Tag Archives: MN North: Lester River

Sunrise Over the Arctic Riviera!

Year 6

I have been waiting for clear skies for seven days. Some storms on Lake Superior piled up ice at our end of the lake, and then the water froze solid. Two days ago I noticed ice fisherman off the mouth of the Lester River, and I knew this weekend’s cold snap would provide me the clear skies and eventual sun I desired.

This series of photographs start 90 minutes before dawn, and end five minutes after sunup (the sun is not even completely over the horizon). While the differences between pre-dawn and moments after sunrise is obvious, moments prior to actual sunup conditions were changing extremely fast. I often had to run to my next “photoshoot location”, which is no mean feat when you are on ice and plowing through five foot tall snow drifts!

The temperature was pretty consistent … -9F (-23C) and a decent wind to make for a chill factor of -32F (-36C). Thankfully I live about five minutes from the mouth of the Lester River. Thus, while the total duration of the photoshoot was 95 minutes, I never spent more than 15 minutes outside at any one time. For the first image I was 300 yards off shore. The light reflecting off the ice was provided by some flood lights from a University of Minnesota building where I parked my car.

90 Minutes Prior to Sunrise (my favorite image of the sequence … I am 300 yards out on Lake Superior)

25 Minutes Prior to Sunrise (the Sea Smoke in the distance prevented any dramatic rose color which normally occurs about 20 to 25 minutes prior to sunup … a ho hum photo, but I wanted to include the picture as it shows how light keeps changing)

Seconds before Sunrise

Seconds after Sunrise (my second favorite image of the sequence … I have dropped down to sitting on the snow to get the light through the “shark fin” ice)

Five Minutes after Sunrise (image taken obliquely … even though the sun is not completely above the horizon, it was impossible to take a photo directly towards the sun … with my camera angle pointed somewhat away from the sun I have lost the “orangeness” of the sunrise)

Lighthouse Bound!

Year 5, ,

In the very near future, Molly and I will start our fifth season as lighthouse keepers at Crisp Point on the eastern end of Lake Superior. This job does not provide a cushy residence for the keepers; instead we will be camped 20 yards from Lake Superior and 38 miles from the nearest town (the final 19 miles by dirt logging road). In shore, we consider this location Heaven on earth. When the last guest leaves in the late afternoon, we have the big lake to ourselves with the nearest human being well over ten miles distant. As we will be off the grid, do not expect posts.

Given the recent days have been involved with both visiting relatives and getting ready for Crisp Point, my birding has been local. However, it is good to focus upon the old faithfuls! These birds provide me enjoyment. Maybe even one of these days I will find my Great Horned Owls which hoot back and forth in the middle of most nights near my house.

An “uncommon” Common Crow

A Juvenile Cedar Waxwing

A Juvenile Green Heron catches a minnow

Superior Sunrise Biking and Birding

Year 5, ,

A sunrise on Lake Superior is fantastic. A better sunrise on Lake Superior is one experienced on a bicycle while birding. This morning I left my home at 6:30 intent on getting some exercise while at the same time keeping an eye out for wildlife.

My path was to bike up Scenic 61. On an early Saturday morning the highway is essentially a big bike path. A car might come by every ten minutes. Thus, wildlife viewing opportunities can be numerous. In addition to a large number of deer, I spied this red fox hanging out in some purple lupine, and then down on the rocks.

When I returned to the mouth of the Lester River, I hiked down into the ravine and found this Common Merganser family busily at work finding breakfast.

It was a great morning to bike and bird!