Category Archives: Lake Superior
Harrier Release
Friends, this Northern Harrier has been released back into the wild with a new bracelet on her leg, yesterday we showed her portrait and what she will look like in two to three years with adult eyes and plummage. Below is an image of her wing detail, facinating to me. 
Release of the Cooper
Friends, this beautiful immature Cooper’s Hawk was released after being banded, i was able to keep the head in focus but the rest of the wings and the end of the tail were beyond the depth of field. This bird flew directly over my head at very close range so i was lucky to get any images at all. This image shows the sharply banded tail that is characteristic of the Accipiters. The image below shows the long legs and his new leg band. til Tomorrow MJ
Coopers
Friends, this image is an immature Cooper’s Hawk compared to an adult shown below. They are larger than their cousin the sharp shinned, but smaller than their other cousin, the Goshawk. Like their cousins the hatch year birds have yellow eyes, vertical chest feather pattern and chocolate brown back feathers. When they grow to adult birds, the eyes turn to red, the chest pattern changes to a more horizontal pattern and the back and head get a dark gray. Collectively these hawks are in the Accipiter group and in the air they have long tails and short wings so they can quickly maneuver thru the woodlands to catch their prey. The Cooper has a loose ruff of feathers on the back of the head that is sometimes raised, you can see this ruff on the adult bird below and a hint of it in the immature bird. Enjoy your coopers hawk until tomorrow when we release him back to the wild. til Tomorrow MJ
Redtail Release
Friends, after receiving a band on his leg, this wild red tailed hawk was released from the cliff above me at Hawk Ridge. Now my flying practice is starting to produce results. My heart did a thumpy thump when he looked down at me or maybe it was the short hike downhill to get below the release site. He then pumped his magnificent wings and flew away over Lake Superior, this is the upstroke of his wing and below is an image of the down stroke. Enjoy til Tomorrow MJ
Red Tailed Hawk
Friends, this beautiful red tailed hawk is in hand at Hawk Ridge on a Saturday morning. Lots of people around so he is a little excited which is why his tongue is hanging out. They have a little tunnel on the back of their tongue which helps them to breathe better when eating or when excited. The images below show his beautiful red tail and his outline while in flight. Tomorrow i will show this bird as he is released back into the wild. til Tomorrow MJ
Hawk Lessons
Friends, these two images show the maturation of a sharp-shinned hawk. The left image is a first year chick that was hatched in June and the bottom image shows a two or three year old bird. Three dramatic changes can be compared on these birds. The first is the differences in eye color from the juvenile yellow to orange and red of more mature birds. Secondly, the vertical bars on the chest of the younger bird changes to a more horizontal barring on the mature bird. And third, the chocolate brown of the juvenile changes to a deep gray on the adult bird. That is your hawk lesson for today til Tomorrow MJ
Other Entertainment
Friends, sitting in my easy chair at Hawk Ridge is extremely entertaining for a bird person, not only is the ridge a funnel for hawks and other raptors, but other migrating birds also pass here. Like these white pelicans on their way to the southland. What a thrill! These birds in a v formation against the blue sky and warm temps this made a perfect day outdoors. Below the ridge the fall foliage is turning and the maples are very nice this time of year, below is an artistic rendition of sitting under a fall maple. til Tomorrow MJ
Broad Wings
Friends, a recent visitor to my site asked me why i was practicing bird flight photos, this image is a result of lots of practicing at Hawk Ridge. This is truly the first good flight shot of a broadwing hawk that was released back into the wild after being banded. You can see his new bracelet on his right leg. Below is a portrait taken while the bird was in hands of a educator on the ridge. you don’t want to be a frog or lizard that this bird can see. til Tomorrow MJ
A very special bird-Peregrine Falcon
Friends, not only is this a juvenile peregrine falcon, but it is a juvenile tundra peregrine that was raised in the far northland. This subspecie is smaller and lighter in plummage than the normal peregrine. Peregrines have recovered from near extinction in the 50s with the help of dedicated bird lovers. I have watched the regeneration program in Rochester Minnesota where the bluer and darker peregrines raise their chicks in nests atop the Mayo Clinic buildings. I have watched them feed their young on building ledges but i have never seen one in the wild. The experts on Hawk Ridge were quite excited to show this bird in hand and educate the public. They have survived due to the diligence of those who legislated to ban ddt, resulting in the saving of many bird species, til Tomorrow MJ
MY Goshawk
Friends, this is my goshawk that i adopted on Hawk ridge yesterday, actually my husband adopted him for me. What a thrill to hold her in my hands and release her back to her element. The banders had captured two juveniles at the same time and since there is always a competition for food in the nest, the hawks were objecting to being so close together again. This is how they plead for food from the adults, lots of screaming. When i held her she was quiet, and patiently awaited being released above the cliff over Lake Superior and flying off to hunt her own food. Below is an image of me with my bird, thanks Jimmy, til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 