Tag Archives: MN North: NorthStar Lake Region

Fledged in Northern Minnesota (yr 2, mth 7)

I hear many folks talk about how July is a horrible month for birding opportunities. Not true. While the unexpected jackpot finds during the spring and fall migrations are not possible, and the leaves block the view of birds you hear but can not see … July is a great month for birding. Think young! In other words, find the nests and the fledglings and you will be treated to neat views. Young birds have often not learned to be scared of us humans, and their parents are often so busy feeding their offspring who are almost their own size, that the adult birds sometimes lose a bit of their wariness.

The images below were taken over the course of the past week of fledglings. In short, get out there and enjoy the July heat!

Eastern Phoebe Family
Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-5-Pine-Branches-Frame Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-4 Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-3 Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-6-Tag-Your-It Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-7-Tag-Your-It Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-1 Y2-M07-Eastern-Phoebe-2

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Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker Kid
Y2-M07-Yellow-Bellied-Sapsucker-Juvenile-01

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Rescued Crow on an Early Morning Kayak
Y2-M07-Crow-Rescue-01 Y2-M07-Crow-Rescue-02c Y2-M07-Crow-Rescue-03-Horizon

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Belted Kingfisher
Y2-M07-Kingfisher-05-Preen-Mouthing-Off-B

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Common Yellowthroat
Y2-M07-Common-Yellow-Throat-Female-Ambush Y2-M07-Common-Yellow-Throat-Female-Flowers

Summer Birds (Year 2, Month 7)

The days are now hot, and the bugs are out. Birding opportunities often slow down as folks wait for the early Fall migrants to start appearing in northern Minnesota. One fights heat, humidity and monster flies out on the Northland trails. Yesterday afternoon was just such a day … arriving at the Western Waterfront Trail in Duluth on a muggy hot summer afternoon I hiked for five miles w/o ever meeting another person … in the middle of a city with a population of 86,000. Folks, get out there! When the cold of January reappears everyone will miss the lazy, hazy, crazy days of Summer!

Brown Thrasher Immediately After a Dust Bath
Y2-M07-Brown-Thrasher

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Catching Flies … An Admirable Job (Least Flycatcher)
Y2-M07-Least-Flycatcher-2

 

Dance at Dawn on NorthStar Lake: Common Loon

The July 4th long weekend was fun, and included the normal “Up North” cabin activities including sunrise kayak paddles. Most of the week saw cloudy skies due to all the forest fire smoke blowing south via the jetstream from all the fires in northern Saskatchewan. Fortunately one morning saw clear skies, and I immediately took the kayak out at sunrise. I have found that birding and kayaking is a good combination. One may quiety approach “birdy” areas, using lots of slow gliding. This method allowed me to get c!ose to both a common loon which was making its desires known to another loon (i.e. move away from my turf), and a great blue heron fishing for breakfast.

Dawn Dance

Dancing-Loon-3_wmDancing-Loon-2b_wmDancing-Loon-1_wm

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Morning Fish: Take-Off of the Dawn PatrolGreat-Blue-Heron-3_wmGreat-Blue-Heron-1_wm