On this day in Ken’s Journal – September 17th to September 29th, 1981
Ken and Molly Hoffman were local surveyors and naturalists known for their knowledge of wild birds and plants. Ken recorded their daily observations in his journals from 1981 to 2011, quietly documenting thirty-years of naturalist history on the North Shore.
In the early journals dated 1981 to 1985, Ken and Molly lived in the Poplar Lake area on the Gunflint Trail, where they often visited with neighbors Lydia Miller, Carl and Luana Brandt of Nor’Wester Lodge and other friends.
The journals are read by friends and community members. Pictured is Nick Vavrichek.
From the pages of Ken Hoffman’s Journal – Sept 17 – 29, 1981
September 17, 1981 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Another cool, darkish morning with scattered clouds. Nashville warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Yellow-rumps. Relaxing and visiting Lydia, looking at her new counter top. Rode to Hungry Jack grade where we saw some nice warblers in a flock—Black-throated Blue (male), Magnolia, Tennessee, Black-and-White, Bay-breasted. Not a mushroom year—almost no puffballs in the woods. Rain showers, so we headed home. In the evening with the dogs, we saw a Spotted Sandpiper near cabins. Nothing at Ollar’s pond. In the evening, doing the write-up for our “alleged” Prairie warbler sighting.
September 18th, 1981
Saw a Spotted Sandpiper early from Lydia’s dock. Went to town surveying for M.J. and birding. Cloudy early, but clearing with strong southwest winds. Golden-wing Teal and Widgeon are still in the harbor area. Many Longspurs and Horned larks still present. Watching a Merlin harassing a Grand Marais crow family on Coast Guard point. Merlin also chased a gull. Big surf on Lake Superior. Home by 6pm. Robins and White-crowned Sparrow here.
September 19th, 1981, Saturday Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Spotted Sandpiper still around. Loafing around home early. Painted bathtub bottom. Nashville Warbler in the yard, Yellow-rump, Palm warbler. Went to Gunflint Lake looking over a survey with H. Sprandell. On the way home, visited with the Cleavers. Home by 4pm. Very little bird activity. Mailed in our Prairie Warbler note of interest. Turkey vulture and many Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
September 20th, 1981
29 degrees early, with first “black” frost. Doing jobs around home—laundry, put bath tub in bathhouse, pulled up gardens and chopped them into compost bin. Beautiful, warm day with lots of sunshine. Magnolia warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Nashville, Spotted Sandpiper. Visited with Lydia in the afternoon.
September 22, 1981 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Molly writes: Surveying Warren’s Point on Gunflint and Magnetic lakes. Leaving with a rented boat and motor from Borderland Lodge. Very long, tiring day and did not get home ‘til nearly 7pm. The point is a beautiful, quiet place. May have heard a Solitary Vireo. Saw two Ruffed Grouse “arguing” over a log. Water Pipets flying about the point shoreline and also on the sand delta of the Cross River. Sunny, windy, cool day. Spotted Sandpiper in the morning.
September 23, 1981
(Molly continues) Surveying by Eliason Tower Road. Finished the job early and then went to town. Poor birding. Did business at the Court House. Visited with the Beatties in the IGA parking lot. They told us that Ted Young will be building a cabin for the people who purchased the Varner’s Poplar Lake property. Had wonderful malt and milkshake at Leng’s Fountain. Bob Magee stopped on his way to Gunflint. Heide Johnson stopped, just after Magee left in her battered blue VW. Ken is working on the Warren’s point survey data. Cold and partly cloudy and windy in the morning. Clouds increased and it rained lightly in the afternoon. Ruby Kinglet here, Brown Creeper on the point. White-crowned sparrows here and in Grand Marais. Many Palm warblers in Grand Marais, but no other warblers today.
September 25th, 1981 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Partly cloudy and warm. Spotted Sandpiper along Meyers’ point in the morning. Yellow-rump, White-crowned sparrow, Woodcock, Kingfisher, Loon with young nearby. They are not quite so vocal. Mist and drizzle—southeast wind much of the day. Working on survey drawings. Walking by Ollar’s and saw at least three otters. They seemed to be enjoying themselves and playing. Color is almost at peak—no heavy leaf fall yet from big poplars and birches. Winter Wren.
September 26th, 1981
Mist, fog and wind. Winter Wren, Gray Jays getting vocal, as are Ravens. Light rain and thunder near noon. Ruby Kinglet. Molly typing nest cards from summer. Spotted Sandpiper. Woodcock. Dahlbergs stopped by for a short visit. They are camped at Trail’s End Campground. Becoming quite rainy and windy.
September 27, 1981
Rain and strong northwest winds—some snowflakes mixed with rain most of the day, but no pure snow. Some old trees fell on Leo Road and our power was out about two hours. Visiting Lydia. Almost no birds around. Some clearing at sunset. Many leaves and pine needles blowing off trees, but still many on trees. Fox Sparrow in the yard.
September 28th, 1981 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Molly writes: Partly cloudy and then nearly clear until around 2pm. Very cloudy, showers after dark. Heard a Winter Wren in the morning. Went to town, courthouse, Lund’s about a survey and birding. Saw large flocks of Water Pipets, Lapland Longspur and Horned Larks in the weedy grass flats in the Tourist Park/ballfield area. Saw two American Kestrels and at least three Merlins (two female and one male). One Merlin swooped down and snatched one of the ground birds as we watched. Also observed a kind of battle between a Kestrel pair and a female Merlin near the ballfield. Saw sparrows—Savannah, Song, Lincoln, White-crowned, White-throat, Fox. Catbird, Waxwings, Robins and Purple Finch in Mountain Ash trees at the west end of the Tourist Park. Yellow-throated-sparrow in brush above the ballfield. Marsh Wren in small cattail marsh. Heard Killdeer and maybe Pine Grosbeaks. Solitary Vireo, Palm and Yellow-rump warblers. Nashville warbler in Croftville, Ruby Kinglets, Sapsucker on the Point. Heard Kingfisher, Wigeons, Mallards, Scaup and Black ducks, Mergansers and Horned Grebes (five) in East Bay. Meadowlark, very dull color in the open area with Pipet/Longspur flock. Two Mourning Doves, Pectoral sandpiper in Bobby Don [Brazell’s] pond. Cliff swallows flying near the light plant. Very light- colored Mallard in the Marina. Home at about 3:30pm and did Lydia’s windows. Issie the AWC was out in the rain this evening—even got wet. Fall colors are very beautiful. Some leaves on the road but still very much color. Received the very beautiful book—Shorebirds of North America—from the library. Intend to read it all again.
September 29, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Cloudy, raw morning with northeast wind. Birding in Grand Marais. On the way in we saw a Barn Swallow on the road near North Brule River. It seemed to like the warmth in the road. He did not look healthy. At the big ballfield we saw many Larks, Pipits and Longspurs. Goldeneyes in Harbor (a few), five Mourning Doves in the area. Kingfisher, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker at Devil Track Lake where we were working. Also a Black-and-White Warbler there, Marsh Wren in Harbor cattails, many Robins eating Mountain Ash berries. Golden and Ruby Kinglets, Many Palm Warblers in town, Savannah Sparrow, White-crowns, Harris, Chipping sparrow—clay colored. Worked about four hours and then back to town again. Molly very chilled most of the day. Went to Trail Center for hamburgers and pie. Some clearing here, when we got home. Lydia heard many geese yesterday and today. Merlin still hanging around town. Peregrine near Northern Light Lake on the way home. Long-tailed, darkish wing-tips, pointed wings.
Readers note: Lydia is Lydia Miller, the Hoffman’s neighbor. Issie is the Hoffman’s cat.
On this Day in Ken’s Journal is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
