Roadkill Cafe (Yr. 2: Day 13)

Year 2

When hiking the NorthWoods, or driving remote roads, I always pay attention to the crows and ravens. If I notice a large number in the trees, or along the roadside, I always slow down and inspect the area. More often than not I find an animal carcass. This was the situation as I drove along a rural highway in the Sax-Zim Bog birding area. I discovered a bear carcass which was providing breakfast for many animals and birds. Over the course of thirty minutes I watched a red fox, a bald eagle, tons of ravens and this hairy woodpecker enjoy “bear for breakfast”!

I’ve also included with this posts two photographs taken thirteen hours aprart which bookended the night. My vantage point was Hawk Ridge overlooking Lake Superior.

A Hairy Woodpecker enjoys some bear for breakfast
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Moonrise Over Lake Superior
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Sunrise over Lake Superior (same vantage point … 13 hours later)
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