Tag Archives: MN North: Mouth of the Lester River

Natural Blinds or Fish for Lunch

Year 9

Give some thought to where you like to go birding. Does the location provide the opportunity to utilize “natural blinds”? One such location in northeastern Minnesota on the edge of Duluth is the mouth of the Lester River. Many birders stop at the waysides that look out over Lake Superior, but opportunity awaits for those who go a tiny bit inland. From the NorthShore Information booth, take the Lakewalk Tunnel to safely cross under Minnesota Highway 61. Shortly upon exiting the tunnel at the top of the hill you may either descend some stairs into the ravine and hike upstream along the river (using many trees to hide behind), or just walk next to the ravine’s edge (be careful … it’s a long killing fall).

I used both opportunities around noon today to watch this Common Merganser fish. The current is still super fast from runoff, and the birds (and other wildlife) are still not numerous (slower water = easier food opportunities). In fact, it’s now June 1st and I’m not certain if there has been a decent steelhead or smelt run.

Fish for Lunch: Common Merganser

Sax-Zim Bog Snowy Owl

Year 9, ,

Got lucky this morning. I decided even given the high winds to visit Sax-Zim Bog which is 45 minutes from my house. I had heard there was a second Snowy Owl around and it often frequented Sax Road around sunrise. Jackpot! Even though the sky was ugly, a little bit of sun sun actually tried to break through … thus a “white” owl!

Most folks look for Great Gray Owls as a first choice in the Bog, but given my proximity to the Bog, I will leave “old gray” for the crowds of birders. In about a month the Bog becomes mine once more as our winter guests stop visiting.

Yesterday I had thought of visiting the Bog, but when I walked outside, the impending sunrise quickly changed my decision. I took this image at the mouth of the Lester River about 20 minutes prior to sunup. I then spent the next 30 minutes exploring the Lake Superior shore.

The previous day found me checking out the ice conditions over on Wisconsin Point. We get some amazing ice piles as storms push ice down to our end of the lake. The ice mounds won’t totally melt till May.

You should now understand why folks including me call our area the “Arctic Riviera!”

Summer’s Last Fledglings

Year 8,

The winter migration officially starts in six days on August 1st (see BirdCast)! However it is 87F as a write this blog post, and I have spent the last 24 hours watching birds whose young will fledge very soon … in fact the last birds to fledge this summer. My target birds are Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, Merlins, and Belted Kingfishers (other raptors are also late to fledge).

For Belted Kingfishers one of my favorite birding locations is just upstream from the mouth of the Lester River. Descend the stairs on the uphill side of the London Road Lester River Bridge (park on the dead end 61st Ave East reached off Superior Street). The kingfishers nest in the bank on the other side of the river, and as of this morning both parents were now actively hunting for their young. Slowly walk along the path next to the river bank and peek out through the foliage. The far bank does not tend to be in the sun till about 8:15 am due to the depth of the ravine.

My local Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds are also making a huge number of visits to the Bee Balm, which is indicative that their young have hatched.

Finally, I am monitoring two Merlin nests between Lester River and Talmadge River. Both nests as heard while bicycling this morning were quite noisy!