Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Moving into Winter!

Year 7,

It was a tough morning birding today. Not much was happening as I made a swing through some my favorite haunts where owls will set up winter territories.  I made certain to check everything out in the pre-dawn light. After the sun came up I finally found a few Pine Grosbeaks “gritting up” including this male.

Up at Sax-Zim Bog the feeders are now up. In addition the ultimate suet is now at the Welcome Center and at most the boardwalks. We put up deer carcasses (from venison processors). Both the birds and small mammals lover same. While I am not allowed to put up a carcass in the woods near my own home (wife does not like the idea), I am allowed to offer real suet. Thus, I just purchased some meat suet which I will hang within the next few days. The bears should now be hibernating.

Gray Jay / Canada Jay enjoying a snack.

A Winter’s Walk

Year 7, ,

Today has been infinitely more pleasurable than exactly 3 weeks ago (open heart surgery). In addition to Molly taking me birding by car this morning … a fantastic experience given the beauty of the newly flocked pines, this afternoon I took a two mile hike / walk.

Lester River (during my walk)

Sounds of the River (email subscribers follow this video link)

Early this morning at my house … Female Cardinal

While birding … I saw my first male Pine Grosbeak in two years. The sun was obliquely in my face making photography difficult. It sounds like this winter may be a HUGE winter finch invasion. Evening Grosbeaks are being seen in numerous locations where they have not been seen in 20 years.

Good bye, Snow!

Year 7

It was -6F a bit inland from Lake Superior this morning a touch after sunrise. I was birding the Boreal Forest, but did not find much. I didn’t mind as the scenery including this farm was gorgeous. It is now 28F at 2:20 pm, and will perhaps reach 50F tomorrow. Good bye, snow!

The other excitement of the day was being called out to do a “Bald Eagle Rescue”. Apparently our nation’s bird had become entangled in some kind of net. Thankfully, the eagle managed to free itself before I arrived on scene, and thus I was not pressed into service. That is a good ending when the bird frees itself, as although I have hand captured two Snowy Owls in my life, both of those owls were not in the best of shape (i.e. easier to handle). I was a bit worried about trying to free a healthy eagle.

You may ask, what does one bring to an eagle rescue? Here is my answer based upon items in my home and garage:

  1. Raptor gloves (insures the bird can not sink their talons into your hands and arms)
  2. Various wire cutters and pliers to cut the bird free
  3. A large blanket (come up from behind to subdue the bird)
  4. A very large moving blanket (same as above)

One always comes up from behind a raptor as talons can not move backwards. If you would like to read about one of my prior rescue escapades, here is my rescue of Silver. (a Snowy Owl)