It’s only 8:40 pm, and the temperature has already fallen to 40F. I suspect it will be in the 20’s by morning. Molly and I are up at our small cabin on Northstar Lake. The weather is telling us it is time to pull the water system out of the lake and get our 3 season cabin ready for winter. While the weather has been mild in the Northland, I was dumbfounded to find myself birding in snow squalls north of Two Harbors this morning, with snow sticking to the ground.

Thus, it is somehow poetic that the Hudson Bay birds are now starting to arrive and pass through the Northland. Yesterday Hawk Ridge saw their first Golden Eagle. Based upon years of tracking and banding it is known that the Golden Eagles that fly through Duluth each fall are from the Hudson Bay region, and they often winter in extreme southeastern Minnesota near the Mississippi River.

Today also saw good flights of American Pipits and Lapland Longspurs. Both of these bird species breed in the northern reaches of Hudson Bay, but now are visiting us on their way south. One of my favorite spots for finding / watching these two species is Lakeview Cemetery in Two Harbors. Both species are not comfortable in Boreal Forest, and the open spaces of the cemetery is one of the first non forested areas they find while migrating south.

American Pipits

Lapland Longspur (it looks grumpy)

Everyone who visits Duluth knows to visit Canal Park, however the more savvy person knows that a short trip up the shore to Two Harbors is a fantastic idea. Whether you have kids that want to throw rocks, birders who want to find feathered friends, or boat watchers that enjoy watching lakers enter the harbor, Two Harbors is a great destination. It is 26.2 miles from Canal Park (heard of Grandma’s Marathon?!). One of my own grandkids is spending the week with us. We started Grammy and Grampa camp up the shore!

• Use the Marine Traffic App to figure out when a ship will arrive. Works anywhere in the world … river, lake, sea, ocean!
• Park at the Two Harbors Lighthouse (free … not crowded)
• Let the kids throw stones on the beach next to breakwater
• Walk out the breakwater to the lighthouse
• Hike around the rock point looking for birds (Lighthouse Point eBird Reports). Birding will be better during spring and fall migration. There are lots of mountain ash and crabapple trees to attract birds (blossoms and fruit)

Do some combination of the above!

My own pics from today …

Hiking / Birding (Whitefish Bay Laker / Eastern Kingbird)

Lupine are just beginning to bloom

From a colder visit … to show the breakwater and one of the lighthouses (there are two).

It was -22F on my car thermometer this morning as I headed out shortly before sunrise. The conditions could only be described as frigid. This cold morning I wondered whether I might be able to find some owls along Scenic 61 trying to get the benefit of what little thermal warmth the golden orb might offer (no!). I did see Pine Grosbreaks and Bohemian Waxwings, but not in terms of photo opportunities.

Why “Signs of Spring”? In the pre-dawn darkness this morning my local Great Horned Owls were hooting their mutual love. I know from past year’s experience the owls will nest within two weeks. In addition, a few Horned Larks and Snow Buntings are already making their way back north. If you find some open ground scraped clean by a snowplow, it is not unusual to find these birds near the Superior Airport. Thus, even in the deep of winter, if you know where to look or listen, there is hope!

Having said that it was just darn cold this morning. Here are three images I snapped shortly after sunup. The fishermen are hardier than me. It was -19F at the time I took the photographs, and I was not particularly interested in hiking. My sojourn outside will be this afternoon as the mercury soars to about -8F.

Two Harbors Breakwater (the haze or fog is sea smoke … mist that rises due to the water being much warmer than the surrounding air)