Category Archives: Year 9

Stony River Forest Road Bike Ride

Year 9,

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

First Fall Great Gray Owl!

Year 9

It is the time of year when young boys (and old guys like me) get excited. Every Fall Great Gray Owls start hunting after sunrise and nearer the roadside. All summer long the “gray ghost of the forests” are deep in the Bog, and rarely show themselves where humans dare to tread.

The weather forecast was perfect this morning for owling  … dead calm winds and overcast. Thus, long before sunrise I got in the car and drove northward arriving at one of my favorite spots as the sun was rumored to be coming up behind the clouds. When two of my favorite locations yielded me zippo, I changed strategy and Voila!

This Great Gray Owl hated, REALLY HATED noise. After dumping my car and slowly walking towards the owl, I learned walking on dirt / gravel was NOT an action desired by the bird (too noisy). When I moved my small and slow steps to the grassy area off to the side of the road, my presence was tolerated. Remember, these owls hunt using their hearing.

This morning’s Great Gray Owl

Playing Red Light / Green Light with the Great Gray! (none of the images are cropped)

Was convinced I had gotten too close, but nope!

Coyote or Timber Wolf??!

Year 9,

Only its hairdresser knows, but I vote coyote! I did not find any moose this morning up north of Two Harbors, but I did spend some quality time with this canine till another car came and spoiled my fun. The coyote was actually walking right towards. Given we have both timber wolves and coyotes in NE Minnesota, one needs to learn some ID pointers. As noted I am voting “coyote” because of this animal’s more pointed ears and snout. The Western Wildlife Outreach organization has some great information more mammal identification.

Wile E. Coyote

On the home front it has been very blue since early September. According to the official Hawk Ridge count, as of yesterday (October 2nd), they have counted 59,281 Blue Jays! Given I live 1.5 miles from Hawk Ridge, and maintain my feeders year round, it has been rare when I have not had at least four jays in my yard at any one time for the last month, and often quite a few more. From two afternoons ago …