Tag Archives: MN North: South Bog

The Purple Cows of Birding!

Year 10

Do you stop for Purple Cows in life? This term grew out of a bike tour and the “purple cow” I saw while on a nine day self-supported bike tour around 1/2 of Lake Superior (The Trans Superior Tour). I stopped to inspect the Purple Cow and was introduced to the “Woodcarver of Washburn” (read more about Purple Cows and our travels … Molly and I were interviewed for the local paper about our bike touring).

Earlier this Summer I found a new Purple Cow while out birding … a Seussical Cow! Yes, the esteemed doctor would be thrilled to see this roadside children’s bus shack. Here in the Northland where temperatures get dangerously cold in the winter, out in rural areas many families build small buildings where their children may await the school bus. Here is today’s Purple Cow. I waited to take a picture when I had the first light of the morning plus wildflowers.

Not just when birding, but also when travelling across America Molly and I almost always take longer routes that get us off the interstate highway system. Purple Cows are rarely if ever seen from super highways. Here is the original Purple Cow!

This day’s birding was (a few days ago) was unusual in itself. After all, how often does one see a Black Pheasant? In my case, never before this outing. The bird led me to do some research. While the pheasant might be an escapee as pheasant are rare in northern Minnesota … black pheasants which indicates a bird is melanistic are even more rare. Regardless, here is the Black Pheasant which definitely was trying to hide from me.

The Colors and Sounds of Summer!

Year 10, ,

Tuesday will be the 1st of August, and the formal kickoff of the fall migration here in the Northwoods. While a few bird species are already southward bound, the bug eaters will pull out of the woods in early August. Chirping warblers will be history for another year. In the meantime, it is a time of plenty. I’ve been enjoying both the sights and sounds of Summer.

Most days start off around 5 am when my resident pair of White-Tailed Deer Bucks visit my bird feeders. The bucks are in velvet.

White-Tailed Bucks in Velvet

and the movie (video link for email subscribers)

This morning it was 5:45 am when I started my morning hike. Sunrise on July 28th was at the same time, and by being out in the woods right at sunup it is easy to find hungry owlets which are begging for a handout from Mom. Such was the case this morning with the Great Horned Owlets. I heard them from 250 yards away, and quickly set up shop underneath the white pine tree where they were hoping to get a visit from Mom. I could hear her responding to their calls about another 200 yards distant, but there were no food deliveries this morning.

FuzzBall and Junior Great Horned Owlets

And the movie … I have no idea what the owlets were watching! (video link for email subscribers)

Did I mention the sounds and colors of summer? This is the time of year when I often sit in the garden next to the Bee Balm. The Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds often announce their visits by first checking me out inches away from my head … thus the humming sound. If the wind is calm enough I am able to hear the hummingbirds singing to each other.

Ruby-Throated Hummingbird (female getting food for nestlings)

The Red-Fox kits are still leading a life of leisure. Hunting excursions to the near by hay bales are required, but still the kits do not head out on true hunting excursions.

Red Fox Kit Hunting on a Hay Bale

One event that takes place now is many loons, ducks, grebes and geese lose their ability to fly as flight feathers moult.  This Red-Necked Grebe was fishing Lester River three afternoons ago. There are lots of first of year smelt, trout and salmon begging to be eaten!

Red-Necked Grebe

Quite often the drive over to where I intend to bird is beautiful. Yesterday morning a bit before 6 am rain was working its way out of the region, and thus I was able to chase a rainbow near the Artichoke River.

Chasing a Rainbow in Bog Country

Artichoke River at Sunrise

Finally I love living near Lake Superior (about 800 yards). While most of North America is in the midst of a heat wave, our temperatures rarely exceed 75F. The windows in our home are always wide open which brings the sounds of summer inside every minute of the day. Life is good!

Finally, I initially forgot to insert the Alligator Snapping Turtle in yesterday’s post. Thus for my email subscribers … here is “Speedy with an Attitude”

Raspberries +Thimbleberries = Owls!

Year 10, , ,

I had my first “yummy” owl hike yesterday afternoon. Summer’s berries are becoming ripe in the Northwoods, and the birds (and small mammals) are very aware of this fact. For me ripening berries means I get to snack as I walk, but it also attracts other consumers which are perfect prey for young owls learning to hunt. In one of my bigger berry patches I found both Great Horned Owlets yesterday afternoon. Thimbleberries like shade, and the owls love the fact that this fruit grows underneath some of their favorite white pine perches.

I am pretty certain FuzzBall is the owlet in the back of these photographs. Fuzz is the older owlet, and thus has darker plumage. Junior still looks younger. Regardless, it was great to find them.

The Osprey Twins are getting big! As I drove past them once again an hour later Mom Osprey had left them in the nest alone for the first time. Big chicks require both parents actively fishing.

Once I actually got to Sax-Zim Bog, my best “bird” was this Alligator Snapping Turtle on Admiral Road. I was hoping I might find a few juvenile Great Gray Owls. I did see multiple Northern Harrier Couples hunting. Just like the Osprey family, the Harriers need to have both parents hunting for their young.

Finally, as the sun rose a bit in the sky and the day warmed, I was reminded by this Red Fox Kit of the song … Bring Back the Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer.

In closing pay attention to mid Summer to late Summer food sources. The birds are not starting to actively use these foods. Here on the shores of Lake Superior, some of the first southern migrants are now appearing as they leave the Arctic and start their long journeys to winter habitat. Remember, during the fall migration, birds will often linger in an area for significant periods of time if good food sources are near by.

In my own garden, the Bee Balm is starting to bloom, which means Chardonnay and Hummers!