Tag Archives: MN North: Cook Bog

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 the Cook Bog

Year 11

What a difference a day makes! Yesterday and the day before I went birding in the Cook, Minnesota Bog. This Boreal Forest Bog has many things going for it that I like. Unlike Sax-Zim Bog which is much more popular, and may have more birds, the Cook Bog has zero people. I enjoy the private birding experiences, but means that birding requires using your own skills. Sometimes you see birds; sometimes you do not. Over the course of two days I never saw another birder, and only a few cars from locals.

Two days ago it was cloudy, dismal and dark as evidenced by this Northern Hawk Owl photograph.

However, yesterday the sun shone bright for the first time in over a week. Thankfully after searching for over an hour, I spied he Northern Hawk Owl, and eventually the bird came close to my access point.

It was also fun to watch a pair of Gray Jays / Canada Jays. These jays, like the owls nest before the winter is over. I was actually surprised the Gray Jays did not mind the owl being within two hundreds yards. I have seen instances of Northern Hawk Owls attacking these jays in the past.

Northern Hawk Owl a Hunting!

Year 11

My middle child came to visit this weekend, and this provided me the opportunity to take an extended birding excursion yesterday morning as he would be there for Molly. While everyone else seems to head to Sax-Zim Bog these days, I decided to trust in my own birding skills and avoid the crowds by going elsewhere. About 45 minutes after sunup I struck gold! I found a Northern Hawk Owl well north of Duluth.  Although it was -22F (not windchill, but actual temperature), I spent almost 75 minutes with the owl as it hunted less than 15 yards from where I was standing. You will see by watching the video (video link for email subscribers) the owl barely acknowledged my presence.

And some still images plus Northern Hawk Owl impact points … where prey met their demise.