MN North: NorthStar Lake Region | 365 Days of Birds

Our family is “up north” for the fourth of July week. For folks from parts south, hearing someone who already lives in northern Minnesota talking about going “up north” may seem strange. After all, don’t I already live farther north than 99% of the population in the USA?! Everything is relative, and the Hoeg’s are enjoying time on NorthStar Lake. From our lake, one can actually canoe “downstream” to Hudson’s Bay.

In addition to my bird photos, while out kayaking shortly after dawn the second day, I realized I was being watched! The otter family was out for a morning fish, and wondered who the strange beast was in the red kayak!

This post is just “part one” of our trip. Midweek we will take a jaunt up into Canada and spend time on Rainy Lake before returning to Northstar.

Day #158: Common Loon

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Day #1589 Common Loon

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Day #159: The Otter family checks me out!

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Day #160: Eastern Kingbird nesting in our cabin’s eaves

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Day #161: Sunrise over NorthStar Lake

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Day #161: Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker

Memorial Day Weekend is normally considered the traditional start of Summer in the northwoods. This year, life is a bit unusual as although temperatures reached the mid 80’s due to a southwest wind, ice still remains on Lake Superior (Weather Channel article)! My family owns a small cabin on Northstar Lake near the Canadian border. It has many great qualities, but a few things we love about are cabin are:

it is off the grid (no cell, TV, or internet connections)
the natural beauty is stupendous

In Minnesota vernacular, even though we live in the far north relative to anyone else in the United States (Duluth, Minnesota), we still call heading to the cabin as going “Up North”. You may enjoy this free online magazine which has an “Up North” focus, and is even named, North.

However, given this blog is about birding and photography, here are this weekend’s photos. Hope you enjoy them as much as I had taking the pictures.