Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

The Story of the Owl and Magpie

Year 7,

Yesterday morning I met two birds which are extremely rare for my area … a Northern Hawk Owl and a Black-Billed Magpie. While most people would prefer to see the owl, I was extremely disappointed when the magpie exited quickly. Please understand I have NEVER seen a magpie in the Duluth area (this was not Sax-Zim Bog), whereas each winter I tend to find a few hawk owls. The magpie was giving the owl a piece of its mind. The two birds were in the same tree, about ten feet apart.

Upon getting home I discovered the northern / summer migration had begun. I saw three Bald Eagles  hunting Amity Creek across from my house, and a friend who lives a bit further up the shore saw five eagles. While a certain number of Bald Eagles remain in the Northland over the winter, I am positive these birds road yesterday’s 30 mph winds out of the south, and now will follow the North Shore of Lake Superior. It is normal for eagles to return north as soon as open water may be found, and this winter has been extremely mild with only a few days well below zero at night.

Finally, everyone always compliments me on my great photography (thank you). Guess what … I screw up on occasion. Where’s Baldy’s head?!

Let the Winter Birding Begin!

Year 6,

Even though it is  almost 60 degrees out in the Northland this afternoon, and the weather the past few days has been delightful, the first wave of Arctic birds are arriving in Northeastern Minnesota. Several Rough-Legged Hawks and Northern Shrikes have been reported in the area. While I missed seeing those species, I have been lucky enough to find several snow buntings which were not part of larger flocks (making them almost impossible to approach). This little gem was foraging for food inland from Castle Danger on the North Shore of Lake Superior.

Snow Bunting

There are still a lot of Bald Eagles and Red-Tailed Hawks migrating south through the area. Two days ago I saw both of these individuals within fifteen minutes of sunup at Sax-Zim Bog

One great note … my new sclera contact lenses seem to be helping my eyesight immensely (read back story). Without going into great detail, given their locations I would have missed seeing each of these three birds. The Snow Bunting was by itself flitting in shaded tall grasses. It’s great to have decent vision again, and I am up to seven hours wearing the lenses per day. Just as importantly I am able to be outside or drive a car (air within a car is very, very dry).

In fact, I spent yesterday afternoon doing maintenance on my ski trail just off Old Vermilion. During my 2.6 mile hike clearing deadfall, and cutting down trees which threatened the ski trail, I scared up four Rufffed Grouse (almost stepped upon them), and found this very unusual bird for NE Minnesota.

Ring-Necked Pheasant on Old Vermilion Trail

Remember … I maintain some winter bird feeders on Old Vermilion Trail. It is about 15 miles north of Duluth, and you can even go Nordic Skiing on the trails I maintain (classic only). Here is a photo I took yesterday afternoon. You can see my bow saw hanging from the small while pine on the left.

Polar Vortex Northern Lights

Year 6, ,

The Polar Vortex is over! As I type out this post on Saturday morning it is a balmy 13F above zero (-10.5C)! Given there is no wind and the sun is shining, my ski will be heavenly a bit later this morning.

My own “last hurrah” was photographing the Aurora Borealis two nights ago. When my Northern Lights alarm awakened me at 12:30 am, a quick check of the technical numbers and cloud cover weather radar which revealed clear skies 20 miles to my north, by 12:45 am I was out the door and driving north. 37 miles later I arrived at a remote lake (Stewart Lake) and watched a nice display. The temperature was -17F as Lady Aurora danced across the sky for me including a small substorm. By 3:15 am I was home back in my nice warm bed. Here is a taste of what I watched.

Realizing many of you have never seen an ice road, I also took this photograph as the Aurora was calming down. I used a small flashlight to give about a one second burst of light to illuminate the scene. The structure on the right in the image is the dock at the boatlanding. I took my photos from terra firma only because the extra elevation made for a more interesting picture. I did walk quite a ways out onto the ice road checking out photo angles. 

Birding has not been a total bust in this cold weather. Over the past few days I have found lots of Pine Grosbeaks at a nearby old berry farm, and an immature red-tailed hawk which a Snowy Owl actually found for me (long story … thanks Snowy). The cold weather returns next weekend. The ice is forming rapidly on Lake Superior … here’s hoping trips to the Apostle Islands Ice Caves are in my near future (near solid Lake Superior ice).

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