Tag Archives: MN North: Forest Hill Cemetery

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.

Windy City Ruddy Duck

Year 9,

I am down in the western suburbs of Chicago giving talks on two successive nights to local birding organizations. I certainly never expected to see a lifer and capture a nice photograph during my visit, but such was the case while walking a footbridge across the Fox River this morning. Amazingly the weather was 70F and sunny. Back home the first winter storm of the season is raging. I had been complaining about the slow pace of the late migration. The storm at home should change that situation.

Regardless, this morning’s Ruddy Duck

And a Ring-Necked Duck from back in Duluth which I saw on Sunday.

Any attendees looking for the outline of my presentation along with all its links, browse here.

Forest Hill Friendly

Year 9, ,

The last migration push is on hold, and will be until these strong winds out of the south change to out of the north. In the meantime, birds in the area tend to stick around, and there are very few new arrivals. One easy location for me to check is the Forest Hill Cemetery. There is a year round resident Pileated Woodpecker which is enjoying all the very old trees in the cemetery.

One of the other common species migrating through the Duluth area right now are American Crows (some stay year round). This individual along with a migrating Canada Goose felt it was bathtime.

Finally, if you have time get out in the Boreal Forest this weekend. The second set of peak colors is upon us … when Tamarack Pine Tree needles are golden. A nice drive is going up Lake County #2 to Stony River Forest Road. My buddy, Greg, and I made that drive yesterday morning and loved the frosted colors. We did find one Red-Tailed Hawk.

This image was taken near Grand Portage right on the border with Canada. Molly and I were up there last Saturday.