...or, How I Learned to Love the Lesser Hock. You see, John and Chris Hockema are brothers, and many have attributed the title of 'Greater Hock' to John, and 'Lesser Hock' to Chris. Indeed in size and age, John is the greater of the two Hocksters, but I argue in some respects (like common sense) Chris is the Greater (sandals in February, John??). And so, I think, they should be lumped into one species - "Awesome Hock." I made my first trip with just Chris and had a blast.
It started with Chris's decision to abandon the 300,000 cars signed up for organized field trips Saturday to Sax-Zim, and instead head to Lake County 2 & 1 and the Spruce Road. We were rewarded there with: SPRUCE GROUSE - No fewer than 12 (at least 3 males) 2.2 miles N of Sand River on 2 AND 1 Male right at mile marker 305 along 1. RED CROSSBILL - flock of 13 at intersection of 2 & 1; another heterosexual pair along Spruce Road. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL - Intersection of Spruce Road and Endless Waters Road. BOREAL CHICKADEE - 4 or 5 at intersection of Spruce Road and Endless Waters Road. With Black-capped Chickadees. Several sightings of PINE GROSBEAK, and GRAY JAY put the veritable icing on the avian cake. Oh yeah, a half-sighting of Northern Goshawk (I counted it, Chris hedged). MAMMALS: 3 Moose (3 different spots along northern half of 2, 2 male, 1 female), 2 Red Fox (at southernmost RR Xing). TWO HARBORS: LONG-TAILED DUCK - thanks to Jim Lind we were able to find the 2 birds hanging out at the edge of the ice in Agate Bay. NORTHERN GOSHAWK - adult male in hot 30-second pursuit of Mourning Dove, just east of town, 300 yds. up County Road 10. Bona fide sighting (Dedrick and Chris give unhedged thumbs-up and high-five). HOARY REDPOLL - often a controversial subject. Very happy with a bird at 805 12th Ave. in Two Harbors. Actually, we feel we may have had more than one, but try to be conservative. Many respectable birders have reported multiple birds at feeders, and I would love to hear people's thought's on the Common to Hoary ratio being better than 100:1 this winter. Chris's 100th year bird! DULUTH HARBOR Zilch (Sorry, Rock Pigeon and Red-tailed Hawk lovers) WISCONSIN POINT I hadn't seen any reports from here, so I decided to check it out... Miles of ice...now I understand. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sunday... SAX-ZIM BOG BOREAL CHICKADEES - 4 or 5 along N. half of Admiral Road. Again, with Black-cappeds. WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILLS - N. half of Admiral Road. NORTHERN GOSHWAK - Our 2 1/2 sighting of the weekend! Also along the N. Half of Admiral Road. EVENING GROSBEAK - Feeder station located on 7, 1 mile north of 52 (where 7 bends left) - tons of activity - Pine Grosbeaks, Redpolls, etc. AITKIN COUNTY Dipped on Black-billed Magpie and Sharp-tailed Grouse at TWP Rd. 380. Town of Palisade - no sign of Varied Thrush, but did have: BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS - Eastern (?) end of 5th Street. Our only flock of the weekend. PINE GROSBEAK - just one at Varied Thrush feeder. Pietz's Road GREAT GRAY OWL - one (others report 2?) bird about one mile down Pietz's Road. So, if you have no one to buy those chocolates and roses for next Valentine's Day Weekend, I highly reccommend birding with EITHER of the Hockema brothers. All the best, Dedrick Benz Winona, MN _________________________________________________________________ Let the advanced features & services of MSN Internet Software maximize your online time. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200363ave/direct/01/
