A couple of weeks back, I posted my favorite wildlife moments of the past year. I took a lot of wildlife pictures, but when the critters aren’t cooperating or active, there is always something worth taking a look at, especially during the magical morning and evening light hours. I made a number of landscape photos I was quite happy with. We had a few incredible nights of northern lights this year that kept me out for hours in the National Forest. Minnesota has some of the darkest skies in the nation and Mother Nature and the night sky did not disappoint. I’ve included a few images from various nights. Lake Superior gave me a few favorite moments as well, as it always does, so there are quite a few of those included in this post. Last spring I took a road trip to another one of my favorite places, southern Utah. It’s really a paradise for photography. I’ve grown to enjoy the desert, mesa and canyon country of Utah almost as much as northeastern Minnesota. Almost 😉 There are a handful of photos from this year’s trip, which includes my personal favorite photo of the year! So from snowy scenes to sunshine, from forested landscapes to desert scenes, from the northern lights on northern nights, to southern sights on southern nights, the rivers and lakes and woods and hills, these are my favorite scenery shots from the past year in no particular order. Thanks to all for subscribing and following along and supporting me through print sales and calendars.
April 2022 – Winter lingered on for a spell last spring. The thaw was slow to come. Superior National Forest – Minnesota A blue hour sunset along Lake Superior at Temperance River State Park. The variety of rock colors on the beach here can be pretty wild. And it changes with every storm. Summer serenity at Sugarloaf Nature Center near Schroeder, Minnesota A rare SAR arc, or sub auroral red, during a wonderful display of aurora borealis. The northern lights and a SAR arc lighting up the sky over the Temperance River in Superior National Forest, Minnesota. Those gorgeous Lake Superior rocks. Those first few snowfalls of the season always have more beauty than the next few, it seems. This was early November. The rushing river added to the magic of the first real snowfall. A few inches of rain, dropping temps and a little snowfall. Perfect recipe for a stunning landscape. November 2022I was a little light on sunsets and sunrises on The Lake this year. I was usually chasing wildlife if I was out taking pictures. I did luck out a few times. This particular evening was out of this world. The eyes of fall watching with a stony brow. Potholes and fallen foliage at Temperance River State Park Autumn paddle in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Lakeside path in autumn splendor. It really was a remarkable fall color season. Sawbill Trail, fall colors and Lake Superior – Minnesota Calm reflection in Superior National Forest. One of the most serene scenes I captured this year. A light dusting of snow and a touch of fall gold. The view from Carlton Peak in Tofte, Minnesota A nice aurora arc over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The calm waters of Sawbill Lake and some of the darkest skies in the lower 48 enab6us to experience the northern lights quite often here in the Arrowhead. This night, another skywatcher was lighting the fog from a dock up the shore. I liked the way his headlamp lit the fog. An amazing, early September display of the northern lights along Lake Superior. Tofte, MN September 3rd aurora borealis. This was a memorable night in Superior National Forest. This display started as the moon was setting, still casting shadows and the ground fog over the creek set the scene off. Same spot different day, it’s a favorite location 🙂 Sunrise color over the Temperance River in Superior National Forest – Minnesota 🌲Lake Superior is out there… This view from Carlton Peak in Tofte, Minnesota was ethereal with a blanket of fog breaking up and rolling over The Lake – summer 2022A climber nearing the top of his climb at Palisade Head – Tettegouche State Park Crescent Lake morningSummer sunrise at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. This was an extra special visit, photographing sunrise with family during our summer family reunion on Lake Superior. The Bears Ears – Bears Ears National Monument – Cedar Mesa – southern Utah is another special place for me, so I’m including a few photos from this year’s trip. Ancient Puebloan petroglyphs, snakes and spiders? And Orion in the dark, Utah skies. This peninsula of land held ancient Puebloan dwellings and ruins. One of the most memorable days of the year for me was hiking and exploring Road Canyon. Mt. Ellen in the Henry Mountains with the uplift of the Waterpocket Fold viewed from the east side of Capitol Reef National Park – Utah. Maybe you had to be there, but this is my favorite photo of 2022. I’ve really embraced using my Canon RF 100-500mm lens for a lot of non-wildlife landscape pictures. The compression and scale and distance it can cover, especially in places like Utah’s canyon and mountain country, brings a great perspective to the scenery. I love the drive on the east side of Capitol Reef. The Notom-Bullfrog/Burr Trail roads offer some of the best photography opportunities I’ve encountered. This particular day I had wind, sleet, snow, rain and a bit of sunshine. The light was pretty good at this stop. I’m always intrigued by these Henry Mountains when I see them in the distance. The Moki Dugway in southeastern Utah. A little steep, a touch terrifying, but well worth the effort. The Big Crane – Butler Wash/Comb Ridge. Half the fun was getting there. I had an adventure finding this one. I didn’t have a map or gps, and almost gave up after a few failed side trips. I’m glad I found it. One of my favorite trip memories and photos. Ancient Puebloan dwellings in golden canyon light. I was fortunate to visit some special places and ruins on this trip. Good light and photo conditions didn’t hurt! Cedar Mesa – UtahSpring thaw and rains gave us rushing, raging rivers last spring. This was early May along the Superior Hiking Trail. Waving curtains of light in Superior National Forest. This was a beautiful July night of aurora in the woods. It was the calmest of summer days. I made a lot of cards out of this one. It makes a good print too 🙂 Sugarloaf Cove Nature Center. Schroeder, MN Pre-dawn light and color on the beach in Schroeder, MN.
