Tag Archives: MN North: Forest Hill Cemetery

Iced Ducks

Year 12

The ice out line across Minnesota roughly stretches across the state at Duluth. Yesterday Hartley Pond was still iced over, but the Forest Hill Cemetery Ponds were ice free. Bigger lakes are still socked in with ice, and as you head north the thickness of lake ice is still significant. However, stay off the ice. Current and melt water can quickly erode local ice.

Two days ago when there was still some ice on the Forest Hill ponds, I enjoyed quality time with migrating ducks. Waterfowl in their attempts to be the first to be the first to claim prime breeding habitat will always find the most northern open water. Small ponds allows a person birding to get MUCH closer to duck species that normally would never let a human be within hundreds of years.

Iced Ducks!

Wood Ducks

Common Mergansers (males)

Hooded Merganser (male)

Hoodies and a Woodie!

Quick note: The White Pelicans returned to Chambers Grove over night. While a few pelicans have been present on the St. Louis River, they are now hanging out in large numbers on the rock reefs.

Snow Buntings Herald the start of Winter

Year 10,

Most folks think winter starts on December 21st. People who pay attention to the “meteorological calendar” might say December 1st, but individuals who live in northern Minnesota would be excused if they said about November 1st! Yesterday I was wearing shorts for a hike in the woods (47F and some sun), but today required a heavy jacket gloves and pants. Future weather forecasts have lows in the mid 20’s, and highs in the mid 30’s.

The blast of cold weather with strong NW winds, and even a sprinkling of snow on the ground brought snow buntings south with a vengeance. The number of these small birds hanging around is amazing … from flocks to well over 300 birds to just a few. By the time the snow buntings reach northern Minnesota from their summer homes in the Arctic, they have significantly less white plumage. Hopefully I will see some late this winter on their way back north. They are little white puffballs. When I see snow buntings I know that this season’s migration is over in terms of birds which “pass through”. The only remaining birds to now arrive are those Arctic birds which will winter on the Arctic Riviera (Duluth area)

Anyhow … some pics of buntings from the last two days

Some unexpected sunshine yesterday afternoon

This morning with snow on the ground.

Bad Birding … Great Colors!

Year 10, ,

The last week has been horrible for birding. Almost all our locals have departed south, and the Arctic and Tundra arrivals are staying north (think southerly headwinds). Add almost nonstop dreary skies and frequent rain showers and a person could almost decide to move to the desert southwest (almost … but not quite). When the sun did pop out on a few occasions and I was poised with my camera. It was beautiful.

Last Monday Molly suggested at the last moment we enjoy some unexpected sun and eat out at the top of Mont du Lac. This is the hill where we both learned to ski back in our youth, and over the past few years a new owner has invested lots of money in what was a tired ski resort. This image was taken at sunset from the restaurant at the top of the hill overlooking the St. Louis River.

Tuesday afternoon found me escaping the “blah” conditions next to Lake Superior and driving over to Sax-Zim Bog. The Tamaracks are golden, and the late afternoon sun made for brilliant birding, but someone forgot to tell the birds! I walked for three miles and saw only three of our feathered friends … a chickadee, crow and blue jay.

Here is a photo of Admiral Road from that afternoon.

Finally yesterday afternoon I heard there were some local Arctic celebrities at the Forest Hill ponds. I enjoyed the four Ross’s Geese and the one Blue Morph Snow Goose.

This Monday morning … more rain … I am NOT out birding.