When a south wind was blowing warmly, I knew I had to enjoy one of the last mild afternoon in Northwoods. I drove up to Stony River Forest Road, and parked eight miles in along a the dirt road … and biked from that point. The colors and birding were great. I decided to take photographs and videos to better demonstrate how the firebreak constructed for last year’s Greenwood Forest Fire has helped nature’s rebirth. One now finds a 20 mile long 100 / 125 yard never ending meadow / bog next to the road … and wildlife loves it!
The Starting Location for my Ride (8 miles from the nearest paved road)
Two Short Videos … my ride (video links for email subscribers: one | two)
A Spruce Grouse with whom I had a stare-down!
While driving home, I always swing through Two Harbor’s Lakeview Cemetery. One will often find migrating geese and songbirds. In addition to lots of Canada Geese, I found four Cackling Geese and one Snow Goose yesterday. Both bird species had been pushed west off their normal migration paths by strong winds. Here is a breeding map from Cornell for Snow Geese which I further annotated to also include the Cackling Goose. As you may see, the recent goose migration arrivals come from the Arctic Ocean.
Cackling Goose (not a Canada Goose … much smaller and a different physique)
Snow Goose
20 or so years ago I was biking to the end of the road in fall and it started to rain. I was prepared. Then I found out why it got it’s name. As you know there are many rocks, with the rain there were more and more small rivers of water especially on the hills. This was a very nice place to ride then. Not shure it’s the same now. I’ve got a subaru also. Lots of birds moving through the TC area now, white throats, juncos, kinglets on the north wind.
With bigger tires (fat tires not necessary), it was a fun spot to ride. For the Subaru, while the entire 20 miles are nice, the southern first ten miles gives a nice drive with a bit more boreal bog.
Thanks for your videos! We will definitely try the Stony River Road and Two Harbors cemetery when we are up north in a week. Those geese were a long way from home.
Also check the golf course in Two Harbors, the RV Campground and the dirt road along the waterfront near the old steam engines. The birds move around and use areas with fewer humans. When the campground and golf course shut down for the season, their birding improves.