Quite a few years ago my middle child moved to the Milwaukee area, and thus Molly and me often make the trip south from Duluth to visit his family during the holidays. Such was the case this year as we dodged winter storms up in the Northland, and now down south in Milwaukee. There is normally plenty of free time in the mornings, and of course I then steal off to go birding.

One of my favorite spots is a heavy treed deciduous wetlands where I learned Long Eared Owls often spend the winter. Over the past three mornings, I have hiked into this area on the lookout for Long-Eared Owls. On morning #1 I saw zero owls (not unusual), however for days #2 and #3 the owls have been present. Yesterday was calm and sunny (saw one owl), while today is the start of a winter storm (saw three owls).

Day #2: Long-Eared Owl & Sunshine

Day #3: Three Long-Eared Owls & a Snowstorm

Molly and I cycle our visits between each of our three kids and their families. Here is my visit from three years ago over the Christmas Holidays to this same Long Eared Owl dense wintering thicket of trees.

Two images from that post …