Today showed me that despite great effort, not every day will give me a bunch of new species for my Big Year. Ellie and I hiked the entire Kekekabic/Centennial Trail loop, followed by the Magnetic Rock Trail. We covered 7 - 8 miles, and only saw only two new species, the turkey vulture and the hooded merganser. Other species sighted included the mallard duck, bufflehead, ruffed grouse, pileated woodpecker, and dark-eyed junco.
23. Turkey Vulture
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| Turkey Vulture - Notice the upswept wings and small head. |
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| Turkey Vulture |
24. Hooded Merganser
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| Hooded Merganser |
The following are pictures from the first two days of my Big Year:
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| Large Flock of Canada geese (Estimate 70 Birds) |
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| Ring-necked Ducks |
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| Trumpeter Swan and Canada Geese |
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| Red-winged Blackbird |
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| Ring-necked Ducks |
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| American Robin |
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| First Loon of the Year on Gunflint Lake |
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| Common Redpoll |
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| Dark-eyed Junco |
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| American Crow |
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| Common Grackle |
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| Trumpeter Swan |
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| Red-winged Blackbird |
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| Red-breasted Nuthatch |
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| Largest Flock of Common Mergansers I have ever seen on Gunflint Lake |
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| Brown-headed Cowbird Headed for a Red Squirrel |
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| Ellie Resting at Magnetic Rock |
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| Canada Geese |
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| Red-necked Ducks |
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| Black-capped Chickadee |
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| Ruffed Grouse - Notice raised feathers on head. |
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| Ruffed Grouse |
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| Ruffed Grouse |
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| Spruce Grouse - Notice smooth head feathers, and red spot above eye. |
