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.

The birds one finds in northern Minnesota have definitely changed since my youth (I’m 62 years old). Our family home was only a few miles from where my wife and I live now. We had two huge bird feeders which were always busy, particularly in the winter. Like clockwork, every fall I could count upon the fact that when the Mountain Ash berries ripened in our yard, the Evening Grosbeaks would appear out of the Boreal Forest. When the berries were gone, and the grosbeaks were sufficiently drunk from fermented berries, they would then spend the rest of the winter in our yard … visiting our feeders many times per day. As the snows began to fall, Red Crossbills would join the backyard celebration.

It has been decades since I have had either bird specie in my feeders. However, now each winter sees my flock of Mourning Doves making their daily visits to my feeders, and Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal normally appear. While mourning doves were always present when I was a child, they never braved the northern Minnesota winters. To see a cardinal, one had to travel way south of Duluth. Yes … times and weather have changed.

Thus, you can imagine my pleasure when while birding yesterday morning I heard Evening Grosbeaks! Even though I normally only find these birds once or twice per year, their song is etched into my memory. I knew immediately what birds were near by, and looking up to the very tops of some ash and pine trees … there were my yellow friends. Life is good.

Since your own youth, what birds do you now see, or don’t?

Evening Grosbeaks on McDavitt Road in Sax-Zim Bog

The Other Grosbeaks! (Pine Grosbeaks at an old Berry Farm near Duluth)

The Daily Northern Hawk Owl Fix (a vole was about to meet its doom)

Eating a vole (earlier in the day before the sun really came out)