Was amazed this morning to find a flock of 12 magpies near Marcell, Minnesota. Although there are a few farms a couple miles to the west, this area is noted for being Boreal Forest. As the wind has been out of the south for the past few days, it is unlikely this flock was blown off course while migrating. Last Fall I saw one magpie in the same area while hiking the woods. Thus, I am wondering if these are local birds which are extending their range.

I did submit an eBird report. Although I don’t submit eBird lists often, here are my reports.

Molly and I also had some fun biking to the Lost 40 … this area has 300 to 400 year old white and red pines, and was only saved from being logged early in the 1900’s due to a surveying error.

Late yesterday a severe thunder storm blew through NorthStar Lake. Our swimming raft took a journey down lake, but was rescued post storm. After the bad weather, the sky cleared and the wind calmed … and thus started 10 magical hours on NorthStar Lake.

All photographs except the Milky Way image were taken from my kayak. The sunrise photos were of birds found while kayaking along the shoreline.

08:30 pm: 45 Minutes prior to Sunset (Loon Family)

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09:40 pm: 25 Minutes after Sunset!

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02:00 am: Northern Night Light! (Milky Way over our Northwoods cabin)

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06:00 am: 45 minutes after Sunrise! (Pileated Woodpecker and Merlin)

I have a small cabin in the Suomi Hills region of northern Minnesota. One unusual fact about my lake, Northstar Lake, it is the first body of water that flows north to Hudsons Bay. The continental divide is just a few miles to our south. Yesterday morning I went out onto the lake at sunrise to visit with the Common Loon family. Over the past few weeks I have let this family grow accustomed to me and learn that I am not a threat. Thus, it was a treat to spend time with the young family at dawn. At times the loons with their chicks would swim over to within 15 yards of where I floated motionless in my boat. Here are some of my best photos. It was a magical early morning (5:30 am) with the Common Loons of NorthStar Lake. I don’t think they are common at all!