Thousands of warblers, sparrows and other song birds were migrating through the Duluth area yesterday afternoon. The Merlins and Peregrine Falcons were very aware of that fact. The songbirds flew out into the open at their peril. The Peregrine Falcon was having sparrow for dinner near the Lakewood Pumping Station, while the Merlin preferred a yellow rumped warbler. Perhaps it all tastes like chicken!
Yellow Rumped Warbler (it survived)
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Peregrine Falcon (immature)
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Merlin
Great night in northern Minnesota. My Aurora app went off last night and awakened me shortly before 2 am. (set for Kp of 5). Knowing that the moon would set shortly, and Ovation looked decent, I threw on some clothes and drove north to Boulder Lake (30 miles north of Duluth) arriving around 2:45 am.
I was rewarded! The Aurora danced and was easily viewable with the naked eye. Given the moon was down, it was very, very dark. This allowed me to even see faint red with my own eye.
While I was taking this photo the loons were going wild. Every loon for miles around was calling out through the night. In addition, an owl was hooting behind me! Very cool. Both man and bird were impressed with the celestial show!
Most of these photos had these settings … ISO:1600, Aperture:3.5 (wide open for my camera, a Sony NEX-5T mirrorless), and an Exposure of 15 seconds. This photo also uses the “kit lens” which came with my Sony.
It was 40F and damp when I finished up a bit after 4 am. Ground fog was starting to form; shorts and a wool sweater were not sufficient warmth. However, there was no way while the Northern Lights were dancing that I was going to give up and hike back to the car.
Oh yes … I’m still photographing birds! The hawk migration has started, and I found this Merlin while bicycling along Lake Superior yesterday afternoon (last image of this post)
View my Northern Lights photographs via Flickr
Northern Lights & Big Dipper Over Boulder Lake
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The Ghost of Boulder Lake
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Two More Images from Last Night
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The Promised Merlin
These two images were taken six minutes apart at dawn this morning on the North Shore of Lake Superior … just before dawn and at the moment of sunrise. It is a special time to be outside, which was 5:15 am this morning!
After my lupine photo shoot, I worked my way back down the shore towards Duluth, and my home. As you see, photographic opportunities continued!
Lupines at Dawn (images taken six minutes apart)
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I See You!
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Mallard Family Sunrise
