Saturday, September 2, 2017

Snug Harbor to Lost Lake on Saturday


I found twenty bird species while birding the Lost Lake trail north of Snug Harbor this morning.  Every parking space in the fisherman's half of the parking lot was occupied by a vehicle-and-trailor!

Lost Lake

The woods were fairly quiet except after two friendly encounters with family groups along the trail.  As their laughter subsided, bird activity increased both times.

This young Red-shouldered Hawk was perched in the bare tree on the far side of the lake when I arrived (visible in the center of the Lost Lake photo when viewed full size).


Then it dropped into the marsh grasses, grabbed a yellow-green snack and flew back to the left side of the same tree to eat it.


I was glad to see this immature Red-headed Woodpecker at the top of a tree near the parking lot.  They used to be common there, but not anymore.


Other birds included two Sandhill Cranes flying overhead, a Lesser Yellowlegs at Lost Lake, two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds where the trail intersects Ruddiman, two Pileated Woodpeckers, one of the small brown thrushes (Hermit? Swainson's? Gray-cheeked?) in the Hemlock woods, plus vocal Black-capped Chickadees and American Goldfinches along most of the way.  

A very cool, beautiful morning -- it felt like fall.

- Ric

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