Monthly Archives: December 2024

Arriving Track Two on the Frozen Prairie: the Holiday Train

Year 11

Sunday. three couples including Molly and me drove northwest from Duluth to watch the Canadian Pacific’s Holiday Train arrive in Plummer, Minnesota. The train arrived at the frozen prairie town after sunset, in the dark. Shortly thereafter the door of a special boxcar folds down and a Christmas concert ensues in support of the local food bank. Within an hour of arriving the train moves to the next small town. Thanks Canadian Pacific (CPKCR)!

This is the third time we have travelled and watched on of CPKCR’s Holiday Trains. While one train works its way across the northern United States, another train crosses Canada.  We had fun a few years ago up in Schreiber and Nipigon, Ontario. Most of the small towns have corresponding events which support their local food banks.

From Plummer, Minnesota … the 2024 Holiday Train!

The Train Arriving in Plummer (video link for email subscribers)

Short Excerpt from the Concert (video link for email subscribers)

Greenwood Bird Feeders Update: Mr. Moose!

Year 11

Here is an update on my Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders. As I type this at 6:30 am my local owls are in the yard and serenading me with a hootfest duet, but on to the Greenwood update …

  • I know quite a few folks have been looking for Spruce Grouse north of Two Harbors. Thus, the first part of my report is I almost always see at least one Spruce Grouse on Lake County 2 with every visit to my feeders … from a mile south to a mile north of the parking pad.
  • A huge thanks is owed to the Ranger Snowmobile Club out of Hoyt Lakes. Saturday morning they not only plowed the parking pad, but cleared all the trees off Forest Road 813 and groomed the trail leading away from the bird feeders. Thus, one may easily walk, snowshoe or cross-county ski again to the bog. The trail (USFS #813) actually stretches all the way to Hoyt Lakes! Do not worry about snowmobile traffic. There are not that many sleds on the trail, and the snowmobiles can be heard a long ways off giving plenty of time to get out of their way. Regardless, the club members are very courteous and will often slow down and chat.
  • Two days ago I made on of my visits and hiked in to one of my trailcams. The cable lock had been frozen, but I was finally able to thaw the lock and collect the simm card. Enjoy watching Mr. Moose at -13F. He was not interested in moving much. (video link for email subscribers)

And some views from my route to the feeders … sometimes sunny, sometimes not.

Red Crossbills gritting up near the Feeders (very happy to see them … have been mainly white-winged crossbills this winter)

Spruce Grouse doing same, in tandem with Common Redpolls

And then the weather changed! Owls Hunting!

Year 11

Here in the Northland we had 3 days of severe cold, with two days hitting -22F (actual, not chill factor) up at my Greenwood Bird Feeders. One day I braved the cold to resupply the feeders, but the second day … not! However yesterday afternoon the wind switched and the mercury soared to +28F, which was a 50 degree temperature swing from the prior morning.

The Great Gray Owls understood it was now balmy on the Arctic Riviera and they started to hunt in the early afternoon. I saw two unique owls, and I heard of many more sightings. Here are some of my favorite images from the afternoon “hunt fest”. I spent over one hour with the owls!

In the video, listen! It is quiet. You can hear a car in the distance, but then silence rules.  Remember Great Gray Owls hunt by sound, not sight (video link for email subscribers)

And the still images. The flight image is one of the instances where the owl dove for its prey.