It was a fun, fulfilling year of picture taking for me. I hope you enjoyed the little recap of my landscape and night sky photos. If you missed it, take a look back at my favorite wildlife moments of the past year in a previous post. Have a Happy New Year and thanks for following along. See you in 2023. ❄️🌲
It’s been a fun start to the winter season. I guess the official start of winter hasn’t arrived yet, but we have been living it for weeks in the Northland. It’s here. I’ll share some recent photos of some lynx, grouse and even a moose and a snowshoe hare. You may still have a little time to order up a calendar for a Holiday Christmas gift, so I’ll include the link here. Thank you for all the orders this year.
A cow moose with a healthy looking winter coatMrs. Moose looking out from a logging area. Note the yellow USFS “Payment Unit” sign on the tree. This marks a logging boundary. Moose love the young, new browse that comes up in these logged areas. It’s a favorite hangout for the moose. Peek-a-boo The moose can almost disappear when it wants too!
The Canada lynx has been cooperative for pictures already this season. I really only see these cats with any regularity in months with snow on the ground. They favor the snowshoe hare, and I have found them hunting for their hare on roadways quite often. I think the long view and room to maneuver make roadways a favorable hunting terrain for the lynx. I was fortunate to encounter a lynx recently. It was fun to watch it stalk red squirrels and rest along the forest edge. It was quite curious and afforded me a few fun photos.
A Canada Lynx watches the forest for movement. Always on the hunt for snowshoe hare and red squirrel. Lynx Tracks in Superior National Forest – MinnesotaThe track of the Canada LynxThe snowshoe hare in winter camo mode. The hare is the primary food source of the Canada lynx. December 2022Canada Lynx – December 2022Relaxing under a pine, yet always alert and listening…The PAWS and the strides of the slinky Canada Lynx – Minnesota !A Canada lynx in late summer coat for comparison. An August coat on a Canada lynx. A noticeable difference between the seasons. Relaxing after a morning meal. I’ve noticed on more than one occasion that the lynx will lie down and take it easy for a while right after eating. Probably saving up for the next chase. A group of spruce grouse on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – The lynx may occasionally dine on grouse in winter. Sneaking through Superior National Forest – Note the giant back paw! The eyes are always watching.
Thank you all for taking a look! You can order prints and browse more photos on my site at this link. Have a great Christmas and Holiday Season and we’ll chat again soon! Tom
Fat tires on the back roads of Cook County, Minnesota 🌲
It’s been a spectacular fall this 2022 season. We had a brief, early start in September, with nice weather leading into a peak color season that lingered well into October. The shore was especially vibrant, it seemed, this fall. There seemed to be a proper “peak” that encompassed the whole forest for a week or more. Often times, the reds and higher country will have come and gone before the areas near Lake Superior have peaked, but things seemed to synch up for a spell. I’ll include a few photos I haven’t posted yet. I’ve also had a lot of moose encounters so far this fall. The mating season, or “rut, has come and gone for the most part and moose can often be found grouped up, just hanging around together for a few weeks after mating. I’ve captured a few moose photos this fall that I really like. A couple even made it into the 2023 calendar! We’ve also had a few signs of the coming winter, which could begin any day in the northland! Some areas of the North Shore woods have already seen some snow and definitely a few good frosts. It’s made for some nice photo opportunities, extending the fall color photo season even longer 🙂 Add in a few northern lights displays earlier this fall, and it’s been hard to beat. I’ve added a few photos from those displays in this post too. We even picked up a rare SAR arc in the night sky which I’ll include a picture or two of.
The soft, tranquil silence of the first snow fall in Superior National ForestMy 2023 calendar is for sale! Thank you all for the support each year. I really appreciate each and every purchase. I’ve included beautiful Lake Superior, some moose out in Superior National Forest, some other wildlife and some northern lights over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. See the links I’ve included.
Here is a little preview of my 2023 calendar I have for sale. You’ll see northern lights over the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, massive Minnesota moose in Superior National Forest, a few of Lake Superior’s seasonal moods and a few other surprises and landscapes. I don’t like to spam you all too much or too often, but a few times a year I have an offering like the calendars that I’ll promote through the holidays 🙂 I always appreciate the print and calendar purchases. They allow me to continue bringing you some of the images you enjoy here and on social media. Thanks for taking a look at this link for this years Minnesota’s North Shore – Woods Waters and Wilds – A 2023 Calendar
Lake Superior’s CalmestSplit Rock LighthouseFog Over Superior Aurora borealis and moonlight shadowsA few of the images from my 2023 photo calendar
Fall color season has come and gone although some of my Favorite, the golden tamarack are now the main feature in the North Shore woods. Here are a few photos from the past few weeks.
