All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Owl Be Seeing You!

Year 5

I thought the winter 2017/18 owl irruption was over. After two straight days with winds often in excess of 30 mph, with calm air yesterday I was out before sunrise. Over the past two months I would had seen at least 5 owls, but I found nothing. This convinced me the irruption was over, but 15 crows can’t be wrong! Yup, while enjoying the early morning sun and ice formations along the north shore of Lake Superior, I noticed the black birds taking bombing runs at a particular tree. Yup … a Great Gray Owl was under attack. My presence drove away the crows, and the owl seemed to be thankful. After a few moments it flew out of the deep cover in which it had been hiding and posed in the early morning sun less than 10 yards away from yours truly. As I had an 8:00 am business meeting to attend, I finally had to leave the owl enjoying the warm early morning sun … great way to start any morning. This my be the last owl I find this winter.

Just prior to finding the Great Gray Owl

The Owl in its cover

Enjoying the sun out in the open … crows gone!

Almost home … near my house … the mouth of the Lester River

Turkey Trot Ballet!

Year 5

Yesterday I knew the winds and cloudy skies would be present along the shores of Lake Superior; thus I escaped to Sax-Zim Bog where the weather forecast promised lighter winds and some clearing skies late morning. I was not disappointed!

If one knows where to look, there are signs of spring with lots of courting! These turkeys know a warm spot with southern exposure where the snow melts early in the season, and the protection makes for warmer days. They are not stupid!

Later I found two Northern Shrikes looking to find a tweet bird or vole to eat.

Finally, some Gray Jays worked there way along a back road to within feet of me. The snow cleared portion of the road offered tasty seeds!

Transitions: Deserts to Ice Flows

Year 5,

Molly and I have arrived back in the Northland from Tucson. An attitude adjustment due to Duluth’s cold weather might seem to be required, but I actually am thrilled to be back to Lake Superior.

Sunrise is now much earlier, 6:38 am. As my credo is to get going with the sun, or earlier, my wake-up times are moving towards 5 am. This morning, I wanted to take a bicycle ride up the shore before the forecast winds reached 30 mph. Biking into that kind of a head wind aside from being cold, is real hard work. Thus, with only 15 mph winds I biked up to McQuade Harbor … 38 minutes to McQuade … 22 minutes back with the tailwind!

Although there is over two feet of snow on the ground, the early migrants are working there way along the shores of Lake Superior … Bald Eagles, Crows, Gulls, Mergansers and Ravens. These hardy birds push hard to be the first returnees to the Boreal Forest. Here are a few images taken over the past two days.

Ice Flow Gulls

First Active Bald Eagle Nest on the Duluth Waterfront

Darth Vader Bird