All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Snowstorm Owl

Year 8
This post is dedicated to “all the Moms” out there. We are experiencing a late season snowstorm up here in NE Minnesota. I still decided to hike over and visit my local Great Horned Owls. I was hoping to photograph a “drenched male”, but he decided the perch he is on over 90% of the time is horrible in this weather. He had retreated somewhere to a more protected location. Mom, however, has no choice but to stay on the nest.
.
All the dots on the image are snowflakes. The owlets may have been born, but no way they would be out in this weather.

Cavity Nesters Part 2: Eastern Screech Owl!

Year 8

Big thanks to Peter, Deb and Tammy for their assistance in helping me find my lifer down in the Twin Cities today … a sleeping Eastern Screech Owl. These owls do not live in the Boreal Forest. Thus, seeing one in Duluth would never be possible. Like yesterday’s wood duck, these owls use cavities for nesting. Over the past two weeks I have also learned about one of their preferred habitats; they very much like nesting next to sunny, dry river banks with big old mature trees. While I never saw a Screech Owl last weekend in Milwaukee, my evening hike let me listen to a number of these birds calling after sunset.

Just a fyi … this is the way to photograph a sleeping owl during the day. While eyes would be nice, do not yell or take other actions to wake up the bird. One should just enjoy the experience, and come back around sunset if you want to see an active owl.

 

Cavity Nesters

Year 8

I took a hike this morning in area that has mature old trees with lots of cavities. I wondered whether I would find a newly nested Barred Owl family … Nope! However I saw this male wood duck way up high courting his lady love. She was behind him and blocked by many, many branches. Love is in the air (and the trees … and the cavities)

The Environment

Quack!

Does she hear me?!

I’ll try again … Quack!

Wood Duck Courting … The Movie (web link for email subscribers).

Please note I was quite a distance from this duck. It demonstrates just how well I am able to zoom in utilizing my Canon Sx70 (and a monopod for stabilization). I only use optical zoom (not digital) and the 35mm equivalent is 1365 mm. The Woodie is definitely quacking but I am too distant to pick the sound up with my camera’s microphone.