Tamarack in golden yellow with the first touches of snowA carpeted path of autumn leaves leading to Lake SuperiorThe furrowed brow of fall. The natural potholes on the shoreline at Temperance River State Park collecting the fallen fall foliage. A beauty view from Carlton Peak The 1000 foot Mesabi Miner and Lake Superior from the Sawbill Trail. Fall splendor Brilliant fall color in Superior National Forest
Fall is such a great time to photograph moose in and around the Superior National Forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area. The moose become a little more active in September and October. The moose mating season begins in September and is done by early October, for the most part. It can be an exciting time to see moose. The bulls have shed their velvet coating from their antlers revealing a shiny, new rack on their heads, hoping to attract a mate. You can often encounter males with females and males together often trying to attract the same females. It keeps the moose active, and a little more distracted and less worried about us picture takers and gawkers 🙂 I saw a very large bull as well as a few others so far this fall.
A big bruiser in the North Shore woods Backside view of this big moose’s antlers A bull, cow and last year’s calf are silhouetted in pre-dawn light An iconic Minnesota morning scene First frost and a nice sized moose This bull was heavily in rut and was responsive to my calls. Another silhouette…
The northern lights have been adding a little fall color of their own. September provided a couple of wonderful evenings under the dark, northern skies. As the days get shorter and the nights get longer, our chances increase for seeing these wonders in our skies. With darkness coming on so early in fall and winter, we can often see the northern lights well before bedtime 😃 Here are a handful of recent aurora images.
The aurora borealis over the Temperance River with an SAR arc forming – Minnesota SAR arc and the Milky Way in Superior National Forest The northern lights and moonlight shadows over a swampy creek Fantastic overhead aurora A brief, spectacular display of aurora over Superior National Forest – Minnesota Tofte Park and the northern lights Lake Superior and Aurora Borealis in Tofte, MN Foggy autumn morning on Crescent Lake in Superior National Forest
Hope you’ve enjoyed this little fall recap. It’s always a favorite time of year for many, including myself. The fast, constant change is pretty fascinating to witness. Winter will soon bring another major change to the landscape, so I’ll enjoy these fleeting fall days while I can now. Thanks again for taking a look at and ordering calendars, too. I appreciate it!
A little collection of feathered visitors during spring bird migration on the North Shore of Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota.
After a long, cold, snowy winter, we have finally turned the corner along the North Shore of Lake Superior and in the woods of Superior National Forest in the Arrowhead region of Minnesota. The lakes have only recently opened up from their frozen, icy, winter covering. The rivers raged with historic, record breaking levels along the North Shore as the snow-pack and spring melt moved downstream. You can still find some snow in the shadows of the woods, but for the most part, signs point to spring. The cow moose are currently giving birth to this years calves and the bull moose are just starting to sprout their velvet covered antlers. Bears are awake and on the hunt for this years crop of nuts and berries and the deer seem to be moving into the woods, away from the shore. All good signs. All welcome signs. For me, one of the most reliable signs that spring may truly be here is the arrival of the variety of spring birds to the area. Weather it’s at the feeders in my yard, along the shores of Lake Superior, deep in the woods of Superior National Forest or just along Highway 61, there are always signs of the arrival of a new season if you are watching closely. You can almost predict who is going to show up and when.
Here’s a collection of feathered spring arrivals to the North Shore woods, along Lake Superior and in my yard the past few weeks. Keep your binoculars and bird books handy on your next spring visit. You never know what you’ll see flitting around in the trees this time of year.
Warblers are a nice arrival in late April and May in our area. The yellow-rumped is one of the earliest. It’s always nice to see those little flashes of yellow that give them away. Here are just a few that I have seen so far this spring. I’ll include a few of the strikingly beautiful, black-throated blue warbler that graced me with it’s presence in my own yard. Prints available of these and many others at this link. Thanks for your support! https://thomasjspenceimages.smugmug.com/2022/
Yellow-rumped warbler – Tofte, MNYellow-rumped warbler – Tofte, MNTennessee warbler – Schroeder, MNRuby Crowned Kinglet female – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022
You can’t imagine the thrill… I was on my deck photographing a red-headed woodpecker that has been hanging around. I had ok light and it was eating worms in my yard, so I was standing still on my deck waiting with my camera in hand and ready. From the corner of my eye, a small bird landed. In a flash, I went through the ID process in my mind. Chickadee? No. Nuthatch? No. Warbler?!?! Yes. It stood on my deck for a second, flew to a branch for a second, landed on my railing for a second and landed on a planter for a second. It was a great yard bird to have visit and I’m glad I was ready! You can click on these to open the gallery.
Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022Black-throated blue warbler – Tofte, MN – May 2022A few photos from a brief visit from the black-throated blue warbler. Tofte, MinnesotaTennessee warbler (I believe!) Tofte, MNHaving a tough time confirming ID on this warbler. Comment if you know! Cape May? Pine? Bay Breasted? Tofte, MN
Here are a few more interesting and notable visitors to the area including a new one for me here, a yellow-headed blackbird.
