Tag Archives: MN North: Canosia Wildlife Area

Colder by the Lake Birding (and foxes!)

Year 10, , , ,

Colder by the Lake! As we drove home two days ago, the temperature was 65F across Minnesota … until Molly and I approached Duluth. Any weather forecast for the State of Minnesota at this time of year will always end, but “colder near Lake Superior”. The water temperature in the big lake is in the high 30’s F, which makes it hard to warm up the air if you live near Gitchi Gummi. Thus, 45F is a pretty common temperature at my house 800 yards above the shore if the wind is off the lake (or colder).

One practical effect of “colder by the lake” is spring food production starts later than spots inland. The Black Bear which raided my bird feeders last night understands this issue very well. Find a food source and stick with it! For birding, find the local micro-climate with food and migrating birds will be easily be found. Here are a few images I took over the past few days.

Amity Creek (my home area)
Red-Bellied Woodpecker

Canosia Wildlife Preserve (Pioneer and Rice Lake Road Wetlands)
Greater Yellowlegs

Forest Hill Cemetery
Hooded Merganser

St. Louis River at Chambers Grover
White Pelican

Duluth Area
Fox Kits

Stoney River Forest Road (Greenwood Forest Fire Region)
Ruffed Grouse

Note: Stoney River Forest Road is clear of snow, but as you can see, not Whyte Road. The snow in the Boreal Pine Forest is still about one foot deep.

Showing Off Northern Minnesota: Campgrounds & Rookeries

Year 9, ,

My wife’s cousins from St. Louis just visited us. They had asked me if I could take them birding, and the Northland obliged in a great way. While day time temperatures were pushing 100F down south, Duluth and Lake Superior kept our weather around 70F with mainly sunny skies. At night temperatures dove to the 40’s and 50’s which encourage great sleeps amazed our relative!

Both Jerry and Suzanne promised me they were game to bushwack off trail deep into the forest and visit a wetland Great Blue Heron Rookery. Neither the mosquitoes (numerous), promised woodticks or soaked feet put them off! Given my cousins lives in a major metropolitan area like St. Louis, it was enchanting to first hear the rookery (lots of begging chicks) and then break through the undergrowth cover to stand next to a generations old beaver dam and drink in the sight!

Great Blue Heron Rookery (about 30 active nests)

Later that same day we walked the Western Waterfront Trail and visited our local Red-Headed Woodpecker near its nest hole.

Just before sundown everyone visited my brother-in-law and his wife. They had outdoor movie night at their campsite near Two Harbors, Minnesota. I missed the start of the movie when the local birds put them upon display just before sundown.

Eastern Bluebird and Purple Finch

We finished up yesterday with a trip to our cabin on Northstar Lake near the Marcell. I have become concerned that our local Bald Eagles may have met their demise given the avian flu. The nest we have watched for over 30 years has been empty this year. However, three different adult Bald Eagles seem to have now moved into the area and are using the local tall white pines as hunting and fishing perches.

Another concern while boating around Northstar Lake has been the total lack of loon chicks (unusual for mid July). Near our cabin I have identified five loon couples, and actually found two nests earlier this summer. However, at this point in the middle of July I have not seen a single chick. I am worried that due to the extremely late ice out (middle of May), and the fact that the water reeds did not emerge from the water till well into June, all the nests failed. Normally the loons nest deep in the reeds away from the land. This was not an option this summer. Other fledglings have been very later this year due to our very cold, wet spring. I hope I’m wrong.

And Yet More Grassland Birds

Year 9,

As I have noted in many posts over the past week or so … it’s heavenly out in the countryside between the wildflowers and birds. If you have the opportunity, drive Scenic 61 between Duluth and Stony Point. The Lupine are at their peak. Purple will rule the day, and I am not even a fan of Prince! 🙂

One early morning stop is the intersection of Stebner and Martin Road. Two Broad-Winged Hawks were sitting within yards of each other … which implies there has to be a nest in the vicinity. The big dead tree upon which one hawk was perched starts an area which was logged a few years back. The logging company left a decent number of deadheads, snags and other trees. This area (Google Maps link) will only get better for birding in the months and years ahead. If you visit, then drive further on Martin Road to Lavaque Road (next intersection in about one mile). Turn right and go visit Steam Shovel Sally (on left about one mile along the road). Finally, notice the American Goldfinch which photobombed the last Broad-Winged Hawk image! A few minutes later I saw a flock of goldfinches take a very large detour around the hawk.

Broad-Winged Hawk

For the past month I have attempted many times to get both good views, and photographs of Meadowlarks. Their melodious song is a beautiful part of driving Wisconsin 13 towards Cloverland. Take any back dirt road, and enjoy their song. I like Windy Lane.

Eastern Meadowlark

Tree Swallow