I Spy on the Trails - November 2025

An awe-inspiring coronal aurora display caught
the night of November 11-12, Duluth MN
 Image - Bob King

November was again a mostly mild month this year, similar to last year. While a hard frost finally hit mid month, much of the time we basked in daytime temps in the 40s and 50s. We even managed a balmy 60s late in the month. There were many cloudy days, a bit of rain here but sunny enough to continue finishing cleaning up gardens, yards and landscaping. We had our first real blow and snow around Thanksgiving to remind us that Winter Solstice is less than a month away. Dropping temps into the 20’s and our first decent measurable/shove-able snow in our final November days (with a last dump of snowshoe-able snow at last -hurray!!) remind us that the lonnnnggggg fall has really come to an end.  Welcome winter!

Pike’s Peak State Park
on a warm day in McGregor IA

Swan migration heated up in mid November, and there were good numbers at most of the spots we like to observe - Shady Maple near Stoddard WI, Brownsville Lookout in MN and Red Oak lookout near Harper's Ferry IA. Now that the government shutdown is over for the moment, you can keep up-to-date on how many waterfowl and raptors are present at the many lookouts monitored the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge at their website here.

Even with clouds,
the viewing was spectacular
Image - Lloyd Lorenz

The big news during the month was the pleasure of enjoying, with so many people around the country and globe, the absolutely stunning auroral displays around Veteran's Day. At our latitude, we seldom see the aurora and when we do, it mostly manifests itself as pale green and white. Only our photos catch the purples and faint reds. This time, the color was deep and readily apparent to the naked eye after the sun's three rapid coronal mass ejections (CME). I am so glad we lived to see this incredible show.

I can see forever…

While I'll miss the long, languorous colorful autumn tree color, I find our "see-through" season just beginning quite fascinating as well. With gun deer hunting seasons throughout November in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, I spent more time hiking and scouting in Iowa this month. Their deer gun season doesn't start until early December. I had the time to scout some new spots in Decorah IA that I know I'll return to throughout the year. With mild temperatures and leaf fall in early November, bluff hiking with spectacular vistas was quite wonderful this month. 

A nice surprise while hiking
Trollkor’s Loop in Decorah IA.
Image - Jean Hammons

In terms of wildlife and plants, I observed many, many of our winter-staying birds like woodpeckers, blue jay, chickadees and nuthatches along with trumpeter and tundra swans, Canada geese and numerous ducks. A few sturdy autumn meadowhawk dragonflies hoarded time in the sun. Eagles and hawks were much in evidence. And a fine buck joined us for part of our ravine hike.

Prairie smoke sprouts

Most plants have gone to seed.  I was surprised on a hike or two to see the green leaves of prairie smoke, spotted bee balm and pasque flower hugging tight to the ground along with a few confused leaves of hepatica, yarrow, small flowered leafcup and false rue anemone coaxed to emerge by sun and warmth. 

Pops of blue wood and hairy asters lingered here and there and northern maidenhair ferns and a few bulbet bladderferns were determined to hold throughout the month. Also hanging in were a Dryad's Saddle shelf mushroom and Ravenel's stink horn (they do reek and flies do love them). 

Pulpit Rock, Decorah IA

Just a reminder, even when gun seasons end, hunters are still out. Please remember to wear blaze orange or other bright colors when hiking on or adjacent to public land. Our hunters want us to be just as safe as we ourselves do! If you are wondering where to hike in the colder weather and the muted colors of late fall and early winter, be sure to drop by my recent blog post with some recommendations for great winter hiking.

What are YOU seeing on your hikes?

A month of hikes
Hikes below in colored, bold type or underlined have links to previous posts OR descriptions/location of the trails found online.

Eagles Bluff Environmental Education Center, Lanesboro MN; Holland Sand Prairie, Holmen WI; Lytle’s Landing, Brice Prairie WI; Beaver Creek Valley State Park, Caledonia MN; Phelps Park, Decorah IA (4); Pulpit Rock Trail, Decorah IA; Ice Cave Trail, Decorah IA  Pikes Peak State Park, McGregor IA; Goose Island County Park, La Crosse County, WI, urban hiking, downtown Chicago IL; the ravine woods next door to our house (first snowshoe of the season)

A last farewell to autumn color

The "I Spy on the Trails" column is a phenology (the study of seasonal changes in plants and animals) journal to chronicle year-round the weather, plant life and wildlife I observe while hiking. It is very useful in helping me compare observations from year-to-year. The column is published monthly from September through April and then twice-a-month from May through August when warm weather brings the natural world back to vibrant life.

Up close and personal with
 a Ravenel’s stinkhorn mushroom

Images, unless noted - Marge Loch-Wouters

Enjoying a REALLY tall live Christmas tree 
while walking down Chicago’s Michigan Ave.
Image - Lloyd Lorenz