Yellow-headed blackbird – Taconite Harbor near Schroeder, MN – May 2022Yellow-headed blackbird – Taconite Harbor near Schroeder, MN – May 2022Gray catbird – Tofte, MNHairy woodpecker with avian keratin disorder AKD which can cause beak deformities. This one has been enjoying neighborhood suet for weeks. Harris’s sparrow – Taconite Harbor near Schroeder, MN – May 2022
Another surprise, entertaining visitor this spring has been a red-headed woodpecker. I can’t recall having one in my yard, and this one seems to have all it needs here. I mostly observe it eating worms off the lawn. It eats, then rests for 20 minutes, then eats another worm. Not a bad day, really. It’s been a welcome addition to the array of feathered friends in the yard. https://thomasjspenceimages.smugmug.com/2022/
Red-headed woodpecker – Tofte, MN – May 2022 peek-a-booA favorite roost for this red-headed woodpecker – Tofte, MN – May 2022Blue jay and Red-head. They usually get along fine. Usually…Taking a break in another favorite tree. Eating worms, taking breaks. Red-headed woodpecker – Tofte, MNIndigo Bunting male – Tofte, MN – May 2022A pair of male indigo buntings – Tofte, MN – May 2022Indigo Bunting male – Tofte, MN – May 2022Ruby-throated hummingbird – Tofte, MN – May 2022 We can be certain that most years, the hummers show up on Mothers Day here on The Shore.Brewers blackbird – Tofte, MN
Lastly, I had a fantastic close encounter with a scarlet tanager deep in the woods of Superior National Forest. I usually see one of these birds at home near a feeder during migration, but I hadn’t had one yet. On a drive looking for moose and other critters, I spotted an orange/red dot along a gravel road. Upon inspection I was shocked to see a scarlet tanager just hopping and flittering along the road. I thought it was injured, but it was hunting some kind of bugs and having great success! It may have been off course, but is was getting all it needed, it appears.
The glowing scarlet tanager – Superior National Forest – MNHunting for insects in Superior National Forest – Minnesota – Scarlet Tanager – May 2022Hunting for insects in Superior National Forest – Minnesota – Scarlet Tanager – May 2022Hunting for insects in Superior National Forest – Minnesota – Scarlet Tanager – May 2022Hunting for insects in Superior National Forest – Minnesota – Scarlet Tanager – May 2022
Thank you for reading along and taking a look at some spring birding photos. Please take a look at my online catalogs and consider a print purchase if you see anything you like. Stay tuned and subscribe to this newsletter. I’ll do a recap of photos from my early spring trip to Utah and the southwest in my next post. Happy Spring everyone! Tom https://thomasjspenceimages.smugmug.com/
A collection of winter photos from Superior National Forest and Lake Superior in northeastern Minnesota – 2022
It’s the last official day of winter. Spring begins tomorrow, and a lot of us are probably ready for it! Here’s a collection of photos from the past few winter months. There are some dog sledding photos, a lot of grouse, some lynx, a moose and some other random, scenic winter wonders. I hope you enjoy.
This winter, we got some ice. It never really stayed long enough up here in our neck of the lake, but we did have some great ice piles and ice sheets breaking up and moving.
Ice Break Up at Sunrise on Lake Superior – Schroeder, MN 2022Piles of ice along the shoreline of Lake Superior – Tofte, MN 2022Morning light on the rocks – Schroeder, MN 2022Icescape – Tofte, MN 2022Sunrise Sunburst – Schroeder, MN 2022Icy Overhangs on Lake Superior – 2022Sunrise Glass – 2022A pastel sunset on the shores of Lake Superior – Temperance River State Park, MN 2022Lakescape in Ice – 2022
Grouse are probably the most abundant wildlife species I find in the winter months. The moose tend to move a lot less, and therefore, I rarely spot one. The grouse seem to be plentiful, especially the spruce grouse. Here’s a fun collection from this winter.
A spruce grouse gives me a quick, beautiful warning with his stunning tail display. The spruce grouse will do this display for females, or for territorial reasons as well. Superior National Forest, MN 2022
Here is a little video clip of the strut that leads up to the tail flash. It’s in slow motion, so you can imagine how quick the full flash actually is. If you study the strut, and have seen it enough times, it can be easier to time for a photo! Enjoy the slow-mo video.And a flash for good measure! from up in the tree – Superior National Forest, MN 2022Morning sun for the spruce grouse in Superior National Forest, MN 2022Roosting on a below zero Morning Superior National Forest, MN 2022This was possibly the largest group of spruce grouse I have ever seen. 15 in the photo, 2 more out of frame on the ground, and more in the trees. At least 20 out pecking gravel in the road on a below zero morning in Superior National Forest 2022The grouse needs small gravel in their gizzard to help grind up undigested foods. You’ll often encounter ruffed and spruce grouse in the mornings, pecking gravel for their digestive systems. Female spruce grouse Superior National Forest, MN 2022A group of grouse pecking gravel. Superior National Forest, MN 2022Winter grouse Tracks 2022Fresh tracks from a Canada Lynx deep in the forest of northeastern Minnesota 2022hunting the roads together on a cold winter morning. Canada Lynx Superior National Forest, MN 2022Canada Lynx Minnesota 2022Tracks from the Canada Lynx. Moose sightings are a bit more rare for me in the winter months. I saw a lot of tracks this winter, but probably only a handful of brief sightings, including this one. Minnesota Moose 2022
The John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon is always a winter highlight along the North Shore. The race takes dog teams from Duluth, MN through the forests along the Lake Superior Shoreline inland, almost to the Canadian Border and to the finish in Grand Portage, MN. Here is a small collection from the race at the end of January.
