Tag Archives: MN North: Amity

Bird Blindness

Year 6

Bird Blindness.

Posts will be a bit more infrequent over the weeks and months ahead. My vision continues to be a challenge, and I am working through many doctor’s appointments and tests of various eyeware. Tis a challenge, and I have good days and bad. On the good days I am out with my camera …

Thankfully I have a fantastic core group of family and friends who are helping me through this trying time. Many of these individuals are medical professionals. Just tonight my youngest son BBQ’d my favorite steak, and prepared accompanying great food. I am truly blessed.

Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays.

Snow Birds … Red and Gray!

Year 6,

As noted we had another winter storm earlier this week dumping eight additional inches of snow on the Northland. With over 3 feet of snow on the ground, birds have started using bird feeders in a BIG way. Find some bird feeders, and you will find lots of birds. I photographed these snow birds during two different excursions this week.

One interesting side note is a few years ago you would never have found cardinals in the Duluth area. These were not a bird of the Boreal forest. Cardinals have been expanding their range northward, and I now have friends 1/2 the way to Two Harbors from Duluth along the shore who have these red birds in their yard.

Northern Cardinal near my own feeders (during the snow storm)

Gray Jay near the Admiral Road feeders in Sax-Zim Bog (as a fyi … Boreal Chickadees have also been seen eating peanut butter at this remote feeder in the middle of the woods)

More Snowstorm Woodpeckers …

Year 6

Earlier today, it was my local Red-Bellied Woodpecker and Northern Cardinal in the snow, this afternoon it is the Pileated and Hairy Woodpeckers. They all continue to only use the downwind side of the trees. Smart given the 25 mph winds and snow. No sign of the Northern Shrike yet today.

Female Pileated Woodpecker (and grey squirrel)

Male Hairy Woodpecker