All posts by richardhoeg@gmail.com

Ice Owls! (Yr. 2: Day 18)

Year 2

What goes into obtaining three photos like these of a Northern Hawk Owl?

Answer:

1. Over the past two days I enjoyed our winter storm with 40 mph winds and freezing rain. I knew this morning was supposed to dawn with clear skies, and that the ice encrusted trees would be beautiful in the early morning sun.

2. Spend three hours to find and photograp an owl. This task is not easy, but given my efforts which originally found this bird back in December 27th, at least I knew where to look.

3. Arrive on scene a bit after sunrise. No owl. Search surrounding area to determine if I can find a different raptor to photograph in the ice flocked trees. Return three different times to Kelly J’s … the favorite hangout of my friend, the Northern Hawk Owl.

4. On third trip, discover my owl on the west side of the road (unusual), with the sun better positioned for photographs of both the bird and trees.

5. Spend one half hour in knee deep snow taking 174 photographs.

6. Come home and immediately throw out 158 images. Perform two more reviews throwing away first another four and then nine pictures. Work with the final three photos to create these final images!

Northern Hawk Owl in the ice encrusted aspen
Y2-D018-Northern-Hawk-Owl-Iced-Trees-2 Y2-D018-Northern-Hawk-Owl-Iced-Trees-3

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Perhaps you prefer pine trees!
Y2-D018-Northern-Hawk-Owl-Iced-Trees-1

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Winter Pasture
The scene where I captured today’s photos, before I finally found the Northern Hawk Owl and the sun broke through the clouds again.Y2-D018-Winter-Pasture

Lake Superior Snow Buntings! (Yr. 2: Day 17)

Year 2

Snow Buntings, guests from the Arctic Ocean where they spends their summers, are beautifull small birds which visit northern Minnesota in the winter. Minnesota is their winter warm climate destination, not Florida. Quite frankly, they are true snowbirds!!!

There are two difficulties when trying to photograph these birds:

  1. Snow Buntings are hard to find
  2. Snow Buntings are small and spook very easily

Today, in what can only be described as miserable conditions (freezing drizzle and 35 mph winds), I hit the jackpot! I found a small flock of snow buntings, and after over 40 minutes of trying, was able to maneuver within fifteen yards while they rested after their morning feed. Approximately every minute I had to stop and clean the accumulated frozen sleet off my camera lens. However, the results were worth the effort!

Snow Buntings of Lake Superior!
Y2-D017-Snow-Bunting-1 Y2-D017-Snow-Bunting-2 Y2-D017-Snow-Bunting-3

Now Visiting from the Frozen Tundra! (Yr. 2: Day 16)

Year 2,

It may be hard to imagine that some birds consider the winter climate in northern Minnesota warm, but that is truly the case! Today I had the pleasure of seeing not one, but two visitors from the frozen tundra. Both of these birds summer and raise their young on the shores of the Arctic Ocean. I’ve also included three photos I took this afternoon 50 miles up the Lake Superior shore from Duluth. Perhaps these birds understand that Lake Superior is a bit like the Arctic. Take a look!

Snow Bunting
Y2-D016-Snow-Bunting

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Hoary Redpoll
Y2-D016-Hoary-Redpoll

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Ice Waves on Lake Superior
Split-Rock-State-Park-Winter-Waves-4C Split-Rock-State-Park-Winter-Waves-2N Split-Rock-State-Park-Winter-Waves-1N