Category Archives: Year 13

Winter Birding Golf Attire!

Year 13

Sounds like a crazy post title, doesn’t it?! Has Rich (your host) lost his rocker? Definitely not! As we start the month of March here in the Northland temperatures often soar into the 40’s by afternoon, but crash well below freezing at nice, which means ICE! My yard still has lots of snow, and given Duluth’s location on a hill along Lake Superior, the Forest trails are dangerous. However, at the same time we are experiencing lots of bright, sunny days.

The end result is winter birding golf attire:

  • A golf visor to protect against the sun’s glare but still allowing a person to wear a stocking cap for warmth. Cold ears are no fun. Please note I do NOT wear sunglasses while birding. The polarizing features of sunglasses make it more difficult to spot and ID birds.
  • Cleats! Golfers wear cleats. Birders who want a grip on icy trails should follow their example. See my photographs, and links. There are cleats that will pull over your trails shoes or boots. Remember to order cleats where the rubber straps are large enough to fit over your winter walking attire.

My Nike Golf Visor! Swoosh. Should I became a paid influencer? Not.

My “cleats” Due North Ice Cleats

While this post’s tone is playful, the ability to see well and avoid slipping during the “ice birding season” is a matter of safety. In addition given the owl courting season is now upon us, I am often hiking at night in the dark. I also wear a headlamp.

Sunrise Hike on Ice Planet Zelda!

Year 13

This morning, the 1st of March, dawned bright, clear and cold. My first stop was the boreal forest near my house where my local Great Horned Owls, Les and Amy, were hooting their love back and forth, but then it was on to  take in the pre-dawn light out over Lake Superior … or Ice Planet Zelda!

Before continuing I want to call out one of my favorite birding bloggers, Brian Scott and Scozmo’s Photery. Through Brian and his walks in rural Scotland I have learned many new English words, including my new favorite … “dreich” (pronounced dreek). Apparently the weather recently in Brian’s part of the world has been damp, dark and dreary … in short dreich!

Well, northeastern Minnesota has been the exact opposite, sunny but darn cold. As I headed out an 80 minutes before sunrise the temperature was -7F (-22C).  Apparently I need the Scottish word for ridiculously cold.

Anyhow … without further adieu … Sunrise Over Ice Planet Zelda!

20 Minutes Before Sunrise … I am out on Lake Superior’s ice, but not the new ice.

The moment of sunrise

About 10 minutes after sunup … looking along the shore at Stoney Point. Calm today, but the pine shows the evidence of last week’s blizzard and crazy waves.

For the Love of Owls!

Year 13

It is owl prime time courting here in the Northland, and the hoots and toots will only increase as we head through March into early April. In the past week the leading edge of the Northern Saw-whet owl spring migration has reached NE Minnesota. While some saw-whets remain north all winter, most migrate to areas with a milder climates and less snow. As early returnees get the prime habitat, most evenings after sundown have a toot fest. Add the Saw-whet chorus to the Great Horned Owls love hoots, and it is positively loud at night out in the woods!

Over in Superior, the Snowy Owls will soon depart for the Arctic tundra and their own “love fields”. I took time yesterday to visit with “war bird Snowy” at the Richard Bong Airport. The mild temperatures and winds meant the owl was willing to appear and hunt long before sundown. Here are a few photos I took of this Snowy Owl. The bird has a tendency to fly back and forth between its two favorite hunting perches … the left wing of the PBY Catalina Flying Boat, and the nearby fence. It was fun hearing the owl scream in defiance when two crows had the nerve to express their displeasure over the owl’s presence.

War Bird Snowy!

Taking Off from the PBY Catalina