In a few days Molly and I leave for our lighthouse keeping gig at Crisp Point at the other end of Lake Superior. The location is very remote (accessed via a 19 mile long dirt road), and 40 miles from the nearest small town. Basically one arrives and stays. There is no keeper’s residence. We camp 40 yards from Lake Superior and the lighthouse. Only keepers may camp at the lighthouse. It is a special location where we return year after year. 
How much can 15 miles really mean to migrating birds? Apparently, a lot!
I just spent the last week serving as a volunteer lighthouse keeper at Crisp Point. This lighthouse is 15 miles shy of Whitefish Point and is only accessed via a 19 mile dirt road. The lighthouse is very remote, and serving as keeper is a fantastic experience. Our keeper’s residence is our tent, but back to birding …
Whitefish Point is a major bird migration route both in the Spring and Fall. Thousands and thousands of birds from the northern reaches of Canada fly past Whitefish during their twice annual migrations. However, Crisp Point is almost due west of Whitefish. During our latest mid September stay I saw almost zero birds … a few flocks of Canada Geese, a couple of crows, three common mergansers, and an actually quite rare Mew Gull (see below … data courtesy of All About Birds from Cornell University). Winds must have pushed this fellow off its planned migration. However, the birds know the way south (or north in the Spring) is to follow Lake Michigan down towards warmer weather. Thus, 15 miles is HUGE in terms of distance from a flyway.
While Molly and I did not see many birds at Crisp Point, the grand old lady came through for us! Here are a few photographs taken two days ago starting with the Blue Hour (40 minutes before sunrise) till about 30 minutes after sunrise.
Our final new experience was learning about Yooperlite! Last summer, a local rock hound discovered that some Lake Superior stones have sodalite fluorescent crystals embedded within the rock. Under a black, UV light, the crystals reflect light in a brilliant manner. As the campfire was burning down three nights back, we decided to walk the beach with a UV flashlight in search of the fabled stone. Yooperlite! (Yooperlite image taken the next morning).
Molly and I leave early tomorrow morning for our spot at the end of the Rainbow! For the sixth year we will serve as lighthouse keepers at Crisp Point. This light is at the far end of Lake Superior and is very remote (19 mile dirt road to access). Unlike some lighthouse keeper gigs which offer nice accommodations, our keeper’s residence is our small pup tent pitched 30 yards from the big lake. When the last guests leave late in the afternoon, we have Lake Superior all to ourselves with noone within miles! We love it. The lighthouse is off the grid and we will return next weekend. Thus, no more blog posts for the next seven days. Once again, thanks to Heather-Marie who will be house-sitting in our home.
Crisp Point Lighthouse (12 miles shy of Whitefish Point)
Here next to Amity Creek the bird migration is in full force. I was actually surprised to still have Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds fighting over our garden. This twosome definitely had a disagreement.
Finally, when I left this morning for a quick birding excursion I became distracted. Just like a few days ago when I was bridged, today I was steamed! What boy can resist hanging with a steam engine. Enjoy.
NorthShore Scenic Railroad Steam Engine Video