2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog MarathonThe 2022 John Beargrease Sled Dog Marathon
The backroads are always a treat in the winter months. We really had a LOT of snow piled up by the end of February. It was a TRUE Minnesota winter.
Winter beauty on the backroads – Minnesota 2022Sun breaks through on a morning drive in Superior National ForestWinter trees – Minnesota 2022A 22 degree halo around the winter morning sun 2022A boreal chickadee in Superior National Forest, MN 2022
Happy Spring, everyone! As much as i like the beauty and variety our winters bring, this has been a long one and I’m ready for the greens of spring and summer. Thank you for taking a look at this winter collection. Tom
I’ve got a ton of fall photos to share. It seemed like a long, vivid and memorable fall color season. Early September was showing nice reds and oranges in areas already, giving way to 3 weeks of bright yellow, orange and red autumn change along the Sawtooth Mountains and surrounding woods. October started just as colorful with the yellows along the shore filling in and the blazing yellow tamarack following back in the forest. The October 12-13 snowfall added to the mix and really capped of a great color season. Now, with the leaves all gone and the tamarack starting to fade, we move into the next phase of fall. Another season of change and beauty all it’s own. Below I will share a lot of fall photos I haven’t really posted anywhere. Thanks for taking a look.
I also have 2020 Calendars available for purchase now. I made two different calendars, all with different images. The Up North – Superior Country Calendar is all landscapes of Lake Superior, the surrounding woods and the BWCA. The Superior Wildlife Calendar is all wildlife from the woods of the Arrowhead region. You can take a look at a preview and order at the links or this link below. I appreciate your support. They would make great gifts. Print within 5 days of order and shipping info will be shown when you order. Plenty of time for holiday deliveries. http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/ThomasSpence
2020 Calendar Covers
And now some more fall color photos from the past month or so…
Gold Against Carlton Peak Fall in the FogBlazing early colorSawbill Male and female spruce grouse in fall foliageLusen views from the Honeymoon Trail area Big Fall Bull Foggy fall mornings in Superior National Forest Milky Way at Sawbill Lake – Boundary Waters Canoe Area Fall – Minnesota Welcome to Superior National Forest Tofte Park Bridge Fall Walk Around the layers of autumn colorSeagull River on the Gunflint Trail in full fall color Carlton Peak Carlton Peak one week later October snowfall Temperance River Valley Fog Snow Grove Same Grove Different Day That snow though…Tamarack Flocked Forest Fall Blanketed in White Reflections and Morning fog Spruce Grouse in snow and foliage Big bull in the snow The Temperance River Valley and a flocking of snowfall on the autumn woods.
From Crazy to Calm – Lake Superior April weather really covered all the bases this year. We had snow, cold, warm, rain, wind and gorgeous. The big April Gale on the 14th and 15th was a highlight for sure. The northeast winds brought massive waves crashing along the shore. some of the best places to watch a northeast gale are in the Split Rock and Tettegouche areas. The cliffs in the area can make for dramatic scenes from the waves crashing and rebounding off the cliff faces. Even a smaller gale can be impressive against these walls. This particular gale wasn’t accompanied by much precipitation which made for a fun day of photographing the waves. Often times, these gales come with heavy rain or snow which can hinder photographing them a bit.
Crashing waves at Tettegouche State Park – 4/14/2018
Massive splash on the cliffs along Lake Superior. Wave height was in the mid teens but splash heights were reaching 100 feet, 150 feet and more in places.
The ice coated trees take a beating in this little lake side forest at Tettegouche State Park.
The calm clear views from Tettegouche State Park and Split Rock Lighthouse State Park one week after the gales…
Earth Day was a picture perfect day to be outside in our State Parks. I made it a point to hit three in my travels that day. The calm, clear day was a huge contrast to the chaos of the previous week. Keep a circular polarizing filter in your camera bag. They are great for days like these. They can help you see into the water even more by removing some glare. They will also help create more contrast between blue sky and white clouds. A valuable tool to use in many photography conditions.
Lone tree on Shovel Point – Lake SUperior, MN
Beachside at Tettegouche State Park
Clear, Calm, Beautiful
A view of Shovel Point
Split Rock Lighthouse
Kayaking on the calmest of lakes…
Split Rock Reflections
Kayakers passing by Split Rock Lighthouse.
