What is unusual about this bird species? (not the individual, but the type of bird, a Rough-Legged Hawk) I watched this hawk hunt early yesterday morning just north of Duluth during its migration down from the Hudson Bay / Arctic region. Scroll down beneath this image for the answer to my question.

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If I am not mistaken there are only three raptor species (other than owls) in North America that have feathers down right to their talons … Rough-Legged Hawks, Ferruginous Hawks, and Golden Eagles. These birds breed in locations where even in the summer, snow and extremely cold temperatures are not unheard occurrences. Thus, all three species have evolved to have feathers down to their talons to keep warm. The above image shows feathers very much reaching down to the talons.

If I am lucky this individual will stick around hunting near my house for approximately the next month. I have seen this bird two days in a row, and the habitat it has chosen is great for hunting small mammals. However, when the snow covers the ground the hawk will move south (most hawks are not able to hunt effectively through the snow).

Hanging Out and Take-Off

Even though it reached 90F yesterday, I took a bike ride up the shore to the Talmedge River and back. As always I packed my camera and monopod (see my setup).  While I am not out strictly birding on my daily rides, one never knows what I will see along the shores of Lake Superior. Yesterday it was a juvenile Merlin who was screaming “feed me” to its parents. For those of you in Duluth, the location was 300 yards this side of the Northern Town Homes. There is a nice grove of pine trees and a small stream … good habitat for Merlins. I suspect over the next two weeks I will have more sightings as the youngsters scream for their breakfast or supper at the very tops of the pines.

In addition, here are a few more images from the past few days. Sightings of hawks are increasing as parents have hungry youngsters to feed. In general this is an excellent time for birding. Use your ears as recently fledged youngsters are screaming to be fed.

Broad-Winged Hawk (hunting)

Spotted Sandpiper

It’s not often you get to watch a Bald Eagle take off from above, but during today’s bicycle ride I suddenly spied an eagle sitting on a small cliff overlooking Lake Superior. Thankfully I was above the eagle and I knew given the wind, the geology of this cliff, and my location our nation’s bird would have to take off towards me … giving me a unique vantage point.

Now a pause for a few birding photography comments. One reason I really like super zoom cameras is that this kind of camera easily fits in my bicycle front handlebar bag. Remember, you can never take the picture if you don’t have the camera with you!

In addition, continuous high speed mode means the sequence of seven images took place over the course of 1/2 second. If you are taking wildlife photographs, you need to use your highest burst / continuous mode for all photographs you take. While all the pictures are good, numbers 4 and 5 are my favorites.

Happy 4th of July!!!

Bald Eagle Take-Off on a North Shore Lake Superior Cliff

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