Tag Archives: MN North: Pine Island State Forest

Hiding from Mosquitoes

Year 10,
Oh my … mosquitos. I had to set up the water system yesterday at our cabin 100 miles NW of Duluth. Remember the Off commercial where the person sticks his arm in a container of millions of mosquitoes? I was the before picture. The water level is also super high … highest ever. We are the first lake in the Hudson Bay Watershed. If you are anywhere downstream from us in northern Minnesota or Canada … watch out!
.
Thus, I decided I would get away this morning to a favorite wilderness spot of mine in the Pine Island State Forest near Big Falls, Minnesota (left the cabin at 4:50 am). If I thought the mosquitoes were bad at NorthStar Lake, in the bog area near Toomey-Williams Forest Road the swarm was out in full force. Getting out of the car to bird was a non starter. Even opening the window for a few seconds to take a photograph was dumb. I did see a Black Bear which I believe was running to get away from the nasty bugs.
.
Anyhow a few images from today … first an early morning Thunder Boomer threatened.

I was surprised this American Kestrel let me get so close and did not spook.

While bike riding near Northstar Lake, a pair of loons were fishing in the shallows of Caribou Lake.

Shades of Winter Red!

Year 9

I just spent the past two days near the Canadian border near Big Falls, Minnesota. I knew that many of the back roads I enjoy which are nearer our cabin, would soon be impossible in terms of access due to deep snow. Toomey Williams Forest Road in Pine Island State Forest was just barely drivable with my all-wheel drive. My timing was near perfect and I enjoyed two perfect days of sunny weather in the midst of snow flocked pines before last night’s and this morning’s high winds and extreme cold kicked in. Better yet, I found the sweet spot of migrating winter birds that will remain in our local Boreal Forest for the next few months. The most numerous bird were pine grosbeaks, but there were plenty of Common Redpolls and White-Winged Crossbills to keep this birder happy.

The one specie of bird which I saw nary an individual was the Great Gray Owl. Although I was in prime habitat at the right time of day, the Gray Ghost never appeared. Normally by late October I can count upon the fact that some juveniles are beginning to hunt well into the daylight hours (a bit after sunrise, and before sunset). Our Great Grays are native and year round residents, but an interesting fact is that Hawk Ridge’s raptor banding count for the entire month of October was only 500 birds (hawks and owls). This monthly number is way down compared to the historical average. In addition, none of my friends are seeing any of our northern owls with any kind of frequency … and definitely not at any time other than dawn and dusk. Bummer.

Regardless … shades of Red … Winter Birds!

Pine Grosbeaks

Take-Off

Gritting Up

White-Winged Crossbill

Common Redpoll

Big Fork River (upstream and downstream from one of the Mn Hwy #6 Bridges)

Cabin 2022: It’s a Wrap!

Year 9,

Molly and I just returned from two nights at our small Northwoods cabin not to far south of the Canadian border. Temperatures were forecast to reach the 20’s each night, and I knew that meant it was time to pull the water system out of the lake, and get the boat out of the water. We pump water directly from our lake, NorthStar Lake, which is the first lake of the Hudson Bay Watershed. Yup, it would be possible to canoe downhill all the way from out lake north to the big bay and then the Arctic Ocean. We bring drinking water in portable containers, but Northstar’s clean spring fed H2O is perfect for everything else. Pulling the water system and perfectly draining it is required because water in pipes or the pump freezes … then expands … and then breaks whatever within it is contained. We still visit from this point on, even through the winter months, but the wood stove and outhouse become very important! I was glad to get everything out of the lake by October 1st. The water is getting rather chilly when one has to spend significant time in same. Two mornings ago I took these photographs 15 minutes after sunrise. You can see my view from inside, and then one is looking the other way in the “great room” (Kitchen, Dining, Living Area).

I also had some fun with this image and video! (link for email subscribers … 15 second’s of a wood stove)

Given all my chores that needed to be done, I obviously could not go birding at sunrise. Instead, I took a break around mid day to explore some roads which were new to me. I was surprised to find amazing numbers of Black-Billed Magpies. I think I stumbled upon their southern migration near the western edge of the boreal forest.