It is always nice when plans work! I put up a trailcam only a few days ago along US Forest Road #813 (do not drive … ignore Google Maps, or you will get stuck) near a pond. The trailcam has already photographed Mr. Moose (wet from munching on water plants in a nearby pond)! Location of bird feeders … next to Lake County #2 (includes hiking information).
As a fyi, I had seen both Moose and Lynx tracks prior to putting up the trailcam. Best probability at seeing mammals will always be very close to sunrise or sunset.
The birdfeeders are now a “public place” on Google Maps (just off Lake Cty. 2 south of Greenwood Lake). Assuming I am able to convince Google that I am the owner of said feeders, I will add updates for the public page.
I pointed a trailcam at the feeders for about two days. Two videos are given below. This morning I shifted the trailcam about one mile to the actual bog area where I have seen Lynx and Moose tracks.
If you wish to drive closer to the Bog, I removed a huge tree which was blocking US Forest Road #813. Assuming you have an all wheel or 4 Wheel Drive vehicle, drive very slowly for 6/10 of a mile. Park at the rock pile. Do NOT drive beyond this point as the road gets bad fast with wet spots that even a 4-Wheel drive vehicle might not like. From the parking spot the bog is only a few hundred yards (a one mile hike from the bird feeders next to Lake County #2)
If you need a bathroom, there is a US Forest Service Outhouse in very good condition at the White Pine Picnic Area (normally also very clean), which is 5.5 miles south of the bird feeders via Lake County #2.
Canada Jay seen and photographed a few days ago on Stony River Forest Road, which is near the Greenwood Creek Bog.
Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog Bird Feeder TrailCam Videos (video one and two links for email subscribers)
I have spent the early hours of the last three mornings well north of Two Harbors in the Superior National Forest both on Stoney River Forest Road and the Greenwood Bog in addition to other places. The birds are returning to the northern forests, even some of the bug eaters (normally the latest migrants). I have commented about Stoney River Forest Road, but briefly the road was used for a fire block when the Greenwood Forest Fire was expanding three years ago. The west side of the road is now a meadow or bog loved by wildlife.
You will NOT find the southern end of this 19 mile long logging road on Google Maps, but this blog post of mine has GPS coordinates. Better yet when snow is not on the ground, this is a road easily driven by two wheel drive vehicles. All I know is over three mornings I saw a number of owls, a huge selections of hawks, and spruce grouse. This road about 35 minutes north of Two Harbors is worth birding. In all three excursions, I saw 2 cars on Sunday, but then nary a vehicle the next two days. Peace and serenity reigns on this road.
A few images from the past few days. The Rose-Breasted Grosbeaks have been visiting my yard in huge numbers. Everything else is up in the Superior National Forest.
Stoney River Road Spruce Grouse (video link for email subscribers)
