When the fog sort burned off I went hiking this morning at 6:30 am. Overnight there had been huge thunderstorms, heavy rain, and strong winds … and of course … fog. The forest is drenched, and one gets quite wet walking beneath the canopy, and the trails are a combination of streams and ponds. I found the owl family, and I somehow imagined the Great Horned Owl family conversation going like this …

Owlet: “Yeeech … Mom, … living near Lake Superior is horrible! Tomorrow is June 1st. It’s only 48 degrees, and I’m all wet”

Mom: “Junior! Stop complaining and eat your morning crow!”

Owlet: “I’m outta here!

15 minutes later Mom had a crow trapped low in the forest below her. The crows have the advantage out in the open but within the deep pines, the crows have to be very careful as the advantage switches to the owls.

Well … yesterday it rained … and by nightfall the winds were blowing in off Lake Superior at 30 mph. Through the night I could hear the rain through the open window, and when I was semi-conscious this morning I could hear the fog horns of multiple lakers (looks a bit like and oil tanker ship, except it carries iron ore … we call them ore boats.) All the ships were steaming past the mouth of the Lester River near my home, and given the heavy fog … they had their fog horns blaring.

Thus, I know the owls would not be happy with the weather, and when the fog lifted a bit around 9 am I suspected I might find the owlets and Mom at the top of a tall white pine trying to dry off a bit. I was correct!

Mom Great Horned Owl (before joining her owlets)

Trying to Dry Off (and watching crows)