Tag Archives: MN North: Greenwood Creek Bog

Mr. Moose Smells Me! Busted! (video)

Year 13

I placed a new trailcam at this location deep in the wilderness 24 hours before this video was taken. Via my first camera I had noticed a Canada Lynx using the log in the photos and video as scent post. Thus, I decided to place a second camera much closer to the downed tree.

When the Bull Moose walked by the following morning it immediately stopped for three minutes. While moose have horrible eyesight, their sense of smell and hearing is fantastic. Mr. Moose could tell a human had been present (i.e. me … 24 hours previously), and he was being very careful. This is one of the reasons I like a “headwind” when I hike. I tend to see more wildlife because animals can not smell or hear me. As a fyi, I had often noticed that moose walk up to within inches of my cameras.

Bull Moose Smells me in Sand Lake / 7 Beavers (Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog)

The second image and video were taken 3 minutes after the first image. My trailcam settings are set to take a photograph immediately upon sensing movement, and then start a 30 second video right after taking the image. The process continues assuming the motion sensor continues to get triggered.

The Movie! (video link for blog email subscribers)

Greenwood Creek Nature Conservancy Wilderness by Drone

Year 13

Yesterday , in addition to taking a “drone tour” of the Langley River, I continued the 12 additional miles inland from Lake Superior via Lake County 2 / US Forest Road #15 to the Greenwood Creek boreal forest and bog. Only a few hundred yards from the creek crossing on Hwy 2 are the public bird feeders I maintain year round. While I love hiking USFS #813, I have wanted to explore in more depth Greenwood Creek. The region is part of the much larger Nature Conservancy Sand Lake / 7 Beavers Wilderness Area.

It was a special morning … bright sun with minimal wind but only 35F shortly after sunrise on June 19th! Here are a few still images of Greenwood Creek followed by the tour by drone (note: I never use my drone for wildlife photography)

And of course, this would not be a “birding blog” if I did not post some bird images. This Broad-Winged Hawk was hunting not to far from the creek. I assume it has newly hatched young in its nest. Thus, the hawk is a busy predator.

The Birding Photography Snob!

Year 13, ,

Quoting myself from back in 2018: (read prior post)

In 1964 when I was eight years old my parents gave me my first birding books, National Geographic’s “Song and Garden Birds of North America” and “Water, Prey and Game Birds of North America”. Over the years with moves to college, a wedding and our first home, and now our return to Duluth, these two books have remained with me through every move (most books have not survived). I know that based upon what I saw in those books, my love of certain birds (and not others) were shaped … While others try to pad birding lists, I swoon over certain birds and ignore others!

The American Redstart was one of those swoonable birds. I had a deep desire to see this pretty little reddish orange and black warbler. Back in 1990 Molly and I purchased a small Minnesota cabin which is close to the Canadian border. It took a few years after that purchase till I realized our land was swarming with Redstarts starting each year with the last week of May. Here are just two images I took yesterday afternoon of one of my “snob birds”? Do you have a snob bird?

And the cover image of “the” book!

Actually the last few days have been most excellent, and not just for my “snob birds”. Over the past few days I have seen eight moose! These poor Moose family wanted nothing to do with me. I definitely pulled my car over and let the moose family run away from me. The calves look very young.

My local loons of Northstar Lake are getting ready to nest near my cabin, and yesterday morning I spent quality time by kayak with the lovely couple. Contrast my local loons nesting on or about June 1st, but down in the Twin Cities loon chicks are already hatching. Northstar Lake is 200 miles north of the northern Twin Cities and a dramatic difference in habitat.

Finally, Toomey-Williams Forest Road near Big Falls finally opened after a long winter and very wet spring. The raptors are busy setting up housekeeping and hunting (Broad-Winged Hawk)