On this Day in Ken’s Journal – September 1 through 15, 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 these journal entries from September 1 through 15, 1981, 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 pages of Ken’s journals are read by community members, friends and neighbors. Journal entries are read and recorded chronologically in two-year blocks, beginning with 1981 and 1982. Pictured is Nick Vavrichek.
From the Pages of Ken Hoffman’s Journal – September 1 through 15, 1981
September 1, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
1.2 inches of rain overnight, according to Lydia. Misting in the morning with northwest winds. Filled our ran barrels easily. Went to town shopping and to the courthouse. Almost zero birds on the rocks (wind still southwest at the lake). A few warblers on the point for almost the first time this summer, including Yellow-throated. We did see a Merlin harassing crows by the light plant. The Crows seemed to be afraid of it. Most of the day in the courthouse reading “O’Brien deeds.” In the evening we bicycled up to O’Brien’s to look for pipes and pins—decided we could not help poor Herb. Cool, clear evening. Listening to “peeps.”
September 3, 1981
Cloudy and warm, after a cool evening last night. Warblers slowly drifting around—Black-and-white, Tennessee, Nashville, Parula, Magnolia, Black-throated Green, Chestnut-sided, Red-eyed Vireo and also a Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Walked to Meyers Point along the beach. Spotted Pink-spotted “Hummingbird” moth (Hawk moth), along the roadside feeding on Evening Primrose. Cloudy all day, so solar collector did not work. Cool and clear after dark.
September 4, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Partly cloudy and seasonable. Went to town surveying at Paradise Beach and went birding. Saw Semipalmated Plover behind the light plant, three Spotted Sandpipers and two Sanderlings on the point. Some warblers, including many blackpolls and our first Palm Warbler of the fall. Also, Nashville, Tennessee, Black-and-white, Magnolia, Parula, Redstart, Yellow-rumped. Very strong northwest winds. Hundreds of Mourning Cloak butterflies, especially along the shoreline. Later in the afternoon we mostly saw the same warblers, also two Water Pipits (first of the season) and two “peeps,” we let go as Semipalmated Sandpipers. Although they seemed rather brownish. Cool, clear evening. Spotted Sandpiper on Poplar shore. Found a dead Shorttail Weasel in the driveway—apparently wounded in the neck by an owl—it must have died in agony with a rock in its mouth and its body curled.
September 5, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Our first frost—though a light one. “Peeps” and “heeps” in the air at dawn. Doing laundry and cleaning off chicken bones from Trail Center for dog scraps. Garden not hurt by frost—just a little scorched. Mourning Cloak butterflies, White and Red Admiral butterflies. Purple Finch in the yard. White-throated Sparrow singing briefly, early. Spotted-sandpiper by Lydia’s dock. A visit from Justine and later the Cleavers, asking about a survey on Birch Lake. We went there
and looked for a few corners and visited them briefly. We were impressed with the “cuteness” of their neighbors’ fat, little dog.
September 7, 1981
Northwest winds with dark clouds and rain showers. Very few birds around. Black-throated Green, Red-eyed Vireo, Nashville, Chipping Sparrows, Flickers, Hummingbirds at Lydia’s feeder, Swainson’s Thrush, White-throated Sparrow. Went to Bow Lake, but nothing there—Goldeneye at Spen Lake. Spiny puffballs emerging along Hungry Jack grade. Visited Lydia and got water.
September 8, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Off to Greenwood surveying after Labor Day vacation. Got a sunshot between fast-moving clouds. Cool with string northwest breezes. Then we went to town for lunch and birding. Quite a few birds (at least more than usual lately). First Golden Plover of the season, first Pintail ever!! (in Cook County). #197. It was a female in the puddles behind the breakwater rocks. March Hawk—(first of the year), along the shore. Merlin, Pipit flock, Sharp-shinned hawks, Spotted Sandpiper, Palm Warblers and Yellow-rumps at the Tourist Park. Cormorant flying over the harbor. Maybe the last day for Lydia’s hummingbirds, as they did not come in the evening. Clear evening.
September 9, 1981
Some warblers around home—Red-eyed vireo, Solitary Vireo and Philadelphia Vireo. Nashville and Magnolia warblers. Went to Greenwood Lake again, cutting heavy brush and then went to town for lunch and birding. Quiet in the harbor but did see a Merlin and Kestral together. Merlin obviously bigger. Winter Wren and Loons on Poplar. Went to Trail Center in the evening for dinner. A warm day with southwest winds—big “surf” along the rocks by the point.
September 11, 1981 Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Cloudy and warm with showers—some blue sky. Spotted Sandpiper at Lydia’s dock and nearby. Six or seven Crows. A few warblers, etc. Magnolia, Nashville, Tennessee, Solitary Vireo. Strong smoke smell in the air with northerly winds. Mostly clear by late morning. Went to the dump with Muki and Tootie. Many Ravens there but few gulls. Also went to Flour Lake for water—campground almost empty. Walked to Ollar’s pond—almost no puffballs (lack of rain?). Many ducks resting there and one Solitary Sandpiper feeding on a mud flat. Hermit Thrush by Meyers’ on the way home; tail pumping as it sat on a branch. Beautiful evening.
September 12, 1981
Strong northwest winds and very warm—77 degrees. Many birds were around early before the wind got strong. Black-throated Blue Warbler (adult male), Nashville, Blackpoll, Palm Warbler, Orange-crowned (first), Parula, Yellow-rump, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, many White-throated Sparrows, Red-eyed Vireo, Philadelphia Vireo, Solitary Vireo (singing), Kinglets. Walked to Ollar’s pond twice, and Meyer’s, but no activity. Watched Lydia’s logger fell big spruce by her garage. A few Robins arriving in the alders, and Winter Wren.
September 15, 1981, Leo Lake on the Gunflint Trail
Just a slight touch of frost on the roofs. Clear with cool, northwest breeze. Had a small fire for our company’s sake, mostly. Went to Ollar’s pond early, but no activity. F & R here for breakfast and a visit—they left about 11am. Visited Lydia and took her lawn pump in and drained it. A few birds around here—Nashville Warbler, Orange-crowned, Yellow-rump. Went to town in the afternoon birding and getting money for a trip to Duluth tomorrow. A few sprinkles around with cool, northwest breeze. Good birding around the harbor—Lapland Longspur (one), Pipits, Redstart, Widgeon (two by the marina feeding almost like Coots), Gold-wing Teal (four behind the light plant resting), first White-crowned and Fox Sparrows of the year (good dates) and our first, ever Harris Sparrow in Cook County—an immature bird near the Coast Guard building. Prairie Warbler with whiskers! (yellow, and wing bars). Merlin, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Savannah Sparrow, Palm Warbler. Also saw a couple broad-wing kettles containing 50 to 100 birds. Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned hawks, Blackpoll Warbler, Magnolia Warbler.
Reader’s note: Lydia is Lydia Miller, the Hoffman’s neighbor.
On this Day in Ken’s Journal is supported in part by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
