Sunrise over Rattlesnake Bluff
Despite the fact that Wacouta didn't receive any snow from the big storm system that pushed through Minnesota on Friday dumping as much as two feet of snow, this morning, it feels like winter with temps in the mid-twenties. Yesterday, I observed and heard the first flocks of tundra swans flying southeast toward their wintering grounds on the East Coast.
Red-Osier Dogwood
With the exception of dull brown leaves still hanging on the oaks, the nearby bluffs are pretty much void of bright colors. However, as one looks closely along the edges of wetland areas in Wacouta, one can observe the bright red twigs of red-osier dogwood sometimes referred to as "kinnikinnik".
Red-Osier Dogwood
During winter months, the tender ends these dogwood twigs are a favorite browse for our local whitetail deer. Good luck if you have selected this shrub for landscaping purposes.
Wildlife Management Area
Local residents of Wacouta refer to the pond on the north side of Highway 61 as "Wacouta Pond." Technically, it is Grote's Pond and is a 127 acre unit of the Minnesota DNR's Perched Valley Wildlife Management Area. Most WMA in the state are open to public hunting. Because of it's close proximity to Highway 61, this one is not.
Canada Geese on Wacouta Pond
Being closed to hunting, this pond has been a safe haven for waterfowl particularly Canada geese for the past several weeks. It has not been unusual to observe a couple hundred geese spending the day on the pond during shooting hours. Once darkness arrives, we routinely observe and hear them fly overhead as they move to the open water of the river below.
Snow Goose
For a few days this past week, a lone snow goose was observed with a large flock of Canada Geese.
Signs of beaver activity
Another sign of the coming winter season is this beaver cutting along the shore on the north side of the pond. It has been quite sometime since I have observed such activity on Wacouta Pond. As time permits in the next few days, I will be interested in searching for the location of the lodge and winter feed pile for this energetic mammal. Stay tuned.