Crane Lake Nature Blog

Yellow-rumped “Myrtle” Warbler

Here is an female adult or it could be a “first winter”  ‘Myrtle’ sub-species of the Yellow-rumped Warbler. Looks a lot like the basic plumaged Cape May.

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Here is an adult in full breeding plumage. This Warbler changes quite a bit in the winter.

“Myrtle” sub-species of the Yellow-rumped Warbler

Cape May

Female and juvenile Cape May Warblers can be confused with Yellow-rumped Warblers. They both have the distinctive yellow ‘rump’.

Cape May

There are tell-tale signs that this is a Cape May – there can be a yellow wash to the breast as you can kind of see in the above photo.

Cape May

This is an adult in ‘basic’ or winter plumage. You can still see the orange ear patch, although it’s faded and smaller.

Twin Flower
Linnaea Borealis

Twin Flower

Clintonia or Blue Bead Lilly

Moccasin Flower (also known as Stemless Lady Slipper)

can you see the frog?

Spring Peeper Frog

And flowers growing out of rock boulders!

Bunchberry

Scary!!!

and look out for really BIG fauna!

Boreal Chickadee

This special little Chickadee is different than the more numerous “Black-capped” Chickadees. This is a Boreal Chickadee and they sport a brown cap. This Chickadee would be considered a specialty of our northeastern boreal forest. Birdwatchers travel from other parts of the country and world to add this bird to their life list.

The Boreal Chickadee is a year round resident here in northern Minnesota and they are busy with nesting now.

Cape May Warbler

This warbler wouldn’t quit singing! He was flycatching insects and singing profusely every time he came back to the branch.

white shoulders on the Cape May Warbler

The white feathers on the shoulders of the Cape May Warbler is a really good field mark. You can see those feathers from quite a distance.