The view from Shovel Point looking towards Palisade Head
Stack Reflections
April Northern Lights – An All Nighter
April Aurora And The Setting Moon – 4/20/2018
The night and morning hours on April 19th and 20th produced a rather remarkable northern lights display. What started out as a faint glow for almost two hours, erupted into shimmering sheets and dancing waves of aurora which lasted until morning light. I put in a 4 1/2 hour shift of sky watching and photographing the lights. The slideshow shows you the progression, in a way, from around 10:00 PM CST on April 19th until around 1:00AM on April 20th. When the lights are strong, I have a pretty good view of the dark, northern skies from home. I spent another hour or two watching from the deck and even out the windows.
While there is no way to truely predict a good aurora display, you can do a few things to help alert you. Space Weather dot com is a great resource which can alert you via email when solar activity may cause aurora. They have a great photo gallery and information on all things space and sky related. Another resource are regional aurora “hunter” groups. These groups are full of entusiasts who will report in real time when the aurora are visible in your area. Great Lakes Aurora Hunters is a good one for my area. As far as viewing in Cook County, one needs to know that viewing with the naked eye and photographing the aurora can be two entirely different experiences. I won’t go into detail in this post, but our cameras see in the dark much, much better than we do, to make it short. So for viewing, you’ll want to get over the hills and into the darkest areas, away from towns, resorts, cabin lights. The overlook just past the Britton Peak parking area on the Sawbill Trail, just a few miles off highway 61 is a fantastic place to watch from a car or lawn chair. It has the best, widest northern view you can drive to that I know of. If you aren’t in Tofte, go up one of the “trails”, Gunflint, Caribou, Arrowhead, Cramer Road, and find a north facing lake, boat landing or hillside. Our dark skies won’t disappoint during a northern lights storm. For photography, I like to find a river, lake, or other point of interest for foreground attention and a sense of place or location. The scene becomes more important to convey the feeling, maybe, moreso than seeing the entire sky and display. If you have never seen the northern lights, and are not interested in taking photos, you’ll want to just stay put once you find a big, wide northern view. Hope this helps you see the aurora someday on the North Shore!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
April Wildlife
It was a good month in the woods for wildlife. From grouse to lynx to moose and loons!
Spruce grouse could be found most mornings pecking for roadside gravel. I have heard some drumming this spring, but not much. Moose sightings were few. I did manage to snap a few recent photos though. Two very healthy looking moose together at the end of the month.
Female spruce grouse – April in Superior National Forest
Male spruce grouse – Superior National Forest
Whiskey Jack or Canada Jay – Superior National Forest
Turkey vulture and the nearly full April moon.
Though I had heard loons the previous week, this was the first one I actually saw close enough to get a photo. Always a fun spring “first”.
A pair of moose on the run in Cook County.
And gone, into the woods.
One would emerge, briefly, and gone again!
I had a late afternoon encounter with 3 lynx in earlier April. I saw each one alone, about a mile apart from each other. Something tells me this was 3 of the 4 kittens I had been seeing earlier in winter with the mother. Once the mother mates again, the kittens are set off on their own to figure out how to hunt and survive alone. The size and proximity to one another tells me this is the same family, now entering the next phase of their lives as solitary animals.
A lone lynx prowls for an afternoon meal
Grouse – Superior National Forest
Male Spruce Grouse – Superior National Forest
Last year at this time we had already been on the lakes for almost two weeks. Now, we are still waiting for the thaw. The lakes still have a foot or more of ice on them in some areas. Recent warmer weather is helping to speed things along and I think we will see open lakes in the coming days. Fishing opener is near and I hope you’ll tune in again for all things May in my next post. Please subscribe so you’ll be notified when I post again.
Current conditions on local lakes as of 5/2/2018 – Little ways to go for that Fishing opener! 😉
Here is a collection of photos and notes on February in the woods and along the North Shore of Lake Superior in Minnesota. As some of you know, things began a bit exciting for me this month with a rare encounter with 5 Canada lynx. In the weeks following, I was fortunate enough to spend well over 2 hours with these cats during multiple encounters. It’s my opinion/observation that the family has moved on to a different area. I haven’t seen signs in a while. The mother has likely moved on to mate and left the kittens to fend for themselves. After watching them hunt on a few occasions, I think they will do fine. I’ll talk a little more about that in this post. There is also a fun video of the lynx family if you find the link at the end of this post. I’ll try to keep you posted on the conditions and activity in our neck of the woods each month and A few winter or seasonal photography tips will be added as well. Please subscribe so you get a notification when I update! Otherwise you’ll miss out on most of my photos each month. February was full of Ice, moose, lynx, wolves, pine marten, snowshoe hare, snow, cold and a few unforgettable experiences.
Lake Superior from the hillside – February beauty on the North Shore.
Tofte, MN sunrise after an 8 or 10 inch snowfall. We had some snow in February and it’s looking good. Even the smartphone can take a nice photo!
