Tag Archives: MN North: Greenwood Creek Bog

Northeastern Minnesota Forest Fire Update

The fires have now grown to 30,000 acres. There is hope that rains will arrive late this afternoon and evening. Here is the official site to obtain the most current fire information. The forest fire is now named the Brimson Complex Fire, which manages these two large fires (Camp House and Jenkins Creek Fires).

This fire is 0% contained, and complicated by almost no forest roads through the affected area, and the native spruce bud worm caterpillar which has resulted in large stands of dead spruce trees (the insect defolliates and kills the trees). The dead trees are perfect fuel for the fires. At this time most of the fire fighting efforts are focused towards saving structures.

Many friends from church are helping to fight the fires (thanks and prayers). Molly made 4 dozen cookies for distribution to the fire fighters … as did many other church members at French River Lutheran. If you wish to help out, join Molly and me by donating to the combined United Ways of Lake and St. Louis Counties. 100% of your financial donation goes to those affected by the fire, not overhead or administrative expense. Send or direct your donation to the Wildfire Relief Fund of the Head of the Lakes United Way.

The Greenwood area is now officially closed by the forest service. Do not visit the feeders or hike the trails. Here is an affected area map from the U.S. Forest Service.

Greenwood Creek Boreal Bog Canada Lynx

Oh my … was my heart thumping after seeing this Canada Lynx early this morning!!! This was no where near the bird feeders. I was hiking deep within the Boreal forest when I came over a rise, and realized a lynx was inspecting something on the ground only 50 yards in front of me. Thankfully I was wearing camouflage and came to a full stop before the lynx looked up. In addition the sun was partially behind me, and the strong breeze was at the big cat’s back (i.e. it could not smell me). The cat finally looked up and started walking right towards me! Upon seeing me, it dropped down to the ground an gave me a loooong stare for over a minute.

Lynx are an endangered species in northern Minnesota. The Superior National Forest estimates there are only 136 of these beautiful creatures in northeastern Minnesota. Thankfully the population seems to be increasing (read more on the the Superior National Forest’s Lynx web page.

Actually, due my trailcam sightings I have known for over one year there were lynx in the the area, but I had never seen one with my own eyes. That fact changed this morning!!!

Superior National Forest Canada Lynx

The lynx and I had a “stare down” once the big cat realized I was in front of it on the trail. Note its HUGE paws which are optimized for running across northern Minnesota’s deep snow as it preys upon snowshoe hare.

Migration Madness!

The birds are migrating! The birds are migrating!

A few days ago I had a most excellent time in the rain at Forest Hill Cemetery. During migration damp and foggy conditions will often bring warblers down to the ground (rather than high up in the trees). Such was the case in the drizzle, but with calm winds. The warblers still congregated at the north end of the first pond at the cemetery. This area was the most protected, and for over a half hour I had Yellow-Rumped and Palm Warblers within just a few feet of me. It was fun.

A few birds from that fun time in the rain …

Palm Warblers


Brown Creeper


Yellow-Rumped Warbler


Once the weather cleared over the past three days I have seen an amazing number of Broad-Winged Hawks. These smaller hawks set up on the side of the roads and hunt for both songbirds and small mammals. This morning it seemed like these raptors were wherever I looked on Lake County Two between Two Harbors and my Greenwood Feeders.

Broad-Winged Hawks a Hunting!


Finally I apologize for the falloff in terms of post frequency. Some of you know that I am re-battling Prostate Cancer. Tomorrow will be my 20th radiation treatment (out of 40 planned). Thankfully the prognosis is excellent, but the treatments and medication tires me out. Essentia Health was very cooperative in terms of scheduling my appointments in the early afternoon. They understand part of the treatment/healing process is to continue doing the things a person loves … for me birding. Thus, a typical days sees me head out for the boreal forest around 6:45 am, and get back late morning …  then on to my daily radiation treatment. Unfortunately I have experienced some radiation side effects which my medical team has helped me battle through. However, by later in the afternoon I tend to be tired and thus blogging frequency has suffered. Sorry.