Tag Archives: MN North: Hawk Ridge

NE Minnesota Birding Updates

Year 9,

Okay … my owls will have to wait a while before I am willing to visit. The mosquitoes are horrible in the woods. Even though I’ve heard crow attacks, the buzzing monsters have forced me to turn back several times.

Thus, northeast birding (not just Duluth) should be limited to areas somewhat out in the open. This morning I discovered that Sax-Zim Bog has a record number of bzzzzzing bugs. However, there are options …

  • Hawk Ridge is a great for finding Indigo Buntings at sunrise. This little guy shown below was singing his heart out yesterday morning at 6:30 am.
  • The Red-Headed Woodpeckers on the Western Waterfront Trail were also still courting yesterday morning
  • A hike along the railroad tracks out into Mud Lake did NOT yet yield any yellow-headed blackbirds

Nest Selection Time! Red-Headed Woodpeckers

Year 9,

For the second year in a row it appears that Red-Headed Woodpeckers will nest in Duluth, which is at the very extreme edge of this species’ northern range! To keep things fair, the birds seem to be sharing themselves across our fair city … one on the Western Waterfront Trail (this pair), and another looking for a mate inland from Lake Superior along the Lester River (private land). In both instances, these are the same locations as last year’s successful nesting birds.

Making their home selection: Red-Headed Woodpeckers

(video link for email subscribers)

Earlier this morning up at Hawk Ridge: Chestnut-Sided Warbler

Dreary Day Photography: Find Waldo?!

Year 7, ,

The last two days have been dreary. Light fog has been ever present with a breeze out of the Northeast off Lake Superior (i.e. cold). Temperatures struggle to get much above 50, and during my daily bike ride next to lake … even colder. This begs the question, what is a wildlife / bird photographer supposed to do? The answer is … find color! When the skies are not blue, and the light is dim the world still abounds with color.

From yesterday afternoon’s bike ride … Find Waldo!

In case, you needed help!

An Indigo Bunting atop Hawk Ridge this morning with Spring green in the background.

And of course, the daily owl report. My Great Horned Owlets are getting big, but they are still sloppy. This morning they threw down a half eaten rabbit to me. I passed given I had already had my breakfast.