Tag Archives: MN North: Wrenshall

Sunflower Owl Morning!

Year 9,

The last two nights my owlets have been begging for food … almost right in my yard. Thus, this morning I decided to go owling at 6 am (sunrise). It’s actually pretty easy to find the Great Horned Owl family during twilight hours right now. Go hike off trail where the thimble berries are ripening, and one finds the owls. All the small mammals and birds eating the berries means good hunting for owls (I also ate a lot of berries!). I just listen for the begging calls, and then hope I am able to find their perches (difficult in a pine forest … sight lines are difficult).

After owling I worked out at Cardiac Rehab followed by a trip to the Wrenshall Sunflower Field. A trip to Matten Road in Wrenshall in the morning is a delight for the senses right now. Here is the Google Maps link.

Summer’s End Sunflowers & Birding

Year 8,

Today is August 12th, and it may seem strange to be talking about summer’s end, but “meteorological summer” ends with August, not September 21st. Here in northeastern Minnesota over the next few days temperatures will drop into the mid 40’s at night, and ground fog / lake steam will be common at sunrise. While there are still hot days ahead, the “times are a changing”. Many birds have already started their southward migration. Warblers are the latest bird specie to start exiting the northern forests (monitor this Fall’s migration via BirdCast).

Today is one week since my two surgeries which means I am now allowed to take some longer excursions. At sunrise I visited MK3 Hardwood Farms. This family farm plants a field of sunflowers and includes a walking path through the blossoms. Sunflowers are at their peak right now, and one would be hard pressed to find a better morning walk. (MK3 Hardwood Farms: corners of Cty 18 and Matten Road near Wrenshall). If you are not able to visit at sunrise, arrive 90 minutes before sunset. The colors early in the morning and late in the day are amazing, and it’s cooler! Although there is no “admission charge”, make sure you leave a donation in the wooden box at the entrance to the walking path.

Here are some photographs from my visit early this morning

Someone always has to be different!

With the end of summer approaching, birds start to feed in ways you may not anticipate, but they are just taking advantage of great food sources. Many of you may think Cedar Waxwings are berry eating birds. Actually this Cedar Waxwing was ignoring the berries and acting like a fly catcher. They will eat berries once bugs disappear.

In fact, hundreds of waxwings were diving out over the pond to catch bugs … very common for August. The final image is a juvenile. Note how its colors are not as bright, and the streaking. Camouflage for when it was in the nest. There are a lot of predators around.