The sub Arctic birds have arrived. The word is a Northern Hawk Owl has been seen near Thunder Bay. These owls sometimes show themselves just before Thanksgiving, but have not established a winter territory. However, when a NHO did not appear I had a great time with a “dark morph” Rough-Legged Hawk. Normally these hawks spook very easily, but this individual let me watch it hunt from only 40 yards away for almost 15 minutes.

The name “rough-legged” comes from the fact it is one of the few raptors (I think only four) that have feathers all the way down to their talons … a adaptation over generations which allows this hawk to live in colder climates near Hudson Bay. Regardless, a Rough-Legged Hawk hunting … (same bird … two different perches)