Tag Archives: MN North: Greenwood Creek Bog

Enjoy Northeastern Minnesota’s Ice Palace!

Year 13

It is 100% required if you live in Northeastern Minnesota to enjoy our Ice Palace. Unlike the Twin Cities versions, ours is totally created by Mother Nature! Drive inland from Two Harbors via Lake County 2 (Forest Road #15), and after about 20 miles the world will be transformed. The damp Christmas weather including wet snow has transformed the forest. It’s is now flocked and iced … deciduous and pines trees alike. Stop off at the Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders, which is where I photographed this Blue Jay. The parking area is perfectly plowed, and if you have a warm enough day … enjoy a hike along the snowmobile trail (Forest Road #813). Although snowmobile traffic is very rare, make certain you do not block the trail when parking your car. Check the forecast in advance and visit on a sunny day. You will fall in love with the region. Yesterday I saw two different foxes hunting the roadside within a couple of hundred yards of the birdfeeders. I normally turn around at Sand River. Do NOT walk on Sand River. Although the overnight lows have been way below zero, the current makes for thin ice in spots.

Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders Blue Jay

Langley River Frostscape

Polka Power Bull Moose

Year 12,

I normally never listen to music or the radio while out birding, as I find it distracts me from finding my feathered friends, but on Saturday mornings I make an exception … because on KDAL Radio out of Duluth starting at 6 am for two hours, it’s the FunTime Polka Party! Imagine if you may this scenario … streaking through the pre-dawn darkness in your car while Hoop Dee Doo from Frankie Yankovic fills the Northland’s frigid winter stillness (video link for blog subscribers). One may also listen online.

Such was the case the last two Saturdays including when I saw this young bull moose in Sax-Zim Bog about 1/2 mile east of the highway 7 / 133 intersection on 133 … foraging south of the road in the recently logged area. Towards sunset yesterday evening I good friend of mine saw the moose in the same region.

The young bull moose (antlers already broken off)

And if you want the full, immersive experience, I pulled over in my car while on the way up to Greenwood one week ago … Polka Power Birding (and Moosing)(video link for blog email subscribers)

 

Greenwood Creek YouTube Channel at Sand Lake / Seven Beavers

Year 12,

Thursday evening Molly and I will attend a small reception given by The Nature Conservancy celebrating their recent land purchase of over 10,000 acres which has dramatically expanded their Northeastern Minnesota initiative, Sand Lake / Seven Beavers Preserve. As many of you know, I am the individual who most likely spends the most time hiking in their wilderness preserve, and provides the Greenwood Creek Bird Feeders for everyone’s enjoyment.

I recently created a YouTube Channel with a primary focus upon the Greenwood Creek Boreal Forest Bog in the Sand Lake / Seven Beaver’s Preserve. My goal was to have the channel finished before the The Nature Conservancy’s reception.

Please browse to my new channel and consider subscribing!

The channel is 100% non commercial and will feature the nature and wildlife of Greenwood. In the preserve I have remote birdsong listening stations, trailcams and bird feeders. A small trailhead parking area may be found 1/2 mile south of Greenwood Creek on Lake County Highway #2, which is also where the birdfeeders are located.

Learn more via this channel’s web links:

And that special night when Lady Aurora danced over Greenwood! (video link for email subscribers)