Tag Archives: MN North: Greenwood Forest Fire Area

Pouring Rain Polka Party Birding!

Year 11,

When it was pouring rain at 6:30 am yesterday morning, what was the correct action for the morning? The obvious answer was to go birding! I decided I didn’t want to be house bound and therefore I drove well north of Two Harbors to cruise back roads. This was a great decision.

First, I was able to listen to the Fun Time Polka Party. Thus, as I drove north my car was filled with polka power music. This was a significant episode because the premier polka king of the Northland, Florian Chmielewski, whose granddaughter hosts this show had unfortunately died this past week. I can remember watching the Chmielewski Fun Time Hour with my parents years ago (news report of the passing of the former musician, state senator and dairy farmer … video link for email subscribers)

After enjoying music and interviews with an icon, I was surprised and dumbfounded when my birding was fantastic. It just shows, when migration is in full force it is ALWAYS a good decision to go birding!

Trumper Swans on Langley River

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Broad-Winged Hawk and its Prey … a Ruffed Grouse

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

Ring-Billed Ducks on Stoney River Forest Road

The Video! (video link for email subscribers)

And from a few days earlier … some Ruffed Grouse seen in the same area. During yesterday’s time with the victorious Broad-Winged Hawk, even though it was raining a grouse was drumming near by. I almost wonder if the hawk was hiding and waiting to see if someone would be attracted by the drumming. During courtship most birds are not very careful. Love is dangerous!

Ice Fog, Bogs and Feeders

Year 11, ,

My goal this morning was to move the Greenwood Bird Feeders. Over the past month there had been very little bird action near the abandoned railroad tracks immediately south of the burn area. I moved the feeders about four miles south near the Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog. Learn more … see images of the new location … get the new GPS Coordinates and see a map.

My trip 60 miles north of Duluth was into the Ice Fog. I took these two pictures on the Langley River Forest Road (built in the 1930’s by the Civilian Conservation Corps)

Finally quite a few people have asked me where the Cook Bog is located. You will never find this “place name” on a map, but here is a description: The Cook Bog is Boreal Forest Bog Habitat east and west of Cook, Minnesota. Some key roads include Hwy #22 going west from US #53, Johnson Road (#48) going east from US #53 just south of Cook, and Mn #73 which is a north / south road a bit west of Cook. Just like in Sax-Zim Bog, these roads will not be 100% Boreal Forest Bog. A person will need to learn Bog forest habitat and focus on those regions. Please understand many other back roads are worth exploring. You will NOT find “Cook Bog” on any map. In general this area is 45 to 60 minutes north of Sax-Zim Bog.

Birding In a World of White

Year 11,

The last two mornings I have visited and hiked in the Greenwood Forest Fire Burn Area (and environs). Yesterday I saw nothing except white, but no birds or mammals. Today was the exact opposite, and wildlife was asking to be captured by my camera!

The most surprising event of the day was when a Red Fox Ran in front of me, but then came back to check me out. Color “red” curious. The fox walked within 8 feet of me, and looked me over. I guess I was boring because after a few moments it sauntered away (not run). I love the fact that I live near enough deep wilderness that mammals and birds are sometimes not scared of me.

And the fox decides to leave the boring human!

<Flash><We interrupt this post for an owl walk!> It is 7:15 pm and about 2.5 hours after sunset. My owls are hooting! (rather common this time of year). I have watched my local Great Horned Owls raise their families for five years … this will be the sixth. The earliest they have ever nested in February 8th. The latest was almost two months later in early April. My belief is the the severity of the winter dictates the nesting date. This winter is so mild I expect nesting to begin early, and maybe mild temperatures will mean triplets.

<Back to the post at 7:40 pm … a 25 minute hike in the dark>

Before I met Mr. Fox, I found this Black-Backed Woodpecker. I never would have found the woodpecker if I had not stopped to listen. My feet crunching on the snow during my hike drowned out the sounds of the woodpeckers. However occasionally I stop to listen, and this male bird was only 10 yards away from me, but in deep cover.

Moving on from the woodpecker pair (yes, I marked the territory of a pair for early this visiting summer), I found this Snowshoe Hare.

I love the “hop sequence of images!”

Finally, I said I was Birding in a World of White. The last two days have seen frozen fog flocked on all the trees. It’s gorgeous!

This definitely fits my January 10th Anniversary Hashtag theme of #365Birds01White