Yesterday and today the Arctic arrived in northern Minnesota! I saw Lapland Longspurs, Horned Larks and my first Rough-Legged Hawk of the season. The birds were split between Two Harbors (the songbirds) and Sax-Zim Bog (the hawk). The numbers are not yet huge, but they’ve flown quite a distance!
This map is from Cornell’s All About Birds. All 3 species could use the same range map (some horned larks also breed further south)
There has not been a lot happening on the migration front given strong southerly winds, with the exception of a huge number of Robins and Butter Butts (Yellow-Rumped Warblers) which have been working their way through my yard. The leading edge of fall sparrows and juncos are now using my feeders.
Throughout this week I kept telling myself it was time to go check the Greenwood Boreal Bog and my feeders. My time for leaving each morning is about 40 minutes before sunup. As is often the case I get distracted when I actually get to the car. Driving the Expressway to Two Harbors with the deep orange that comes long before sunrise is both beautiful and calming.
Two Days ago I nixed my trip to Greenwood and just did the Northshore before sunrise. Here are some results.
Burlington Bay (Two Harbors)
Snowmageddon is supposed to hit the Northland in a few hours. By early this afternoon it is supposed to be snowing at a rate of 1/2 inch of white stuff per hour as the winds clock in off Lake Superior over 40 mph. Right now it is Sunday morning and some gentle white fluff is falling through the air, and the winds are somewhat calm. Even my owls are still hooting a bit after sunrise. However, the storm is supposed to continue for over 48 hours.
This preamble leads me to today’s topic, Transition Birding. Over the past few days I have visiting some of my favorite winter haunts … both in Sax-Zim Bog and north towards the Greenwood Forest Fire Burn Area. At times the forest is devoid of a single bird, and then I come across unexpected pleasures … with bird species that are still hanging down in the area like the Northern Hawk Owl (mid Manitoba bound) to Greater White-Fronted Geese which are early migration arrivals as they push to arrive on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and their breeding grounds. Thus, I never know what I am going to see … and sometimes I see nothing. However, while out birding yesterday morning north of Two Harbors I noted that even though I was on paved roads for much of the time, in 60 miles of driving I only saw four cars. The end result is I enjoy peace and solitude out in nature.
Transition Birding – Passing Through
Greater White-Fronter Geese
Transition Birding – Early Arrivals on their Breeding Grounds
American Kestrel
Transition Birding – Winter Visitors Leaving Soon for Points North
Northern Hawk Owl
Common Redpolls
Just Plain Local – Year Round Friends
Wild Turkey