Today should have been a great birding day, but it wasn’t! I was hoping and expecting to see Great Gray Owls in the Pine Island State Forest wilderness west of Big Falls, Minnesota. The wind was dead calm … the skies were overcast and dark … it is mid November (i.e. owls start hunting meadow voles).  Even when the owls did not appear, Toomey-Williams Forest Road always provides excitement, except when it doesn’t.

Oh well, last week I had a great time birding just north of Tucson. I always enjoy seeing the “metallic blue cardinal” which is otherwise known as a male Phainopepla.

Tomorrow I will give Toomey-Williams one more try. The sun is even supposed to make an appearance in the morning. Thankfully all was not lost today. I am at our small Northwoods cabin which is actually shut down for the season (read … no running water or heat except for the wood stove). After supper I really wanted a treat and discovered a 10 year old container of Jiffy Pop. All the other food had been taken home for the winter. The Jiffy Pop popped. “It’s as fun to make as it is to eat! Jiffy Pop”. (Jiffy Pop TV commercial from 1980 … email subscriber link)

Although I had a great Northern Lights distraction my first night up at my cabin, my goal for the three day stay was to bird and enjoy the wilderness west of Big Falls, Minnesota via Toomey Williams Forest Road. Tuesday and Wednesday saw me arrive at Toomey before dawn, and I was rewarded for my efforts. In addition I enjoyed peace and solitude … hours and hours including many hikes in the deep forest … never seeing another person or evidence of humanity (such as a cabin, shed, etc).

Mr. Moose! Apparently I do NOT know how to make a very good Cow Moose call. After watching Bullwinkle for five minutes after sunrise on Wednesday, I tried to make my best cow moose call. Apparently that effort was extremely poor! Rather than coming out of the thicket and walking towards me, the moose looked towards me and then hurried off! LOL. Regardless, I was only 35 yards from this huge creature!

After my time with Bullwinkle, the Spruce Grouse decided it was warm enough to come out and eat. The temperature when I arrive at Toomey each morning was in the mid 20’s. In the first few images you will see why these grouse have the word “spruce” as part of their name. This bird was eating spruce buds.

In this second sequence a pair of Spruce Grouse were eating seeds on the side of the road. They allowed me to walk within about 15 yards.

My other “hangout” is always a beaver pond that I found about one year ago. The beavers have dammed up a small creek and wildlife absolutely love the result.

White-Winged Crossbills (love to grit up on the dirt road next to the pond … have seen them four times in a row at the beaver pond)

My other treat was a Belted Kingfisher which was hanging around the Northwoods rather late this year. It also loves the beaver pond, and this bird allowed me to get within 15 yards and watch for 20 minutes during its search for breakfast. Please understand kingfishers spook so very easily; thus I was thrilled with my access.

I know many folks follow this blog because I often bird and report about Sax-Zim Bog. Toomey Williams makes Sax-Zim look like a big city, and Toomey’s habitat is wunderbar.