Sometimes you see strange things while bicycling. This morning I took a 20 mile ride not too far south of the Canadian border. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed vivacious color. A lifer! The extremely rare North American Green and Orange Dabbler. This duck was enjoying the early morning light in a remote swamp. It was obviously very tired after its long migration which had started down in Patagonia. I cautiously got off my bicycle and took this perfect photograph!

Last night Molly and I visited our Common Loon nest … still no chicks. It’s now time to get on the pontoon and take a Happy Hour Cruise … the Chardonnay is chilled. Life is good here in northern Minnesota, and birding does not get much better.

This Yellow Warbler was signing out from the top of the tallest pine tree next to the highway as I took my bicycle ride this morning. Birds are still starting the nesting process this far north.

My primary reason for taking this particular biking route was I had promised to check for a friend whether the Showy Lady Slippers were blooming yet (Answer: Not yet. It’s still about two weeks early). However soon this area will be one of the best wildflower routes in Northeastern Minnesota. In addition to hundreds and hundreds of Lady Slippers, there will be thousands of other wildflowers in bloom. If you have the opportunity in the latter part of June, get out in the countryside. It will be an explosion of color and delight for the eyes.

Location of my Wildflower Route (Suomi Hills … Northern Minnesota)

Summer! Okay, as I compose this post it is only 39F at 6 am, but here in northern Minnesota we call that summer. Later today the mercury will rise to 70F which is heavenly.

Molly and I drove up to our remote cabin 70 miles south of the Canadian border. Although remote, three years ago a new cell tower was erected in the vacinity. Thus, we may now use our mobile phones. My youngest son and his wife have enjoyed this enhanced technology, and spent the week “working from home” on Northstar Lake … kinda nice. Yesterday evening after the work day was done, and a good family dinner / BBQ was had by all we took a sunset cruise on the lake.

Our first visit was to check up on our Eargle’s nest where I am happy to report all is well. Next we visited our Common Loon’s nest where life was also laid back and content. Loons nest right near the water’s edge where they are safe from land based predators. In this case, my friend is utilizing a small island for even further protection.

As we floated and watched the sun disappear behind the pines, this pair of Common Loons swam around us! Life is good. (human pictured is me … golden retriever is Finley)

Tomorrow morning I hope to check out a remote 30 mile long dirt road through a bog habitat. This road has been on my visit list for some time, but I did not want to first drive the route during the winter. If I had a breakdown or got stuck, it could have been days till another car came along, and tows from deep within the Boreal Forest are extremely expensive.

Sun has just set on Northstar Lake. Peace!