The last two mornings have found me deep in the Boreal Forest near the Canadian border. Pine Island State Forest is remote, and has beautiful bogs … my favorite being Toomey Williams Forest Road. This road starts about six miles west of the small town of Big Falls, and for exactly 12 miles follows the path of an old logging railroad deep into the forest bog. For much of the road the combination of bog, small drainage creeks next to the road and dead snags provide a birder’s delight. It was almost exactly one year ago today when I came upon the most amazing bull moose on this road. What I never see on Toomey Williams Road, unless it is grouse hunting season, is other people. Even then I rarely see more than one other person over the course of a few hours.

When Toomey Williams Forest Road ends, I just turn left and follow Pine River Forest Road for another 8 miles. In total my loop from Big Falls is 44 miles long with 20 miles on dirt forest roads. Even the paved portions of my drive rarely have traffic. Over the past two mornings I have seen zero cars or humans during my time in Pine Island State Forest. I am in birding heaven.

For the past two days in has been Hawk Heaven with lots of Broad-Winged and Red Tailed Hawks on Toomey Williams Forest Road.

Red-Tailed Hawk on Toomey-Williams Forest Road

Broad-Winged Hawk on Toomey-Williams Forest Road

The Movie! (video link for email subscribers)