Red Wing Nature Notes

This past week, I had the wonderful experience of being inspired for the second time in ten days.  The occasion was a six day canoeing/camping trip into the BWCA with Tony and Marc Vogel and Jim Isensee who just happens to be 85 years young.  After all, how many people of this age do you know that enjoy, much less are capable of paddling, portaging and getting up off the ground following a restful night of sleep?

Our destination was Pine Lake at the end of the Arrowhead Trail up from Hovland.  It was a most enjoyable week of beautiful weather and a minimum number of black flies and mosquitoes.  Without a doubt, one of the highlights of our week in the north woods was observing the annual spring courtship behavior of the Minnesota state bird, the common loon.  Their mournful and melodic calls especially in the early mornings and late evenings were enjoyable, memorable and at times spiritual.

Our intended fishing target was lake trout and the results were disappointing.  It seems that with the early ice out and warm weather, the trout were already in deep water instead of near the surface.  Fortunately, the smallmouth bass were more accommodating.

This past Friday morning for a little diversion, we decided to hike the mile long portage trail from Pine to West Pike Lake.  This trail intersects the 65 mile long Border Route Trail that crosses the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.  It was the first long distance, wilderness backpacking and hiking trail established in Minnesota.  It connects the Superior Hiking Trail on the east with the Kekekabic Trail on the west.

On our hike, we observed fresh timber wolf tracks in some soft mud near the trail.  There was also an abundance of Princess Pine sometimes known as Ground Pine or Round branched Club moss  This 8 to 10 inch tall plant has small branch tips that resemble a wolf paw hence it’s scientific name Lycopodium.  Lyco is greek for wolf and pod for paw.

The only live wildlife we encountered on our hike was a ruffed grouse and a couple pine squirrels.  Pine squirrels have a reputation of being a big nuisance around the campsites by stealing food and getting into packs.  I vividly remember an ELC trip to the canoe country many years ago when a pine squirrel chewed a hole in the top of a Duluth pack and promptly consumed a half loaf of bread belonging to one of the participants.

Some other common foliage along the trail were the leaves of the Large Leaved Asters.  These wildflowers bloom in the fall with a white blossom.  On more than one ELC trip to the BWCA,  the leaves of this plant have served as an excellent emergency source of toilet paper for an unprepared camper.

As we neared a swampy area near West Pike Lake, we noticed that the Marsh Marigolds were in full bloom.  Sometimes in this country, the first small green leaves of this wildflower can be seen cradled in the last crystals of snow. As you might recall from my post of April 16th, the Marsh Marigolds were in full bloom along the Cannon Valley Trail.

On our return hike to Pine Lake, we took time to inspect the white flowers of the June berry shrub.  They do well in full sunlight and produce edible and tasty fruits (berries) by the end of June.  More than once on ELC kayak trips to the canoe country, we would use a Dutch oven to prepare a delicious June berry cobbler.  This shrub is also known as Serviceberry because it starts to bloom in mid-April when long delayed religious services were held throughout 19th century New England, as snow covered roads became accessible again.  But not everyone was religious, and others would just as soon go fishing, especially when the first run of shad migrated upstream from the ocean, heralded by the blooming of the shadbush.

To conclude this post, I would like to report my first sighting of Canada geese goslings on May 16th on Frontenac pond in Frontenac State Park.

This morning Friday May 14th, I had the very pleasant experience to hike up Barn Bluff with two of my former ELC. participants Keri O’Rourke Marty and Lisa Marty.  After several days of cloudy rainy weather, we had a near perfect day to explore a wonderful area right in the heart of Red Wing.  Not only did we take time to reminisce of memorable ELC. adventures from many years ago, but we had the opportunity to observe a variety of interesting birds and colorful spring flora. 

Our hike began on the secluded trail that travels through the wooded north side of the bluff.  Upon reaching the west end, we climbed to the top and took a rest break feasting our eyes on the beautiful scenic view from an elevation of 1000 feet above sea level.

Before heading back to the parking lot, we traversed the top of the entire bluff.  It was on this section of our hike that we experienced the highlight of the day.  Travelling along the same summit trail was an elderly couple from Red Wing who informed us that they have a goal of climbing the bluff at least once a year and today was their day.  They went on to say that she was 87 and he was 90 years of age!  What an inspirational moment that was for all three of us.

Some of the colorful flora we observed on our hiked included the yellow forget-me-not, many ferns and the seed heads from the pasque flowers and oyster plants.

On a different subject, this has been a very exciting and active week for observing colorful birds at our feeders.  The grape jelly feeder has been a great attractant for orioles and catbirds while the thistle feeder has been visited by goldfinches.

Cardinals and rose breasted grosbeaks have been enjoying our sunflower seeds.  May 14th was the first day we observed ruby-throated hummingbirds and grosbeaks.  The only downside of our feeding activity is that every evening I have to bring our feeders inside because of very persistent raccoons in the neighborhood.

My local outdoor adventures since the last nature notes post of April 25th have involved time on the trout stream and hunting for morel mushrooms. 

Common spring flowers that I encountered along the stream included the yellow marsh marigolds, blue phlox and several large patches of may apples which are sometimes known as mandrakes.  The nodding, waxy 6 to 9 petaled white flowers have already bloomed and the unripened fruit is visible in one of my photos.  The lemon flavored fruit eventually ripens later in the season and is very edible.  All other parts of this plant are toxic.

On a couple different occasions, I had a muskrat swim right up close to me as I was standing motionless in the water.  On trout streams, muskrats live in bank dens and frequently travel up and down the stream in search of fresh greens to eat.

I also mentioned last time that because of the warm weather in April, the morel season had started much earlier than normal.  Prior to the .6″ of rain last weekend, the mushrooms were in short supply as the forest was extremely dry.  My three outings to the woods since that rain in search of the elusive morels have yielded many interesting things besides mushrooms. 

My first discovery was a deer shed from this past winter.  Buck whitetails drop their antlers every winter after the mating season.  It is quite common that these fallen antlers are gnawed upon by rodents like squirrels and field mice as a source of calcium in their diet.  As an excuse to go for a spring hike, I have hunted for sheds many times and usually come home empty handed.  In this case, I practically tripped over the shed within five minutes of leaving my car.  This morning I called Bushel and Peck just outside of Lake City and learned that since the weekend rain, many morels have been brought in to be sold.  Incidentally, the sale price for a pound of morels is 25 dollars.  I have always felt that hunting morels is too much work to turn around and sell the harvest.  I would much rather give a few away to someone who appreciates the gift.

Wild flowers encountered on my morel quest included the beautifully colored columbine and jack in the pulpit.  I even came across two stinkhorns which have a very slight resemblance to morels.  Stinkhorns are amazing mushrooms and are known for popping up suddenly in urban landscapes.  They also possess a foul smelling slime that covers part of the fruiting body of the mushroom.

To conclude this post I will report that we observed our first Baltimore oriole of the spring last Friday April 30th.  In addition, I have included a photo of a pair of Canada geese that were out for a morning swim and feeding session.  I watched the female leave the nearby nest for a very short period of time.  The young goslings should be hatching by mid-May.  Any nature notes readers can report their first sightings of goslings by making a comment on this site.