All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Final Snow Storm: Snowy Owl on the Hunt

Year 5

For the past three days I have been watching two Snowy Owls which should leave for the Arctic any day now. In fact, this morning I could not find either owl, but yesterday evening I received a pass from my wife to skip supper and head out just before sunset. My goal was to watch a Snowy Owl as it woke up and prepared for its evening hunt.

Shortly after 5:30 pm I refound one of the owls I had left around 8:30 am that morning. I don’t think it had moved more than ten yards since calling it quits from the previous night’s hunt. This female owl’s coloration camouflages it well from the marauding crows which have now returned to the Northland in huge numbers. This camouflage will be a great asset when it nests on the open tundra of the Arctic. Only male Snowy Owls look pure white.

For over an hour I observed this owl wake up and take in its surroundings. In fact, I became almost frantically paranoid as I worried whether I would get any flight shots before the sun dipped below the horizon around 7 pm. For over an hour I kept my finger poised on the shutter release of my camera which is mounted on a monopod. To say my arms became extremely sore at the effort is a HUGE understatement. If anyone thinks “getting the shot” is an easy process, think again. Two days of effort went into finding these birds, and then a return visit near sunset willing to be motionless for over an hour. I had no idea when the evening hunt would begin. In my Snowy’s case, it was ten minutes before sunset.

Thus … here are the photographs I was after … the flight shots. Please note that in the second image the Snowy is screaming. In my intense concentration on this bird I totally failed to notice another nearby owl. My friend, Madam Snowy knew the other bird was around and screamed and attacked. Winter hunting territories must be defended right up to the last day before returning to the Arctic.

The Golden Hour Flight Images (10 minutes prior to sunset … note owl’s shadow)

All photos now are in time sequence over the course of one hour. In this image, the owl is tracking a migrating bald eagle. Without the use of my binoculars, I could not even see the eagle, but the Snowy knew it was overhead. 60 minutes prior to sunset the owl looks white!

Preening in preparation for the evening hunt. At times the Snowy looks like a dork! Notice the changing light. The coloration differences from the prior eagle watching pic to the final image in this sequence is dramatic … no photoshop color processing … better shows what happens at the golden hour.

Immediately before attacking the other Snowy Owl. The bird is extremely alert.

Last Light … Post Fight … The Victor! The sun was down within 2 or 3 minutes of taking these photographs. I went home; the owl hunted.

New Olympic Sport: Iceberg Fat Tire Jumping

Year 5,

Here on the Arctic Riviera we take our winter sports seriously. Snow and ice are not to be despised, this white stuff is to be embraced. If one can integrate them with the crystal clear waters of Lake Superior, you have reached nirvana!!! While I did not find any Long-Tailed Ducks working their way back to the Arctic, I found a pair of athletes preparing for the next Olympics. Watch out world, via our curling team and the women’s ice hockey teams, Duluthians already ruled with all our gold. We will reign supreme in four years at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Thus … the newly sanctioned sport of Iceberg Fat Tire Jumping (oh yes … saw two Snowy Owls at sunrise this morning … image at end of post)

Video … Slow Mo x2 (watch video at full speed)

The Snowy Owls will return to the Arctic in a few days. In the mean time I plan to return and watch my two friends hunt at sunset.

At Play on the Arctic Riviera

Year 5

It’s 40F and sunny … residents of the Arctic Riviera come out to play! After my bike ride along the shores of Lake Superior this afternoon I went over to the mouth of the Lester River and found kayakers at play! This location is about 800 yards from my home in Duluth, Minnesota. Other than Lake Superior, there is not much open water around which makes birding difficult. Early migration will start when the North Shore streams open up a bit with snow melt … attracting salmon, trout and ducks. There are some mergansers and long-tailed ducks around right not, but not in very large numbers.