Tag Archives: MN North: Hartley Nature Center

Warbler Reprise

Year 9

I decided the warbler action at Hartley Nature Center was so fantastic yesterday, that a few hours after returning home and posting my Wowing Warblers entry on this blog, I had to go back. The little fluffballs of color did  not disappoint. In fact I would be at Hartley this morning if there did not appear to be the threat of impending rain.

Regardless, I scored species 9 and 10 of warblers for the day … once again with the small birds flitting within inches of me. Surprisingly, the species seemed to vary based upon whether I sat upstream or downstream of the culvert under the hiking path (a distance of only ten yards). Anyhow, enjoy.

The new species … Black & White Warbler | Magnolia Warbler

And more the same as in the morning …

American Redstart

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Wowing Warblers!

Year 9

During the northern migration, wherever you live, find small streams protected from the wind. Often you will find early bug hatches, and if you are able to find this kind of location, chances are warblers during their journey north will find same. Such was the case this morning at Hartley Nature Center in Duluth. I had warblers by the dozens flitting all around me, often landing within two feet of my face. These birds were hungry, and a human who was standing in the stream bed was not going to deter these hungry birds. From this morning.

American Redstart

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Mourning Warbler

Northern Parula Warbler

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Mom on the Guard … Ponds Melt

Year 8,

Yesterday was significant in turns of birding in NE Minnesota … two big events:

  1. Pond Ice Out
  2. Mom is Off the Nest

The big storm that took place two nights ago dumped enough rain, and created additional current in areas streams that any pond with a decent inlet / outlet is now ice free. In addition, after almost two months straight on the nest, Mom Great Horned Owl is now helping out Dad Owl with hunting duties. She still sits very close to the nest most of the time (ten feet away), but just not in the nest. Her owlets are getting to large.

This photograph was taken at Hartley Nature Center. Although the Trumpeter Swans indicated their displease with the presence of the Canada Geese, the swans were obviously just migrating through. If they had planned to nest at Hartley, they never would have allowed the geese in such close proximity. Ice Out on the ponds mean the duck migration will not really start in force (perhaps delayed by the forecast NE winds over the next week).

Meanwhile back at the old homestead, my Pileated Woodpecker visits many times per day. The male (pictured below) uses any one of three trees as sounding boards and drills his territorial announcements while the female eats. Once she is done, he moves down to the suet. I like to keep the meat suet up for the woodpeckers at this time of year. I wonder when my first bird feeder bear attack of the season will occur? Real beef suet is aromatic, and will definitely attract Yogi and Boo Boo.