Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

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)

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?!