Had another great weekend birding on the upper Gunflint Trail although not many owls there for the survey. Lots of Common Redpolls at the Gunflint Lodge feeders but none that I would definitely want to call a hoary. A nice male BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER was flying around the riding stable area. Many Pine Grosbeaks but no Evening Grosbeaks. A Red-breasted Nuthatch and Pine Siskins. Many goldfinches and Blue Jays. Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers. 2 Moose.
Have a few images at: Black-backed Woodpecker: http://www.greenbackedheron.com/photo.cfm?setid=1248 Common Redpolls (includes a comparison with a hoary photographed elsewhere): http://www.greenbackedheron.com/photo.cfm?setid=272 Northern Hawk Owl: http://www.greenbackedheron.com/photo.cfm?setid=1249 Thanks and good birding, Kent Nickell Waterloo, Ia
