On this day in Ken’s Journal – October 16 through 31, 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 early journals dated October 16 through 31, 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 community members. Pictured is Leah Thomas.
From the pages of Ken Hoffman’s Journal – October 16 through 31, 1982
October 16th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Ken writes: Partly clear and cool—27 degrees with northwest breeze. Ice in the garbage can collectors for the first time. Robin by outhouse. Yellow-rumped Warbler in pit pond. Goshawk flying overhead, Juncos under feeder. Took short walks with Molly to Meyers and Leo Lake road. In the afternoon went to Lydia’s to watch a ball game. Sapsucker on Lydia’s big Red Pine. Clearing with less wind by evening—high about 39 degrees.
Molly adds: Had all kinds of “discussions” until late into the night, but then we both felt pretty good and slept well. All this hospital stuff during the past weeks was a jolt to our quiet life and we are still suffering the aftershocks. Cloudy then clear, then cloudy during the night.
October 18th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Mostly cloudy, but warm—45 degrees. Cramer [the dog] and Issie [the cat] are doing better. Walking around enjoying warm day. Ruby Kinglet, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Brown Creepers, finches flying overhead. Walked to the end of Bev’s point. Visited briefly with Roy S. and Beatties. First Tree Sparrow by the outhouse when we got home. Got some chicken fence from Meyers and made a block so Cramer can’t get under the house. Visiting Herb O’Brien—the bird he last saw on October 10 turns out to have been a Wood Stork!! A first Minnesota record that we missed by two days!! I feel sick!! Rain by the evening. Will it change to snow? Sapsucker in late afternoon by Lieberty cabins.
October 19th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
A dark day with drizzle. Looking for Wood Ibis by Brule meadow and on Lima Road, but no luck. Then to Herb’s to try and get him to write up his three sightings [of a Wood Stork]. Took one more look by the creek. Tree Sparrows (several), Snipe. Molly saw adult Red Crossbills feeding two striped, juveniles out of the nest. They could fly only clumsily. Walking on Leo road we saw Yellow-rump and Golden-crowned Kinglet. Also, a Bald Eagle, Goshawk and several flocks of the first Snow Geese of the season. Black-backed-three-toed Woodpecker by Lieberty cabins. Helping Jim B. get his motor in and turn the boat over. Got nice, big piece of blueberry pie for my labor. Snow flurry and colder at dusk. Cramer [the dog] and Issie [the cat] are doing well.
October 21st, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Cold, dark morning. Power out at 5am (till 9am). Went to town shopping and birding. Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Wigeon (3), Redhead, Lesser Scaup, Ringneck, Bufflehead. Tree Sparrows in Croftville and Tourist Park. Numerous Snow Buntings around, and Horned Larks. A few Longspurs mixed in. White-breasted Nuthatch by the ball field. Grackle. Bought battery for truck. Home about 5pm. Went to library, also. First White-winged Crossbills of the year in Croftville.
October 22nd, 1982
27 degrees—mostly cloudy. Still seeing and hearing finches overhead (Redpolls?). Robin here at home. Chipmunk under feeder as the sun came out. Looks to be a nice day. Walked down Hungry Jack road to the log cabin just past Jack and Sue’s driveway. Talked to Cyril on our way home. DNR “messing” around at Beauty Lake. Some ice on Ollar’s pond.
October 23rd, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
21 degrees—coldest yet. Ollar’s pond covered with ice. Walked to Beauty Lake. Saw Yellow-rump Warbler (2), Juncos, Tree Sparrows. In the afternoon, working on bathhouse—putting boards on wall. Becoming a nice day. Snipe by the pond. Chipmunk still. Black-backed-three-toed woodpecker—several “chattering.” Pileateds. Many Downies. Purple Finch.
October 24th, 1982
Warm morning and warm day—55 degrees. Robin “clucking.” Golden-crowned Kinglet. Goshawk over Poplar Lake. Working on bathhouse and finished walls. Cleaning up the yard. Walked to Meyer’s—saw 11 Ring Necks in the bay. Visited Lydia briefly. Evening Grosbeaks here in the morning (10+). Black-backed-three-toed Woodpecker again. Indian Summer.
October 25th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
A beautiful morning—28 degrees. Went to town to do laundry and bird. Tree Sparrow, Juncos, Long-tailed Duck, Black Scoters (3), Scaup, Ring Neck, Widgeon, Mourning Doves, Black-billed Plover (1) on breakwall. Goldeneye, Horned Larks, Snow Buntings, many Herring Gulls, as fishermen are cleaning herring. We did not look them over very close due to bad light and Molly’s inability to climb on rocks. Pipit overhead. Back home by 1pm. 61 degrees. Visited Lydia and Ray and Mable. Laundry hanging out to dry. Creeper at Lydia’s. Visited Spike in the evening—looks like we will survey tomorrow at Trout Lake.
October 26th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Robin clucking early. Said goodbye to Lydia. 38 degrees this morning. Molly and I went with Spike to do preliminary work on Trout Lake survey. Lots of Downies in pretty maple woods. Brown Creeper. Went to see Herb O’Brien later, but he was not around. Nice, warm, sunny day—60 degrees. Lydia called in the evening. Loon at Trout Lake.
October 27th, 1982
I am off with Spike today to finish Trout Lake survey, which we did. Home by 3:30. Molly stayed home. Another nice, warm, but mostly cloudy day. Evening Grosbeak at feeder again.
October 28th, 1982
To town today. Shopping and to Court House. Don Davison gave us his copy of American Birds—Christmas Bird Count issue. Almost no bird activity on this nice “Indian Summer” day, “notorious for dull birding.” Did see five Black Scoters, Wigeon, Long-tailed duck, Scaups, no unusual Gulls, Crow, many House Sparrows and Starlings, Horned Larks (3) and two Buntings by the Coast Guard.
October 30th, 1982 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Very windy (northwest) overnight. 30 degrees and a clear morning. Took a walk. Loon on Hungry Jack Lake, Tree Sparrow, Juncos, Creeper, Black-backed-three-toed Woodpecker, heard a Pine Grosbeak. Walter had a Pine Marten by his house. Spike and H. visited in the afternoon. Kim called from Grand Marais where he and his class saw Cattle Egrets, Magpie and Harlequin Duck. We went in and saw the Harlequin but not the others. Rough-legged Hawk on the way into town. Wigeon (3). Beautiful, clear night with bright moon.
October 31st, 1982
Still a Robin and Tree Sparrow here in the a.m. Went to town and along the shore looking for rare birds, but no luck. White-winged Scoter at Paradise Beach. Rough-legged Hawk along Highway 61. Black Scoter still in town. Wigeon. Junco. Pectoral Sandpiper near ball field. More Goldeneyes in the Harbor than previously. Home by 1:30. Flock of 75+ Crows flying southwest along Lake Superior. Rusty Blackbird here at home.
Reader’s note: Lydia is Lydia Miller, the Hoffman’s neighbor. Ollar is a reference to Ollar Snevits, a resident from the 1970s who owned many parcels of land in Cook County.
On this Day in Ken’s Journal is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
