At 2:00 a.m. my Northern Lights app alarm went off. A quick check of the numbers revealed the conditions were looking insanely good. This fact plus clear skies and no moon meant a trip north of Duluth twenty five miles to the frozen ice of Boulder Lake was demanded. By 2:40 am I was on the ice, and stayed there till 5 am. The Aurora filled the sky, even sometimes to my south. The peak of the Zodiac even had flashing lights for almost an hour. Here are a few photos from last night … a true start for a St. Patrick’s celebration!

Matt joined me on the ice around 3:30 am. Got a nice photo of him changing camera settings during a “quiet period” of lights!

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Northern Lights at Boulder Lake … 25 miles north of Duluth

Last night my Northern Lights software app alarm went off at 3 am. A quick look out the window confirmed that the rain I had heard earlier than evening had moved out of the area. Thus, by 3:15 am I was dressed and driving north to Boulder Lake. This remote lake is about 25 miles north of Duluth, Minnesota. While I did not get any pictures of birds while at the lake, shortly before the false dawn at 5 am I heard loons calling out mournfully through the darkness during a particularly bright display of the Aurora Borealis. The lights truly shined and danced last night.

LOL at myself. The first photo … the selfie of myself … was taken when it was only 48F outside. In my rush to leave the house last night I only threw on shorts, a t-shirt and a cotton sweater vest. Twas a bit cool hanging out on the lakeshore! Thankfully I had a blanket in the car in which I had wrapped myself. I guess Fall has arrived. Need to dress warmer.

Bird photography will come later today after a short nap!

Northern Lights on August 27, 2014 over Boulder Lake in Northern Minnesota