Tag Archives: MN North: NorthStar Lake Region

Broad-Winged Hawk Sibling Rivalry on Northstar Lake

Labor Day Weekend is gorgeous so far up near Minnesota’s border with Canada. Molly and I have owned our small northwoods cabin for 35 years. We lease the land from the Chippewa National Forest, but own the cabin. Our landlord, the forest service controls the land and rules that cabins may not be larger than 600 square feet, and NOT year round structures (we pump water our of the lake). We love these rules. Northstar Lake is the southernmost lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed. It’s 1,100 acres, and over 90 feet deep in places with 12+ miles of shoreline. The Forest Service owns most of the lakeshore. The end result is our lake is not very developed. I recharge my personal batteries up here!

Shortly after sunrise this morning I found these two juvenile Broad-Winged Hawks having a sibling disagreement. I actually saw quite a few other hawks right after dawn. The first year youngsters are increasingly having to do their own hunting. Thus sightings are easier. Within 2 to 3 weeks Broad-Wings will start their southern migration, with thousands kettling on warm afternoons at Hawk Ridge’s thermals. I actually live at the base of Hawk Ridge in Duluth (105 miles distant from my cabin).

Immediately following are the Broad-Winged Hawk photos from this morning, and after the raptor images you will find some drone pics I took over the past few days at my cabin on Northstar Lake.

Broad-Winged Hawk Disagreement!


Drone Photos of Northstar Lake Taken from my Cabin

  1. My cabin’s dock … on the left
  2. Looking up the point (access to multiple bays and the other main section)
  3. Looking down the narrows (access to the lower lake bays)




Looking across the lake from my cabin

  • United States Forest Service Campground
  • My cabin’s roof in foreground
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A Burst of Color! Wildflower Explosion

Enjoy a natural 4th of July explosion of color. The wildflowers are beautiful right now, and tend to be running late this year. Get into the countryside by 7 to 8 am while the light is not yet harsh. I left this morning at 6 am. Lupines are still very much blooming and daisies are only just coming into full blossom. A few Black-Eyed Susans are starting to flower, but the big displays of their color will be towards the end of July.

Remember, if you want to see a particular flower that normally might be past its best phase of blossom, just drive closer to Lake Superior. Every spring it is like a time machine in terms of plants. Lilacs are still in bloom next to the lake. Down south in Minnesota Lilacs blossomed back in mid May. One of my favorite wildflower drives is Lake County 2 leading from Two Harbors to Greenwood Lake.

Purple Power! (video link for email subscribers)


And a few still images taken with my phone. Notice the Hawk Weed vs. The Indian Paintbrush. Most people confuse Hawk Weed for Indian Paintbrush, which is a much more rare wildflower.

Showy Lady Slipper (Minnesota’s state flower)


Hawk Weed


Indian Paintbrush

Common Loon Wolfpack!

My lake in northern Minnesota is quite deep, and the common loons often meet near the deeper spots and hunt together to try and catch ciscoes (whitefish). Such was the case this morning … final day of June. The loon wolfpack let me float to within ten yards … ignoring me as they would work together to obtain their breakfast (video link for email subscribers)


And some still images …