Sugarloaf Cove and Lake Superior Ice. We had some great Ice pile-ups on Lake Superior this month. Lots of below zero nights and cold, calm days caused a lot of lake ice to form. When the wind picks up, the sheets move, and often come into shore where they break up and pile up. It’s a favorite winter phenomenon along Superior. I have video over on Facebook. Plate Ice Piling on Lake Superior
Winter can be tough on you and your camera gear. There are a few precautions you can take and some tips that can help you on your February, winter excursions. Most modern DSLR gear can take fairly extreme conditions and still function, but there are things you can do to prolong and enhance your experience. Here are three big ones which will help you get into, and out of the cold… Acclimate Your Gear – From your house to your vehicle, vehicle to your location, back into your vehicle, and back into your house, your camera gear can experience a lot of extreme temperature differences. Quickly going from one to the other extreme can cause unwanted condensation in and on your camera. The key is to acclimate slowly which can take hours. . You’ll also very likely want to look at those images on your SD card right away! Your camera body and lens are cold after a day of February shooting. Very cold. Bringing it into your 70 degree house or cabin has to be done slowly. Before you put your camera away, remove your SD card while outside so you can review your photos sooner, if that suits you. Then, seal your camera either in a plastic, zip-lock style bag, or in your camera bag if it seals up decent enough. Leave it alone to acclimate for a few hours before opening your bag. I also keep some silica packets in the camera bag to help with any condensation issues. When you can, bag your gear and try to keep it from going through those extremes. It can be a challenge in winter, but it’s worth paying attention to. Batteries, Batteries, Batteries – You really can’t have enough fully charged camera batteries in winter. The cold can drain batteries in a hurry and you have to be prepared. I usually have 3 or 4 on hand. Try to keep them in a pocket in an inner layer, closer to your body to keep them warm. This can also prolong your battery life. Nothing can end a photo session faster than dead batteries, and winter is notorious for causing quick drainage. You can use the cheaper, off brand batteries, but I have had the best luck with my camera’s brand name Canon batteries. Gloves/Keeping Your Hands Warm – This can be a tricky one as everyone is different in the way they handle winter temperatures, especially when it comes to fingers and hands. My best advice, and what works for me, is layers. I have a two/three layer system, depending on the conditions. You’ll need something you can control your camera settings with, so a glove is essential for a base layer. I often use a cheap, knit work glove that is comfortable to me. My other glove is a Fjallraven Forest Glove which is warm and comfortable on most days. When it gets very, very cold, I use a lorge, gauntlet style mitt over the gloves. I use a 20+ year old pair of Granite Gear Lutsen Mountain Mitts. I don’t think they are made anymore, but they have truly stood the test of time, and use. A lorge, gauntlet or chopper style mitt which can fit over a glove will do.
Those are just a few of the many survival tips you’ll need in winter months to explore the snowy, icy, frigid, rocky, unforgiving landscape and conditions along the North Shore.
More photo fun from February…
Great grey owl – I watched great grey owls on numerous occasions this month along the North Shore. Usually, you can catch them hunting near dusk along the edges of clearings. Early morning is another great time for owling on The Shore.
Great grey owl hunting a field – I watched this owl at dusk make a few plunges into the snow. It was a cold, windy evening, and the owl was having great success hunting a clearing in Superior National Forest. February is a good month for North Shore owling.
Beautiful February ice on the Temperance River – Winter photography on the rivers and on The Lake can be incredible. February was no exception.
More February beauty along Lake Superior
Ice on the river side…
Sunbursts can be fun with a dslr camera and I really like them in certain winter scenes. Here are a few tips on how to make the sun burst out in rays…
Sunbursts are fun and rather easy to do. You need to use a small aperture on a dslr. Anything around f/11 and up will work but the smaller the aperture the sharper the rays. I usually use f/18, f/20 or f/22. You want to partially block part of the sun with something, in this case, some of the branches of the tree. You can use a building, tree, person, the horizon, clouds etc. The number of rays coming off the sun is due to the number of diaphragm blades in my camera lens. The lens I am using has 9 blades and produces 2x as many rays, so there are 18 rays. I believe if the lens has an even number of blades, say 6, you get that many rays, 6. Odd number of blades it doubles. It can be a fun thing to experiment with in different situations.
Tall pines and sunrise in the forest
And now for some more February, winter wildlife…
February was full with many different sightings in all areas of our forest and shore. Owls, lynx, marten, moose, snowshoe hare, and even two very brief fisher sightings. I have yet to photograph a fisher. They are much larger and much more elusive than our pine marten. I saw a lot of marten and caught one hunting a snowshoe hare one morning. Fun photos below… The resident red fox made a few appearances as did the occasional roughed and spruce grouse. I’ll let the photo captions do the talking about the many reasons to enjoy February in the North Shore Woods.
Yearling bull moose with antlers in late February – Minnesota
Tracks, tracks, tracks… Use tracks to your advantage when winter hunting with your camera. You can tell how old tracks are by observing a few things about the tracks and knowing a few things about the current and previous days weather. If it’s windy, they’ll be washed out and drifted in. If it has snowed, less defined and slightly covered. If it’s been warm, they can be melted a bit on the edges, softened. You get to know how “close” you are by the tracks. You can also make note to return to an area based on the tracks you see and how old they appear. These were very, very fresh tracks. I knew that because I also saw the moose who left ’em!
