Category Archives: Year 11

Owl Time … a ThreeFer!

Year 11,

After what had been a cold snap for finding owls, the last three days have been fantastic … an owl a day for a ThreeFer! Yesterday I found a second Great Gray Owl … once again north of Duluth no where near Sax-Zim Bog.

Today shows how stupid birders can be when a rare bird appears. Last year, essentially no Snowy Owls were seen in the Duluth Superior area. A normal year has several Snowy Owls spending their time on the Arctic Riviera (Duluth!). Regardless, when I returned home from church and I heard a Snowy Owl had been spotted at the Superior Entry to the harbor, I immediately started Snowy Search ‘2024!

Why do I call myself stupid? I immediately saw the Snowy Owl upon reaching the Superior Entry. However Lake Superior was getting nasty as a winter storm bore down on the area. Spending time outside to watch a white bird hundreds of yards distant in 30F, damp weather with 30 mph winds blowing in off the big lake might not be considered fun, let alone intelligent.

Flight Time Snowy

Just Hanging

Oh well … Snowy Owl sitting across the channel on the Minnesota breakwater. My ThreeFer! As a fyi, I was using my Canon SX-70 for these pics … Super Zoom Camera … 130x magnification. I am a loooonnng ways away from this bird.

Magical Ice Bog Morning: Owl Time!

Year 11

Yesterday was one of those mornings that soothes the soul! My time in the deep woods provided me the inspiration that keeps me returning to the Boreal wilderness, even when some days are not as successful or filled with beauty. The morning started similar to the day before … sunny skies down by Lake Superior, and precipitation 35 miles inland. However yesterday morning it was a few degrees cooler than the prior, and rather than cold, blustery rain there was light, fluffy snow!!!

From earlier in the week I knew my forest road / trail already had a few trees down across same. However the strong winds of the prior day (60 mph wind gusts) felled even more trees. US Forest Service Road (#813) between my feeders and the Boreal Bog (about one mile) now had 10+ trees down across the narrow dirt road. Thankfully my plan all along was to hike into the Bog.

Enjoy cell phone pics of my hike to the Bog, and my “owl time” upon reaching the frozen wonderland! Great Gray Owl time! The owl spent over 35 minutes with me. It disappeared into the deep forest when the sun started to come out.

First the hike … (Ice Bog Snow Flurry video link for email subscribers)

A few still images from the hike into the frozen bog (cell phone pics)

As a fyi … the firearms deer hunting season ends this weekend. However, I know there was not a single hunter within miles and miles of me, but I still always wear Blaze Orange or Red during the hunting season. Finally, remember white-tailed deer hate bogs. Thus, I am extremely unlikely to meet up with hunters. In fact, I have never ever seen a deer or deer tracks in this area. Any deer hunter who knows anything about the wildlife would never hunt this area.

Great Gray Owl Ice Bog Time (video link for email subscribers)

Perch #1

Changing Locations

Perch #2

Yup … a good morning … made better by the hike!

The Lake Gives & Takes Away Birding Opportunities

Year 11

Lake Superior dominates our weather in Northeastern Minnesota. As I left home this morning wind advisories were posted … 60 mph wind gusts! Given the horrible weather of late I really wanted to spend some time outside. Thus, I turned inland at Two Harbors which was a horrible idea. Although nice and sunny down at Lake Superior, the strong winds off Lake Superior generated plenty of rain just 25 miles inland (approximately a 1,500 foot climb from the lakeshore). Anyhow, winds exceeding 50 mph plus rain out my hiking plans on hold. I turned around and drove back down the the lake … and sunshine.

In Two Harbors, assuming one could find protected areas, there were a few birds. This Rough Legged Hawk was using two different signs next to the road as hunting platforms. The advantage of both of these signs was they were only 15 yards from the forest’s edge, and thus a bit protected from the fierce wind.

I also checked out the Two Harbors Campground and found some snow buntings also working their way south from the Arctic.

I did take a short hike out onto Lighthouse Point. It was reasonably protected from the wind while receiving the morning sunshine. I was also wearing ski goggles which allowed me to see in the blustery conditions. It’s now time to go check the roof of my house. A large dead, but rotten tree fell onto the roof. I was not willing to get on a ladder to climb up onto the roof to check if there is any damage till the wind died down some.