I Spy on the Trails - Weeks of Nov 12 and Nov 19, 2023

The past two weeks continued the long, slow stretch of fall weather with temps in the 40s and 50s. While rain was predicted here and there, only a bit of mist ever got near us. For the last four days, the temperatures have gotten colder - 20s overnight and mid-30s to mid-40s for daytime temps. So we had our first hard frost finally, far later than usual. Prime hiking weather.

The swan and waterfowl migration has been in full swing. The raucous gathering of tundra and trumpeter swans have been amazing. The Canada geese, ducks and waterfowl (that I still have a difficult time distinguishing) were legion. A friend told us about a new quiet spot to see resting/feeding swans near a small IA creek's delta on the Mississippi - we have had great close-up views of the migratory action. You can see weekly updates to the sightings on the US Fish and Wildlife's website. So head out as soon as you can. The migration through our area is near its end.

A view of the Mississippi from
Yellow River State Forest IA

The gun deer hunting seasons in both MN and WI occurred during this last week. I always keep safety in mind for these this particular hunting season. Often the hunters are using higher power rifles and many are infrequent hunters. While we wear blaze orange and neon yellow on fall hikes and avoid hiking in these states - even in city/state parks that often border private lands during the deer gun season - you can't be too careful.  Luckily, we are near Iowa, so their trails received alot of my attention! It was a joy to explore these great forests within an hour of where I live.

This time of year is one of my favorite hiking times. With undergrowth died back and leaves down, the views and landforms are revealed. Surprising bright patches of waterleaf and ferns pop up among the leaves along the trails. Fungi are everywhere yet. Trail-finding is a fun challenge in the scads of leaves covering trails and the crunch of oak leaves is a delight. The blufftop views of the Mississippi, sloughs, floodplain forests and nearby states on these crisp November days are spectacular.

Bellflower spotted!
Image - Nola Larson

Plants

• Rock fern
• Wood fern
• Maidenhair fern
• Intermediate wood fern
• Water leaf
• Bellflower (spotted by Nola)
• Spikemoss

Wildlife (seen/heard/ detected)

Cedar waxwing on a blufftop red cedar
Image - Kris Lawson

• Cedar waxwing
• Tundra swans
• Trumpeter swans
• Eagles
• Red-tailed hawk
• Goshawk
• Mallards
• Canada geese
• so many ducks (sorry, my ID ability on these paddlers is the worst)
• Red headed woodpecker
• Pileated woodpecker
• Blue Jay
• Chickadee

What are YOU noticing on your hikes?

Two weeks of hikes: Vetsch Park, La Crescent MN; Reno Rocks and Reno Spillway, Reno, WI; Fish Farm Mounds, New Albin IA; Forester /White Pine Trails - Yellow River State Forest, New Albin IA; Riverside Park, La Crosse WI; Luster Heights trails - Yellow River State Forest, New Albin IA; Paint Rock/Mississippi trails - Yellow River State Forest, New Albin IA

The sloughs and floodplain forests of the Mississippi River
as seen from IA with WI bluffs in the background

All images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters