On This Day in Ken’s Journal – October 2nd through 15th, 1982
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 these entries from October 2 to 15, 1982, 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 neighbors. Pictured is Beth Ferry and Dave Mills.
Ken’s Journal Oct 2 – 15, 1982
October 2nd, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Heading for home with Molly’s dad. Here by 9am. Rainy. I will have to spend a whole day here—it will not be easy. Ruby-crowned Kinglet, White-throated sparrow. Trying to rest. Visited Beatties and Lydia. Also talked briefly with Ted Young. A showery day.
October 3rd, 1982
A cloudy morning as I left for Duluth. Redhead duck in Grand Marais harbor. Visited Molly about noon. She still has much pain, but is very alert and feels good otherwise. A nice visit in the evening with Molly—we controlled our emotions rather well.
October 4th, 1982
A beautiful, warm, sunny day. I plan to be at the hospital about noon and in the meantime, kill time by taking a walk on Park Point. Spotted Sandpipers—large flock of Longspurs by the airport. Some small Yellow-rump/Chickadee flocks, Pectoral Sandpiper and Black-bellied Plovers by the ball field. Molly came back to her room at 1:30pm. Everything is OK and I stayed only briefly. Hoo-ray! Walked to UMD campus in the afternoon. Gorgeous weather—66 degrees. Molly’s dad cutting grass for the last time this year. With Molly again in the evening. She is much better.
Wednesday, October 6th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Rain Rain Rain—heavy and steady. Cold also—40 degrees. White-throated sparrow, Robin clucking. Most leaves are gone now. Tamaracks are yellow. Mostly resting. Visited Beatties and watched a ball game in the evening with Lydia. Molly called about 10pm—she may get out of the hospital on Saturday.
October 7th, 1982
Cloudy and threatening—some light rain. Five or six Rusty Blackbirds in the area. Robins, White-throated Sparrow, Ruby and Golden Kinglets. Went to town with laundry and to pick up groceries. Rain let up some by noon. In Tourist Park saw Orange-crowned Warbler, Tennessee Warbler, Yellow-rumped (many), Palm Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, three Fox Sparrows, Indigo Bunting! In Harbor saw Least Scaup, Ring-necked duck, Widgeon, Redhead. Home by 2:30. Junco under our feeder. Molly called again in the evening to say she will be coming home tomorrow evening with Justine! Watching a game in the evening again with Lydia. Drizzle and fog.
October 10th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
(Ken writes:) Still some light rain—very dark. Tamaracks losing needles. It is evident we will need seed catchers under the tube feeders. White-throated Sparrow (two). Rain all morning, some let up about 2pm. Walked to Bealls with Molly. She is improving, but still weak. Also visited Lydia. Self-cleaned “oven.” More rain in the evening.
October 11th, 1982
(Molly writes:) Rain most of the night. Both Kinglets, Rusty Blackbird, White-throated sparrows. So wonderful to be home again, that I am happy to just shuffle about. My morning walk was just to the hill on the Leo Road at the beginning. Not very far!! The sky is brighter today—small patches of blue. Cutting new trail in the woods. Robins, Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rump. More rain in the afternoon. Walked to Beatties today and brought home pumpkin bars. Rain after dark. Herb O’Brien called about a large wading bird he has been seeing.
October 12th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Rain and drizzle and mild again this morning. Sapsucker along our alder path. Crow. Went to look for Herb’s wading bird, but of course it wasn’t there. Yellow-rumps, Hermit Thrush. Are we hearing Northern Finches? Or Purple Finches? Went to town for Molly to have her stitches removed. Also did some birding. Redhead (eating weeds), Ring-neck, Scaup, Yellow-rumps, Ruby and Golden Kinglets, Longspurs (only seven), one Pipit, Pectoral Sandpiper, Loon, Horned Grebe, White-crowned sparrows, House sparrows (migrating?), Hermit Thrush (two) in Mountain Ash trees, Black-backed-three-toed woodpecker, several Red-tailed Hawks including one by Hungry Jack burn. Home by 2pm. Palm warbler here. Nice in town, but still showers up here. Both Kinglets. Bugs still flying in 50-degree weather. Bat in the evening. Snipe.
October 14th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Dark clouds in the morning, but then clearing with a strong northwest wind. Yellow-rumps, both Kinglets (only a few). Hermit Thrush, Robin, White-crowned Sparrow under feeder, Sapsucker in our alders. Chipmunk. Fox Sparrow, Winter Wren in the bog. Walked over to Cyril’s for a visit—he looks good. In the afternoon I went to Beatties to hang his two duck boxes. Nice to see sunshine and feel dry wind. 58 degrees. Fed Rusty in the evening—she was very good. Rusty Blackbird, Snipe, White-throated sparrow, Swamp sparrow by Cyril’s.
October 15th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Clear and cool with breeze from the northwest—becoming dark and cloudy with snow flurries much of the day (our first snow). Sapsucker in alders. Golden Kinglet. Did not see Ruby Kinglet or Yellow-rumped warbler. Peak Crow flight along shore of Lake Superior. Got about nine bags of leaves from Beatties. Car maintenance in the afternoon. Looks like we will get Cramer, the cat, come Sunday. Molly has sore leg muscles in her left leg after not using it for two months, plus. Continued very northwest windy and squally after dark. Juncos under feeder. Lydia had a Purple Finch. Watching baseball game in the evening.
Readers note: Lydia is Lydia Miller, the Hoffman’s neighbor. Cyril was a neighbor who lived in a trailer across from Trail Center.
On this Day in Ken’s Journal is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
