Tag Archives: MN North: Mouth of the Lester River

Love Birds … 30 Superior Nights

Year 2, ,

The mind was willing, but not the body. My goal was to take at least one photo every night in the Lake Superior watershed during the month of September … thus the name, 30 Superior Nights. However, too many nights without enough sleep resulted in me catching the flu. I finally realized the only way to get better (been sick for one week at this point) was to get more sleep. Thus, I ended my string at 22 nights with yesterday morning’s pre-sunrise pic down at Canal Park. For the purposes of this project, I defined night at after the sun disappeared below the horizon, and before the sun reappeared the next morning.

View all 22 images in the Superior Night Series.

Love Birds … My son and his fiancee … my first engagement photoshoot!
30-Superior-Nights-19-Engagement-Reflections

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Suomi Lutheran Aurora Borealis
30-Superior-Nights-06-Suomi-Lutheran-Aurora-Borealis

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The last sunrise! (yesterday morning)
30-Superior-Nights-22-Sunrise-Ship-Duluth-Pier-Lighthouse

Blue Moons and Birds!

Year 2,

I consider myself lucky to live in the Northland. Photographic opportunities abound, and the day of the Blue Moon was no different (Friday, July 31st). After a session with my kingfisher family, I awaited moonrise and sunset. In both instances, my photoshoot locations were Northland Rivers that provided my both beauty and opportunity.

Over the past week I’ve had fun watching the kingfisher kids on the Lester River at the edge of Duluth. Between London Road and Superior Street along 61st Avenue East there are a number of ravine overlooks. Kingfishers, a bird which spooks very easily, occationally don’t look up which thus provides me my photo ops!

Finishing with the kingfishers, I drove over to the Amnicon River just outside of Superior Wisconsin. Located high above the river is the Davidson Windmill. This windmill was completed in 1904 by Finnish immigrants to the area. Thanks to the use of PlanIt! I knew when and where the moon would be rising … thus the reason for my trip to the local windmill.

The Kingfisher Kids
Y2-M07-Lester-River-Kingfishers-5 Y2-M07-Lester-River-Kingfisher-2

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Blue Moon!
Davidson-Windmill-Blue-Moon

Lester River Birding Report

Year 2

I took a sunrise bike ride up the shore of Lake Superior this morning from Duluth as far as French River. With the gale force winds there were not many birds out on the big lake itself, but I found huge numbers of birds at Lester River upon returning to Duluth and turning up the hill at 61st Avenue East. Unfortunately the sun had now disappeared behind the clouds which made for difficult photography. However, work all the overlooks from the river mouth up to the Lakewalk Bridge over the river. At 6:45 am this morning I saw:

  • A Family of Kingfishers
  • A Huge flock of Cedar Waxwings (berry supply is plentiful on the trees)
  • A new brood of Common Merganser Chicks and their mom.

I don’t expect any of these birds to move far today. The winds will keep the mergansers off Lake Superior. The chicks are only a few days old, and much to small to handle the big waves. The Kingfisher parents have been in this area for over a month and I would be extremely surprised if the newly fledged Kingfisher kids move out of the area soon. Finally the berry supply for the cedar waxwings should last a few days.

Cedar Waxwings
Y2-M07-Lester-River-Cedar-Waxwings-2

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Belted Kingfisher
Y2-M07-Lester-River-Kingfisher-2 Y2-M07-Lester-River-Kingfisher-1