It’s been a fun start to the winter season. I guess the official start of winter hasn’t arrived yet, but we have been living it for weeks in the Northland. It’s here. I’ll share some recent photos of some lynx, grouse and even a moose and a snowshoe hare. You may still have a little time to order up a calendar for a Holiday Christmas gift, so I’ll include the link here. Thank you for all the orders this year.
A cow moose with a healthy looking winter coatMrs. Moose looking out from a logging area. Note the yellow USFS “Payment Unit” sign on the tree. This marks a logging boundary. Moose love the young, new browse that comes up in these logged areas. It’s a favorite hangout for the moose. Peek-a-boo The moose can almost disappear when it wants too!
The Canada lynx has been cooperative for pictures already this season. I really only see these cats with any regularity in months with snow on the ground. They favor the snowshoe hare, and I have found them hunting for their hare on roadways quite often. I think the long view and room to maneuver make roadways a favorable hunting terrain for the lynx. I was fortunate to encounter a lynx recently. It was fun to watch it stalk red squirrels and rest along the forest edge. It was quite curious and afforded me a few fun photos.
A Canada Lynx watches the forest for movement. Always on the hunt for snowshoe hare and red squirrel. Lynx Tracks in Superior National Forest – MinnesotaThe track of the Canada LynxThe snowshoe hare in winter camo mode. The hare is the primary food source of the Canada lynx. December 2022Canada Lynx – December 2022Relaxing under a pine, yet always alert and listening…The PAWS and the strides of the slinky Canada Lynx – Minnesota !A Canada lynx in late summer coat for comparison. An August coat on a Canada lynx. A noticeable difference between the seasons. Relaxing after a morning meal. I’ve noticed on more than one occasion that the lynx will lie down and take it easy for a while right after eating. Probably saving up for the next chase. A group of spruce grouse on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness – The lynx may occasionally dine on grouse in winter. Sneaking through Superior National Forest – Note the giant back paw! The eyes are always watching.
Thank you all for taking a look! You can order prints and browse more photos on my site at this link. Have a great Christmas and Holiday Season and we’ll chat again soon! Tom
Fat tires on the back roads of Cook County, Minnesota 🌲
Late fall has suddenly turned to winter in the Northland. It has certainly made for some fun photography. I have a lot of photos to share in this post. I had a couple of fun moose encounters before all the snow arrived. They cooperated well for photos! Areas of the North Shore and the forest have anywhere from 8 or 10 inches of snow to 24 inches plus! I’ve got some fun grouse photos included with all the snowy landscape pictures. Thank you to everyone who has ordered my 2023 North Shore Calendar! I really appreciate it. I’m very happy with how they look this year. If you’d like to take a look, follow this link. Calendar! I’ll be pretty short on words in this post, just wanted to share all the recent photos. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
The Temperance River with the first winter coat of whiteDawn breaking on a river in Superior National Forest – MinnesotaThe freshly flocked forest of northeastern Minnesota’s Superior National Forest River rapids and a flocked forestTemperance River along the Superior Hiking TrailTucked in for the winter in Superior National Forest
Before the snow blanketed the landscape, I was still seeing a few moose around. The first part of November is typically when I stop seeing moose with any regularity until spring thaw. Mating season has long passed and the moose just don’t seem to wander around as much in winter, so they get harder to spot. Most of their watering holes are frozen, so they probably stay put when they find what they need in winter. That’s OK, winter brings so many other opportunities for wildlife sightings and the added feature of winter tracks, which is a huge aid in finding and photographing any critter in the wild. Anyhow, here are a few photos of a beautiful cow moose with her young from last season.
Mama moose surveys the scene while her little one feeds along the river edgeCow moose heading for the buffetA morning moment for this pairI think I’ve been spotted Swampside breakfastA little swamp vegetation makes a fine morning repast
I’ve got a couple of ruffed grouse living nearby, and they visit my big tree often. I was surprised to notice the cool heart pattern on the back of one one day. Take a look! Perfect little hearts. A friend told me they also look like little barn owl faces! Ain’t nature fun?
Patterns in nature – note the almost perfect little hearts My neighborhood ruffed grouseOl ruff – cleaning up under the feedersThe gorgeous ruffed grouse in snowSpruce grouse tracks in the snow. This one was doing a display for another grouse in which it’s wings are out and were dragging in the snow a little on either side.
So many new opportunities for photography with the changing landscape. If you can find a way to tolerate the snow, ice, wind, freezing temps and bad roads, winter can be one of if not THE best season for photography. Looks like we could be in for a long one!
Driving in the tall pines of Cook County – Minnesota = Superior National ForestWho doesn’t love a fall color drive on the 600 Road?Muskrat on the thin ice of Fourmile LakePine grosbeak checking out the winter tracksWinter sets in on a forest creekThe MV Edwin H Gott cruising past Grand Marais MinnesotaFreshly fallenOh deer, it’s November! Forest scene with snow
Thank you all for taking a look! Have a great Thanksgiving and Holiday Season. If you’re looking for a gift or two, grab a calendar or check my website for prints at this link https://thomasjspenceimages.smugmug.com/
Thomas J. Spence Images 