Tag Archives: MN North: Hawk Ridge

Do You Have a Star-Trek Birding Universal Translator Device?

June 17, 2016Background, Year 3MN North: Hawk Ridgerichardhoeg@gmail.com

I speak Indigo Bunting, and Catbird … and even Wilson’s Snipe. Yes, via my Star-Trek Birding Universal Translator Device I speak many birding languages, and the birds speak back to me! Actually in my case I am using iBird Pro North America on my Android smartphone (also available for IOS). While $15 may seem like a lot of money to pay when many apps are free, the extensive database (940 bird species) which is always at your finger tips makes the cost worthwhile. In addition, to the app’s many other features which help in bird identification, the use of recorded bird songs in the field may be the difference between only hearing and seeing birds close up.

Over the past few days, I have used iBird Pro to attract Indigo Buntings, Catbirds and Wilson’s Snipes out of heavy growth to check out a singing bird they hear (i.e. me). If you hide yourself effectively, and remain motionless, good photographic opportunities often make themselves available. Actually, yesterday in the case of the Wilson’s Snipe, hearing the sounds from my app actually helped me make my initial positive ID.

Do you have your own Star-Trek Birding Universal Translator Device?! In the instance of iBird Pro I can even select a recording which is often from my own region. Thus, for the Indigo Bunting I used an Iowa song, not some bird from down south! With the Wilson’s Snipe the recording was actually of a Minnesota bird.

iBird Pro Main Menu – 940 Bird Species

iBird Pro Search

iBird Pro Indigo Bunting Main Screen

iBird Pro Indigo Bunting Sounds

Indigo Bunting “called in” this morning

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Gray Catbird “called in” this morning

Blue on Blue looking out over Blue!

June 7, 2016Year 3MN North: Hawk Ridgerichardhoeg@gmail.com

Hawk Ridge was an explosion of color this morning! Arrived around 6 am … not a cloud in the sky and a light breeze. One could gaze out over Lake Superior in her majesty. The wild roses are starting to bloom in addition to all the other flowering bushes, etc. Warblers and other birds were a plenty. Just a great morning to be alive. After birding Hawk Ridge for 90 minutes, I then took a 16 mile bike ride up the shore on Scenic 61. Life is good!

I call the first image … Blue on Blue looking out over Blue (i.e. An Indigo Bunting Against a Perfect Blue Sky while looking out over Lake Superior)! Most of the Indigo Buntings I saw were below Skyline Drive.

The Chestnut-Sided Warbler agreed with my opinion about the fantastic morning as it sang out in song! The American Goldfinch decided to also get in on the act (third image).

Indigo Blue!

June 6, 2016Year 3MN North: Hawk Ridgerichardhoeg@gmail.com

Home! As much fun as bike touring in Scotland was, it is nice to be home and back in the Northland. The past few days I’ve spent some time on the cliffs at Hawk Ridge. Many of the trees and shrubs are blooming, attracting bugs and therefore birds! I’ve found that although lots of warblers are present back in the bush beyond the viewing platform, the easiest way to actually see and photograph birds is by descending from Skyline Drive and hiking the cliffs. From the cliffs one can look down to the lower tree tops and observe birds such as the Olive-Sided Flycatcher from a unique perspective, or look up back towards the road and find warblers on the tops of small trees and bushes.

Indigo Bunting