Tag Archives: MN North: Canal Park

Sunrise Entry (and an Osprey!)

Year 5,

Last night I noticed the Fuldaborg, a Saltie out of the Netherlands would be arriving off the Duluth harbor around 5 am to pick up a cargo of grain. Knowing this was 15 minutes before sunrise, I thought the colors would be perfect … a sunrise entry at Canal Park on Lake Superior. Old Gitche Gumee did not fail me! For you Duluthians, listen closely between 5 and 35 seconds of the video. You will be able to hear the bells in the old Central School Clock Tower striking 5:00 a.m.!

In order to be in position out on the pier in time for the Fuldaborg’s arrival, I had to leave home at 4:15 am, getting up at 4:00 am. As long as I was already awake this early I visited some Ospreys I know in the area. One gave me a nice wing flapping performance. In short it was a great morning. When I returned home at 9:00 am, I had already been gone for five hours!

I can almost hear the Osprey saying … Did you see me nail that landing!

Boats, not Birds!

Year 5

It was blustery over the weekend. Lake Superior showed one of its infinite varying moods. Our region experienced lots of rain, winds gusting to 40 mph, and big waves out on Lake Superior. Like any “young boy” (now in my early 60’s), I love boats. Thus, with birding being difficult I migrated to the lake. On Friday I photographed the Michipicoten (built in 1952), one of my favorite ore boats, as it arrived at Duluth’s Canal Park.

Some of you may not know that Duluth is one of America’s largest ports, and is located at the western terminus of the St. Lawrence Seaway. In addition to ships like the Michipicoten which ply their trade wholly on the Great Lakes, Salties sail to Duluth carrying cargoes from around the world.

Duluth’s port is managed by the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. With their permission I am attaching a pdf of the most current issue of their magazine, Spring 2018. If you are a boat nerd like me, a historian, or just like pretty photos of ships on the lake, take a look. Back issues may be accessed via their web site.

Migration and Life … On Hold!

Year 5,

Lake Superior added ice last week! The big lake never adds ice in late March. This time of year is when the first hints of spring are supposed to appear in the Northland. North Shore streams and rivers are supposed to open up and have huge amounts of water cascading down the hills to Lake Superior. Early arriving ducks are supposed to gather at the mouths of streams and feast on fish preparing for spring spawning runs. Instead we have more ice on the “Big Lake” and over a foot of snow in the deep woods. Over the past few days God threw in 25+ mph winds and birding was not pretty … actually almost impossible. Smart birds, even the early migrants, are staying hundreds of miles south of the Arctic Riviera.

Life is also on hold. The Hoeg family awaits the arrival of a new child … our fifth grandchild. My wife (not to mention my daughter!) is at wit’s end. Spring means new life, and soon both birds and baby will make appearances! In the meantime, I enjoy the fruits of my bird feeders. While it is winter everywhere else in my neighborhood, my six feeders insure our forested yard if filled with bird song and color! I am not the Selfish Giant (Oscar Wilde’s children’s book)!

Yesterday afternoon I enjoyed some time with my pileated woodpeckers (female pictured). I think I may have discovered the hole the happy couple intend to use for a nest. Regardless, both the male and female Pileated Woodpeckers let me get real close as I am the “food guy”. They regularly visit my suet feeders. I think a good stiff wind will soon blow over this dead birch given their excavations.

If one knows where and when to look, color is everywhere in this land of black and white. I found God finger painting before sunrise this Sunday morning … Canal Park on Lake Superior.