All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Sunset Snowy Owl Take-Off on the Arctic Riviera

Year 9

After six days of severe cold (well below zero) and high winds, the weather moderated. Although it was supposed to be cloudy yesterday afternoon, life was good and the skies cleared. I went looking for Snowy Owls. Right before sunset I found an owl on a HUGE snow pile. The sunset was magical. The Snowy actually flew right by me at eye level only five yards away when it took off for the evening hunt. As it passed my spot, it glanced over at me and then disappeared over a small hill. Wow! It was a Snowy Owl treat I will always remember.

Pre-Sunset … from an oblique angle to the sun

Post-Sunset … directly in line with the sun beneath the horizon (you can actually see the owl kicking up some snow as it lifts off)

Darn Cold & Windy Birding

Year 9,

This week has been tough in terms of birding. How else could one describe every morning when the temperatures are -10F (or colder), and 20 mph winds (or worse). I thought my trials and tribulations had finally ended a bit before sundown yesterday when I discovered a Snowy Owl which was very close (not 200 miles distant across a field). I took the one image in this post and then moved to the other side of the building. I was even closer, and the wind insured the bird could only take off right towards me. Fantastic! However, I then realized my camera would seem to be pointed right towards an apartment. Although I was not actually aiming towards their window, but ten feet above, I was not willing to risk spooking people out.  I left the area. My point, be cognizant of your location before taking photographs.

At home I have been enjoying some “red birds”. Both Common Redpolls and a Red-Belled Woodpecker are frequent visitors.

Duluth’s Largest Bird Feeder

Year 9

I have repeatedly stated in the winter, find the food source and find birds. Quite often this means bird feeders, but in Duluth the largest bird feeder may not be obvious to most folks, Canal Park. Once the shipping season ends (January 22nd this past shipping season), and the Coast Guard allows the harbor ice to form, Goldeneyes head for Canal Park. Because of water current, the shipping canal remains open and ice free for 2 to 5 weeks after the harbor ices. Both our native mussels and zebra mussels find the sides of the shipping canal a perfect space to live, and the Goldeneyes now pushed out of the harbor congregate in the Canal … Duluth’s largest bird feeder. This morning I saw well over 200 “eyes” feeding in the canal.

As more ice accumulates on Lake Superior, the mouths of North Shore streams, and the breakwaters in Two Harbors and Grand Marais are excellent “bird feeders”. In addition to Goldeneyes, Long Tailed Ducks also winter on Lake Superior and may occasionally be found. Both duck species love mussels. Finally, these two kinds of ducks are quite beautiful in terms of plumage. I plan repeat visits to Canal Park in the late afternoon when the sun shines almost directly down the canal for close-ups. If you make this visit, park behind the Paulucci Building and then walk over to the canal (path behind building). You MUST hide below the canal wall and then extremely slowly inch your way up by a light post for camouflage (I don’t stand up straight). Goldeneyes spook extremely easily.

Canal Park Goldeneyes