November 9, 2008 - North Shore - Snow Bunting and Bald Eagles

A week ago Diana and I traveled to Grand Marais, Minnesota which is located along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Winter birds are now starting to show up in our area. This photo of a Snow Bunting in winter plumage was taken at Split Rock Lighthouse. Their summer breeding plumage consists of a snow white head, neck, chest and belly and coal black back and wing tips. I’ve only seen photos of the breeding plumage but I actually like the winter plumage better. In the breeding season they are found on the farthest northern tundra and all around the globe. During the winter, they come as far south as the northern United States. Now there’s a tough bird! We saw small flocks of them in lots of places along the North Shore and up the Gunflint trail. On our way back to our home in northern Minnesota we counted just over 400 of them as we drove from Two Harbors to Hibbing. At the Grand Marais campground we were treated to the spectacular sight of at least 150 Snow Buntings flying around and then landing as one. They truly did look like snowflakes swirling in the wind.

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Bald Eagles are starting to head south for the winter but there are still some to be seen “up north”. This one was in a tree along Lake County Road 15 as we traveled home. They really are impressive birds.

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These photos were taken at the Grand Marias harbor. Both photos show the same eagle sitting on the same tree. However, in the photo on the left, the bird is facing the camera. In the photo on the right its body is facing away from the camera and its head is turned 180 degrees and is looking directly over its back. I have seen owls do that but I hadn’t seen it done by an Eagle.

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