Tag Archives: MN North: McQuade Harbor

Birding Lake Superior … Unsuccessfully!

March 28, 2016Year 3MN North: Duluth Harbor, MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

However, I don’t mind. For the 1000th day in a row the cold winds blew out of the Northeast across Lake Superior and prevented the spring migration from getting started. A few early birds are around, but what we really need are some warm days with winds out of the south.

Although I did see birds, there was nothing of note, but did I mind? Nope! Lake Superior is a gorgeous lady and she distracted me from before sunrise to after sunset. Who needs birds? (sacrilegious comment!).

Lone Pine Sunrise on Scene Highway 61 … eight miles up the shore from Duluth

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The Michipicoten steams under the Duluth High Bridge about 1/2 hour after sunset this evening.

Bohemian Waxwing Video

February 19, 2016Year 3MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

I managed to take this short video of the Bohemian Waxwings just before the rain started around noon today. Skiing the American Birkebeiner tomorrow will be ugly. Quite frankly, this weather is for the birds!!!

You may wish to adjust the video’s YouTube settings to view in HD, or even watch in slow motion! I like setting the video to 1/2 speed. It’s easier to watch the Bohemian Waxwings, and you can still understand my brilliant commentary! 🙂

Nemesis, You are now MINE! Bohemian Waxwings

February 18, 2016Year 3MN North: McQuade Harborrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Meet Nemesis, the Bohemian Waxwings.

All winter long I have been checking every crab apple and mountain ash tree near Duluth. I always found pine grosbeaks (nice bird), but never the Cedar Waxwing’s big brother from way up north Canada Way, the Bohemian Waxwing. It always seemed the Bohemians had moved on just before my arrival. These birds think the Duluth area is a nice warm place to spend the winter before returning to Canada. This is actually the third time this week I’ve found Bohemian Waxwings, but the first time I really got to watch and photograph them for an extended period of time.

My thanks to Mike who saw these birds outside his place of work, and then passed the word on to me via his Dad.

Nemesis … the Bohemian Waxwings of McQuade Harbor