Cold rain falls on the North Shore.  Light snow has occasionally been in the air for about a week now.  Minor accumulations were reported in the highland areas of the Superior National Forest.  Thousands of birds flock south to warmer winter habitat along the Sawtooth Mountains.  Tamarack (American Larch), the only deciduous conifer in Minnesota, has turned yellow.  During the growing season tamarack appears much like any medium-sized conifer in the bogs and wetlands they prefer to inhabit.  Come late fall, however, they shed their short, thin needley leaves.  The range of the tamarack extends into the far reaches of the north and are commonly found just shy of the Arctic Circle.  Around here they provide a last gleam of color after the brilliance of the fall colors have all been blown away!  Grouse season continues.  A couple of immense bull moose have been harvested in the County.  In a couple of weeks the rifle deer season as well as a highly-contested wolf hunt opens.