Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors

Just Ducky, But Wrong Migration Rich

Year 12,

Okay folks, I’ve been holding on to these images since Spring Migration, but never seemed to get this post written. Thus, on one of the bigger migration days (and nights … see BirdCast) of the fall migration I am finally publishing this content to 365DaysOfBirds. I actually like fall migration better than spring because birds are willing to stick around for a while if they mind good food sources, but in the spring our feathered friends are in a rush to get back up to breeding grounds.

In both of these instances I encountered ducks that were extremely interested in mating, Hooded Merganser and Ruddy Ducks. In the case of the Hoodies, the males crests were amazing, and if you watch the video … so were the hormones. The Ruddy Duck had its signature blue bill, which seems somewhat unique in the birding world.

Hooded Mergansers in Love (right in the town of Two Harbors)

A Mating Disagreement! (video link for email subscribers)

Ruddy Ducks (looking for love in a Prairie Pothole)

Lighthouse Great Gray Owls

Year 12

It should be no secret now during this Owl Irruption that there are three Great Gray Owls hunting the waterfront in Two Harbors. While most people tend to arrive after sunrise and enjoy watching the daytime hunt, I have a different goal … arrive 40 minutes BEFORE sunrise when the deeps oranges that come well prior to dawn may be seen out over Lake Superior. Such was the case this morning when I arrived at 6:20 am given sunrise would be exactly at 7:00 am. I wanted to beat sunup by 40 minutes. The only problem tends to be finding the owls in the pre-dawn darkness. Thankfully one of the three Great Gray Owls had chosen a perch well silhouetted against the sky. It was a beautiful morning! This irruption should end around the 1st of March. Enjoy while possible!

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 40 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 30 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 15 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #2 … 25 minutes after sunup