Doin’ a little dance. Those hooves…
Yearling bull holding antlers in late February – My previous blog post talks more about a couple moose I ran into in February. Looking for moose in winter months can be a challenge, for various reasons, but the rewards are always special. This was the latest I can remember seeing a bull with antlers personally. This was February 23rd, likely a yearling bull. Those antlers will soon fall off, only to begin the regrowth process again. The bull moose can gain almost 3/4 of an inch per day in summer months when the antlers are growing strong. Here is a collection of Minnesota Moose photos Minnesota Moose Photos
Red Fox On The Temperance – See my website for purchasing this February favorite.Ordering Info Red Fox
Red Fox – The fox can be very curious, often to a fault. This red fox is a fixture in one area I frequent. While I don’t feed or entice the wildlife with food, it’s clear that this fox has been getting handouts. It often approaches me, sometimes very closely. It is always looking at my hands, especially if I reach for something or crinkle anything paper/bag like.
I watched this pine marten attack a snowshoe hare one morning in the woods. The chase went on and off for about 15 minutes. Both seemed to take rest periods. I think the marten eventually had it’s breakfast judging by the noise I heard in the brush at one point. The marten is a vicious little creature for its size.
Following in the hare tracks in fresh snow…
Hare hopping along, likely tired from being chased. The marten was nearby…
Not a good morning for the snowshoe hare.
And enter the Lynx…
Lone Canada lynx eyeing the woods for a meal
A mother and two young lynx get back to hunting after an already successful morning hunt. Their diet consists mainly of snowshoe hare. I was fortunate enough to witness them hunt on more than one occasion earlier this winter. The family would hunt together as a team. One or two would wait in the open, usually on a road or in a clearing, while the others stalked and flushed snowshoe hare out of the thick brush.
A lone lynx, or was it…
A few parting looks from the group…
Hare in the snow – The hare is the main food source for the lynx in our woods…
One of the young kittens looks at me curiously through the brush.
Back on the hunt, following tracks and using their acute hearing and sight…
More about the lynx…The characteristic ear tufts which top the lynx ears are thought to further aid their already impressive hearing. Once the cats seemed to decide I was not a threat, they went about their business. They would sit and look, and listen, sometimes for minutes. When it appeared that they heard something, they would silently slink through the brush in search of the hare.
A cat-nap in the road after a breakfast of snowshoe hare. The cats would break for about 20 minutes after eating, and before resuming the hunt. It takes a few hare to fuel this large group on a daily basis. Lynx Link
Cat pile – young watching mom as she holds the newly killed snowshoe hare firmly, making certain it was dead. She would then tear it into a few pieces and which point the young took a hunk off into the brush to eat.
In a flash, they burst into action at the sight or sound of something deeper in the brush. Soon, the whole group would be back to stalking, watching, listening for snowshoe hare.
A re-take session with the lynx family earlier this winter. Getting them all to look at the camera is nearly impossible. I’ll take 4 out of 5! If you made it this far, here is a link to some lynx video footage I put together. See you next month! Don’t forget to subscribe to this blog to be notified about new posts. Thanks – Tom
Winter is in full swing and the thermometer has really shown it in recent weeks. Sounds like we are in for a reprieve from the sub-zero and windy conditions for a spell, though! The recent cold has been fantastic for winter photography along the lake and in the woods. Here are a few favorites that you may or may not have seen from recent hikes, drives and trips to The Lake.
You can see weekly posts on Facebook, too – www.facebook.com/ThomasjSpenceImages
The High Falls on the Pigeon River in Grand Portage State Park. A MUST see in any season, though I prefer the winter ice that forms and the contrast of the snow on the cliff faces. Although, spring melt is a fantastic time to be there… and after a summer rain…
A winter hike up to Palisade Head near Silver Bay, MN. Some billion years ago, rhyolitic lava flows formed these impressive formations along Lake Superior.
The freighter Walter J McCarthy Jr. passes Schroeder, MN. The ships have been a regular site as the season comes to a close and the final loads are delivered around the Great Lakes. The locks will be closed in just a few days until the ice lets up in March.
I came across a the remnants of an otter party! These playful critters love to run and slide in the snow and on the ice. They had made a hole near a spring and appeared to have had a great time sliding and slipping!
Winter moose!!!! I have been happy to catch up with a group of moose quite often over the past few months. Glad to report that I am still seeing a few of them out and about. I hope you get to see one of these fantastic animals on your next visit to the North Shore.
And finally, the Full Wolf Moon rising through the sea smoke on a VERY frigid January evening. Put a Lake Superior moon rise on your bucket list! I try not to miss one when I am around The Lake at the right time. There is a great moon/sun app called The Photographer’s Ephemeris that I would highly recommend to any sky-watcher.
This year I will keep you updated on the changing seasons and the changing light with frequent posts, so stay tuned! 🙂
Thomas J. Spence Images 