Category Archives: Upper Mississippi

River tie to Yosemite Nat’l Park

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 Riverbuffs watching Ken Burn’s THE NATIONAL PARKS Sunday evening might be interested to know that the Upper River has a tie to Lafayette Bunnell, who named Yosemite Nat’l Park. From DISCOVER! AMERICA’s GREAT RIVER ROAD, Volume 1, p. 78 . . .

“Five miles south of Winona, in the tiny village of HOMER, MINNESOTA, is the historic “Bunnell  House.” This gothic gem was the home of Willard Bunnell, the first permanent settler and last Indian trader in the area. Bunnell’s brother, Lafayette, was among the men who discovered and gave the name Yosemite to the National Park in California.”

Overnight Cruises on the Mississippi?

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With Fall Color about to burst on the Upper Mississippi, I often get inquiries about how to find an overnight cruise on the river now that the steamboats are not operating. I just received an email about a two-day cruise from The TWILIGHT, a boat built by Dennis Trone and operating out of Le Claire, Iowa.  Check out their website at www.riverboattwilight.com 

“Please join us for our very affordable, 2 -Day Overnight Mississippi River Cruise! Our 2-Day Cruise is only $329 and includes:
All Meals, Snacks, plus complimentary Coffee, Tea & Lemonade
On-Board Entertainment
Overnight Accommodations at the Riverfront Grand Harbor Resort
Admission to the Iowa’s #1 Tourist attraction:
The National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium
For more information, got to our website at www.riverboattwilight.com. We look forward to seeing you in 2009 and sharing our Mississippi River experience!”
Carrie & Captain Kevin Stier

The smaller boats, like the Twilight, the JBS, or the Spirit of Peoria on the Illinois River, incorporate hotel stays with shore trips and overnight hotel stays. The passenger still enjoys long lazy days on the river.  The JBS, unfortunately is not operating this summer.

Abundant Pelicans on Pool 8, March 22

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Pelicans on Pool 8American White Pelicans are again clustering on Pool 8.  Interesting to note that in 2008, I noted that on March 23 the pelicans were back to Pool 8 en masse. Please comment for us on where else you are seeing them!

A long-time river rat living on Grey Cloud Island observes that the migrating pelicans cluster behind the melting river ice  to feast on the winter kill of fish as they work their way into northwestern Minnesota. So they congegate in specific areas until the ice further north has melted.

While we have many American white pelicans who stay for the summer, now is a great time to watch them as many thousands slowly make their way up the river.

Sandhill Cranes and SPRING in the valley.

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crex-meadow-sandhill-11-copy1I had an Australian friend who never understood why spring was such a joy to those of us in the Upper Midwest—until she visited here in Winter.

Yesterday the sun was out, the wetlands were wet instead of icy and the Sandhill crane pair were “walking the land” as they do every spring. Normally they arrive with the yearling from last year, but this year there are only two. When they walked into the bottomland forest, our new resident eagle flew out! It was a great moment of birding on the farm.

I’m curious now to see whether nesting will be delayed this year by the slightly later spring (normally they are on the nest by April 5). And I wonder how they will feel about raising young with a pair of adult bald eagles hunting in the same bottoms.

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Barges Working Through Ice near St. Louis, Missouri

Recent winter weather means the Mississippi River is frozen solid as far south as Alton, Illinois. These two barges are helping one another through the ice. You can learn more about how towboat pilots help one another through unexpected ice in Capt. Norman Hillman’s book, ONE MAN and the MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI, available at www.greatriver.com/order.htm .

“White Buck” harvested in Waukesha County

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Here is another WHITE PHASE story from the deer hunt this weekend. In Western Waukesha County, Wis., a hunter snagged a “rare prize”… a white buck. Today’s newspaper notes that the buck was “white” not “albino” as it had brown eyes and some light brown areas. The story notes that white deer are seen sporadically throughout the western regions of Waukesha County. Also note that while white deer are fair game in Waukesha County, it is normally illegal to take a white buck and can result in a steep fine and up to a three year loss of hunting license.  Scroll down or click on GENERAL to see photos of white bear and white sparrows. If you have a photo of a white buck, please email it to info@greatriver.com

Now the Tundra Swans are Coming In!

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 Tundra Swans are on the river… a large population along Wis Hwy 35, immediately south of Goose Island. At the same time, large numbers of American White Pelicans are resting just north of the Dike above Stoddard. No doubt there are similar populations near Brownsville, MN… let us know if you’ve been over there… and pick up your NEW Volume 1, St. Paul to Dubuque (below) at the Shellhorn Grill just above the birding overlooks in Brownsville!

On Tundra Swans, Pelicans, Golden Eagles!

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We don’t talk a lot about Golden Eagles on www.greatriver.com, because they really are few and far between! But I’ve heard twice now since duck hunting started on the Upper River that they’ve been seen by hunters. They are not black and white like adult Bald Eagles, and they are not mottled as many juvenile bald eagles are… look for the Golden ruff on and below the neck. Let us know if you see them.

Tundra swans are being seen in very small numbers, mostly passing by north of Genoa, Wis. and Brownsville, Mn. These are largely the bachelor swans. Family groups will arrive some time in November, just ahead of ice formation on the river.  More at www.greatriver.com/swan.htm

American White Pelicans are still clustering in quiet backwaters. Last year we had an overlap of pelicans and tundra swans in November. More at www.greatriver.com/pelican.htm

New Guidebook to the Upper River now Available!

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Limestone bluff and backwater at Goose Island provides a natural easel for Fall Color along the Mississippi River, St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dubuque, Iowa. Photo by Richard Middleton, La Crosse. Graphic work by Tall Tree Photo and Graffolio.

Limestone bluff and backwater at Goose Island provides a natural easel for Fall Color along the Mississippi River, St. Paul, Minnesota, to Dubuque, Iowa. Photo by Richard Middleton, La Crosse. Graphic work by Tall Tree Photo and Graffolio.

Good folks, I’ve been absent for some time as I worked diligently this summer to meet fall deadlines for publication and distribution of our BRAND NEW Volume 1 of DISCOVER! AMERICA’s GREAT RIVER ROAD. It’s DONE, completely reformated, revisited, and expanded… and it’s ready now for purchase in time for the whole Fall Color and Christmas gift season.

I’m very proud to expanded both the Minnesota and Iowa sections and added many little tidbits that I’ve learned to love in the past 20 years… eagle watching, archaeology, and discovering just who else loves this river… and why!

You can order our newest guidebook right on the home page of www.greatriver.com or visiting our online store for more detail… www.greatriverarts.com/shopping/

Also available from most bookstores. Enjoy!!  ~ Pat