Category Archives: Year 12

Now Arriving on Track Nine at the Arctic Riviera: Snow Birds!

Year 12, ,

My friends who are the human version of snowbirds have all left for points south, but here on the Arctic Riviera (i.e. Duluth, Minnesota on Lake Superior) the real snowbirds are arriving. Take a look at this range map from Cornell for the Long-Tailed Duck (an Arctic seabird), it could actually also be the range map for all three species featured in this post … Long-Tailed Ducks, Rough-Legged Hawks and Snowy Owls.

All three species are now present in the Northland. In fact, I hesitate to use the word, but folks are saying this might be an Irruption Year for Snowy Owls. Both the Wisconsin DNR and Project Snowstorm (In With a Bang) are speculating that the large white owls will be in abundance this winter. All I know, yesterday I saw a Snowy in Sax-Zim Bog … the second earliest date I have ever personally seen this species of owl. My sighting was not rare. Snowys are being seen all over the Northland, and more arrive every day. The shores of Lake Michigan stretching from the Upper Peninsula to Chicago are a hot area. Migrating owls follow this migration highway due south from Whitefish Point on both sides of Lake Michigan. Apparently two Snowy Owls are hanging out on the Windy City’s waterfront (Chicago).

First … yesterday’s star attraction in Sax-Zim Bog on Highway 7 … A Snowy Owl!

And Duluth’s local Long-Tailed Duck … I suspect the duck is grinning because all of the Zebra Mussels at McQuade Harbor.

Finally to end the Arctic Trio … another lover of Lemmings and Voles, a Rough Legged Hawk (also on Highway 7 in the Bog)

This Ring-Necked Pheasant had better watch out for the owl and hawk … just south of Meadowlands. I was looking for Snowy Owls on the farm land to the SW and West of Meadowlands.

And this hawk does not belong with this post, but what the heck … I call the photo “Down on the Farm Birding. Hopefully folks can figure out the name of this species. Look at the tail. I was recently visiting my 94 year young uncle in west central Iowa. He still helps with combining corn. Retirement, that is a word farmers do NOT know.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

That Owl Guy now has License Plates! (NHO!)

Year 12

The Northern Hawk Owl has been my signature bird ever since I started/created my 365 blog/website 12 years ago. It has been on my web site’s banner since day #1. This past Sunday right after church, I attached my new license plates. HawkOwl!

During year #1, before social media exploded, I found a Northern Hawk Owl a bit north of Duluth. For a week I watched the owl by myself. Shortly thereafter while volunteering at Sax-Zim Bog, I happened to mention to some other staff that I had found this cool bird. Oh wow, did everyone want to know where and see the NHO! Quite frankly I had no idea at the time how rare a bird I had found. You’ll now know it’s me when you see this vehicle on the back roads of Minnesota. If it’s in winter, I may be looking for a Northern Hawk Owl!

Learn more about the Northern Hawk Owl (link goes to Cornell)

Boreal North Shore Birding Bonanza … Pine Grosbeaks & Bohemian Waxwings

Year 12

What a difference a year makes. Last year the Pine Grosbeaks did not drop down from Canada into northern Minnesota. There was plenty of food for these bird species in the northern Boreal Forest, but this year that equation has changed. Both Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings are invading northeastern Minnesota and enjoying our bumper crop of Mountain Ash berries. In addition the NW winds tend to push migrating songbirds against the North Shore of Lake Superior which then means easier birding (note … not easy).

I know from personal knowledge that Grand Marais is loaded with Mountain Ash trees, and in November it can be a great spot to find these northern Boreal birds. My favorite haunts are Artist Point (forms the Grand Marais Harbor) and the local RV Campground (also abuts the harbor). Both locations are easy finds for migrating flocks of birds as they are right against the lake, and both locations have lots of Mountain Ash trees. I first hiked Artists Point, and it was obvious the trees had been mostly picked clean of their fruit. Thus, I headed over to the campground, and jackpot! Oh my did I see lots of Pine Grosbeaks and Bohemian Waxwings. I tend to like the berry trees very near the lake with available pine trees for cover for when the birds are not feeding.  Anyhow, the trees in the campground are still loaded with fruit, and our feathered friends will certainly hand out there for a while.

Finally, now that all the tourist traffic along the shore is a distant memory, I am able to reach Grand Marais with only an hour and forty-five minute drive with almost zero traffic!

In total I took 894 photographs. Uff dah! Thankfully I am only posting a smaller subset of images! This may also be a two part post. I still have plenty of videos to process, but that takes even more time. Remember, you can check out any of my bird song listening stations along the North Shore. It was not dumb luck that sent me up to Grand Marais. Even though Bohemians Waxwings never come to feeders, and Pine Grosbeaks are only feeder birds later in the winter, I knew from bird song ID’s that both species were moving along the shore.

Bohemian Waxwings

Pine Grosbeaks