Oct. 17, 2010 – North Shore Birds

Ring-billed Gulls are common birds found along Minnesota’s North Shore. This one is a juvenile and has exceptionally nice looking plumage. I took this photo in Grand Marais.

GullLaughingjuvGrandMarais20100916

I saw many Horned Larks migrating south during our trip. This photo was also taken in Grand Marais. This particular view shows you why “horned” lark is a very appropriate name

LarkHornedGrandMarais20100916

This female Common Merganser was hanging around the boat landing at the resort where we stayed in Little Marais.

MerganserCommonfemaleFenstad'sResortLittleMarais20100917

Here’s a close-up of the Merganser. This photo shows you how they got their nickname of “sawbill”. Mergansers are diving ducks that catch a lot of small fish. The serrated edge of the bill helps them hold on to the slippery fish.

MerganserCommonfemaleFenstad'sResortLittleMarais20100917

Here’s another of my mug shot photos.

MerganserCommonfemalemugshotcompositeFenstad'sResortLittleMarais20100917

Swainson’s Thrushes were also migrating. I found them feasting on berries along a Cook County road near Grand Marais. Notice how this one is using its tongue to help position the berry for eating.

ThrushSwainson'sberryCook20100913

This Magnolia Warbler was also found along the same road as the Swainson’s Thrushes.

WarblerMagnoliaCook20100913