Tag Archives: MN North: Pine Island State Forest

Birding Pine Island State Forest / Fiero Truck Trail

Year 13

If you like to bird Pine Island Forest west of Big Falls, which includes Toomey Williams Forest Road, Pine Island Forest Road and Fiero Truck Trail, this morning 3.5 miles north of Pine Island Road on Fiero Truck Trail there are now “no trespassing signs” on both sides of Fiero Truck Trail posted by the Red Lake Nation starting at Trapper Jim’s Corner (exactly 3.5 miles north of Pine Island Forest Road).

I suspect this is part of the dispute between the Red Lake Nation, the State of Minnesota and the federal government … mainly over Upper Red Lake which is 19 miles distant. Given the new signs, I turned around at Trapper Jim’s Corner, but the road is definitely still open. Continuing north eventually allows a person to exit the wilderness towards Littlefork via County #77, but would be trespassing on posted tribal lands. Thankfully the first 3.5 miles includes the best birding habitat on Fiero Truck Trail. I realize ownership of this land is in dispute. However, given the popularity of this wilderness area, I wanted folks to be informed. I saw zero “no trespassing” signs anywhere else which included Toomey-Williams, Pine Island and the first 3.5 miles of Fiero Truck Trail.

This is the Google Maps Link to Trapper Jim’s Corner

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)

Smoked Moose

Year 12

The smoke continues … The wildfires up in Ontario and Manitoba are sending their smoke down to Minnesota, and the skies are gray. Heck, you can smell the smoke at ground level.

Thus, I give you smoked moose. I saw this grand lady up on Toomey Williams Forest Road two mornings ago. Seeing and photographing the moose was my consolation prize. Only a few minutes before I had a “lifer”.

My lifer … As I drove along this remote forest road, I saw what I thought was a clump of dirt. No!!!!! There was a timber wolf cub / pup cuddled up and sleeping or keeping warm at sunrise (it was 37F outside). I did not recognize it as a mammal first, and unfortunately flushed the little guy. The young wolf ran across the road only ten yards in front of me and disappeared into the forest. Amazing sight!

Here is the moose.