A red-headed woodpecker visited my yard for over 45 minutes yesterday afternoon. This species is very rare in NE Minnesota. Hopefully “red” has a mate near by and is thinking of drilling out a nest hole. Each summer, we have one or two nesting redheads in the region. It would be fun to have the birds select my yard (video of red for blog subscribers)
A humdinger of a blizzard swept through northeastern Minnesota over the past two days. Winds were consistently clocked at 60 mph near my house. We received a foot of snow at my home, but at higher elevations and a bit up the shore snowfall totals were over two feet of the white stuff.
I thought folks might enjoy seeing where I live. Normally after a big storm my “question of the day (or days)” is which will get to our road first … the tracked cross-country ski groomer, a Piston Bully (ski trails are 200 yards from my home), or the city snow plow. After past storms the groomer normally arrives first … two days after the snow, and the plow on day three! Neither have been here yet. I definitely have not gone birding. It would have been dangerous. Main roads are now plowed, but not remote back roads.
Occidental Blvd … Rich’s street which is closed a bit uphill from December 1st through April 30th (very steep with no residents …difficult and not worth plowing).
The Movie (walking up the hill to my home … video link for email subscribers)
I am working hard at triangulating this year’s GHO Nest. Up here, Amy and Les the Second normally nest by mid February. My sound listening device can listen “live” for me and play the audio feed also in real time while I sit on the couch, in front of the fire, and enjoy a glass of wine. Last year I either had to open a window to hear the owls (it’s 12F outside right now), or bundle up and be outside! This is much nicer!!!
Oh yes … saw three Snowy Owls at the Superior Airport late this afternoon. Pics coming! Also drove up to Greenwood at sunrise this morning. Hiked the snowmobile trail to swap SD cards for my trailcams. Never any snowmobile traffic during the week. Appears to be five unique individual moose hanging out near my feeders, plus a few wolves, fox, and a Canada Lynx. The hour prior to sunset is a common time for the mammals to be active. Friday and Saturday evenings are poor times as that is when the snowmobiles tend to be on the trail. No snowshoes are necessary. Trail well packed. Stop and listen. I see lots of Black-Backed Woodpeckers.