Attack of the Peanut Butter Snatchers!

Year 11
I have served as a volunteer for 10+ years at Sax-Zim Bog, but I have never seen the famous Admiral Road Pine Martens. I just don’t have the patience to sit and wait at the feeders for their appearance. A few weeks back I decided it was time to rectify that omission. With my trusty Jif Peanut Butter in tow, I drove up to the Bog from my Duluth home. As instructed I smeared peanut butter all over the branches and logs. NOOOOOO! I was foiled by the Attack of the Peanut Butter Snatchers. I am still zero for ten years.
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Note: Although Pine Martens LOVE peanut butter, so do Gray / Canada Jays and Chickadees.

Snow! Great Gray Owl!

Year 11

It finally snowed Friday night, and then yesterday morning I found a Great Gray Owl which auditioned for the role as next season’s “Christmas Star” at the top of the tree. Should I hire the owl?

When it heard the position was already taken by “an angel”, it got upset and left!

I was actually up in Sax-Zim Bog, but not on one of the two most popular roads (Admiral and McDavitt). Instead I enjoyed a private experience with the owls. In fact, the second owl I watched let me know I did NOT belong. LOL!! (see the sign … on a gate somewhere in the Bog one should NOT go through)

The day’s excursion was also nice given my 10th Anniversary Theme for January, #365Birds01White. Snow Flocked Trees (and signs).

Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders (Superior National Forest)

Year 11
Public Bird Feeders and Hike … US Forest Service Road #813
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Here are GPS coordinates for the feeders: 47.493583, -91.654306
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The feeders are just off Lake County #2 and within 20 yards of the parking area. In the winter the US Forest Service often plows this small parking area directly. Be careful NOT to block the snowmobile trail. Google Maps notes this Road as National Forest Road #813. Do NOT drive past the parking area. You will encounter wetlands within 1/2 mile of the parking area which would be difficult even for a 4 Wheel Drive Truck ..

When snow is not on the ground, there is an excellent two mile round trip hike from the feeders next to Lake County #2 to the Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog. It is an easy hike with little to no elevation change.

  • Greenwood Creek Hike Boreal Forest Bog and map: While the Sand River area north to Hwy 1 used to one of the best locations to find Spruce Grouse, the Greenwood Creek Bog area is now grouse central. I have seen upwards of 20 spruce grouse at one time in this area, but normally right after sunrise in the Fall. The hiking distance to the bog is only 3/4 of a mile along Forest Road #813. I generally hike past the bog till I reach Greenwood Creek. Without tall boots a person is not able to cross the stream.  Only 10 yards off Lake County 2 you will find a small parking area if you wish to take this hike (also the location of the public bird feeders).
  • Learn more about birding the Greenwood Area

Here is a map giving time and distance from the Kwik Trip in Two Harbors. As Lake Country Highway #2 tends to often be snow covered in the winter, assume it might take longer than noted to reach the feeders (34.1 miles). Google Maps refers to the parking area as the start of Forest Road #813. If you stop to bird along Lake County Hwy #2, pull way over. Logging tracks are common on this road.