Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

A Day in the Life of a Northland Photographer …

Year 13

Today’s plan … in progress:

  1. Get up at 4:45 am
  2. Have breakfast at 5:00 am
  3. Read news at 5:15 am
  4. Fill birdfeeders at 5:40 am
  5. Worked on solar array power system test station at 6:00 am
    • Creating Birdsong Listening Station for Hawk Ridge
    • Will run off the grid 24x7x52
    • Optimized with parts to run down to -40F
  6. Arrive at Lake Superior cabin at 8:00 am
    • Take images of lupines and historic cabin
    • Paid gig for Lake Superior magazine
  7. Arrive at Greenwood Creek Birdfeeders at 9:30 am
    • Fill birdfeeders
    • Take long hike … swap out SD cards on
      • 3 Birdsong Listening Devices
      • 6 Trailcams
    • Change batteries on selected devices
  8. Arrive home about 1 pm … lunch and rest
  9. Work on images from Greenwood Creek birding hike at 2 pm
  10. Work on low power options for Hawk Ridge birdsong station at 3 pm
  11. Dinner at 6 pm
  12. Configure new test parameters for Hawk Ridge birdsong station at 8 pm
  13. Go to sleep at 9 pm

Time to leave for my cabin / lupine photo session on Lake Superior, after first grabbing a Diet Coke! It is now 6:45 am.

Raccoon Kits Climbing Lessons (videos)

Year 13

Friday night there was excitement around the house. Just before sunset Momma Raccon decided that her youngsters … the kits / cubs … needed some climbing lessons. For the past few days the baby raccoons have been frequently staring out  of the main cavity in the tall white pine only 15 yards from our living room’s window seat. Based upon footage from my numerous trailcams mounted in the yard, it is obvious the youngsters have not been out of the tree and down to the ground. Momma Raccoon decided it was time for climbing lessons! She would enter via the main cavity hole … push one of the four kits up to the top hole, and then “help” that cub “learn” to climb down to the bottom cavity hole. Momma Raccoon would grab each youngster in her mouth and then the excitement began.

In my two videos you will here the glee as my own grandkids (nine in total) enjoy the evening’s entertainment. The climbing lesson lasted for over 30 minutes!

Momma Raccoon looks out of the white pine to see if all is safe.

The cubs/kits make their appearances at the main cavity hole

Fighting for Mom’s Attention!

Mom looks down from above

Climbing down lessons!

The Raccoon Kits at the Cavity Hole! (video link for email subscribers)

Climbing Lessons … Hang On for Dear Life! (video link for email subscribers)

Woodpecker Time! Use your ears!

Year 13,

For the next two to three weeks, have fun birding by using your ears. The various species of woodpeckers will start to fledge their young, and if you listen … you will find their woodpecker holes  nests … just use your ears. Woodpeckers will still be drumming, and normally that occurs near their nest holes. For the final few days the youngsters will start sticking their heads & necks out of the holes and demanding food. I good app to learn both the drumming and chick calls is Cornell’s Merlin. Open the app … select explore … then the desired species … and finally all sounds.

Here is a Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker which has decided a “no parking sign” near my house is a great drumming sound board! (video link for blog subscribers)

Amity Creek Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

And Bald Eagle Roadkill Cafe … I suspect this eagle is about three years old having just acquired its white head and tailfeathers … amazing how close it was willing to eat next to the highway. Eagles normally flush somewhat quickly. Images taken near my house on the Two Harbors Expressway.