White Fang, A Northwoods White Wolf

Year 13

I remember as a boy being fascinated while reading Jack London’s, Call of the Wild and White Fang (published 1906). These two books were often marketed within one single hardbound book, and that is in fact how I was introduced to the Northwoods. Now years later, after just turning 70 years old I like to think a timber wolf which I have named “White Fang” lives in the Greenwood Creek Forest and Bog. Actually, I know that a white wolf lives in Greenwood! Ever since last summer I have been catching glimpses of the wolf via my trailcams. White Fang decided to put in an appearance at the Canada Lynx’s Scent Bush (see recent post with video).

White Fang – The Movie! (video link for blog email subscribers)

If you have read the book, White Fang, you may remember the wolves battle a “she lynx”, A Canada Lynx female protecting her young. If not, perhaps you would like to read Jack London’s Book? If is on 99 cents for the Kindle version via Amazon.

In closing … White Fang, one of the Greenwood Lynx and the Jack London 1906 Cover Art.

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Do You Know your Oropendolas!

Year 13

What the heck is an Oropendola?!  A very large bird … raven sized that you might see in Costa Rica. In addition, my thanks to Janet, a faithful reader of this site who contacted me to point out I had my Oropendolas mixed up in my Bird Colony in the Sky post!  Given our 2nd winter storm in three days up here in northern Minnesota, its seemed a good time to correct my posts from “a warmer world”!

Here are the two types of Oropendolas

The real Chestnut-Headed Oropendola

My mis ID’d Montezuma Oropendola (now correct)

One thing that is fun about visiting Costa Rica is there are SO MANY bird species. It’s amazing I don’t make more mistakes. For instance … here are a lot of green birds, that look very similar. Their sizes are not too different, and the birds tend to use the same habitat. I actually saw all three of these parrots/parakeets within 100 yards of each other in the same Dry Creek Bed Habitat (read prior post about the habitat)

Orange-Chinned Parakeet

Orange-Fronted Parakeet

White-Fronted Amazon Parrot

One final aside, did you know you may actually find monk parakeets … flocks of escapees living as far north year round in the Chicago area? Uff Dah! Perhaps someday I will photograph a parakeet and Snowy Owl at the same time here on the Arctic Riviera? I think not.

Snowy Owls in April?!

Year 13

Our nickname as the “Arctic Riviera” for the Duluth / Superior area makes great sense if you consider:

  • I saw not one, but two Snowy Owls yesterday (no April Fool’s Joke)
  • A winter storm is taking hold of our region today (April 2nd)

Given the weather yesterday evening was truly “dreich” (my new favorite best word courtesy of my Scottish blogging friend, Brian Scott and his blog: Scozmo’s Photery,) both owls were definitely NOT enjoying the 30 mph winds off Lake Superior.  However, today is worse with snow and increased winds thrown into the equation. Anyhow … April Snowys!

It should be obvious, I have returned from Costa Rica. LOL!

April Snowy Owls

Windblown … the Movie (video link for blog email subscribers)