Category Archives: Year 8

A Day in the Life …

Year 8

It’s a few minutes after 8 am. Sunrise was at 7:45 am. I have already been out birding twice this morning (it’s 4F outside). If folks wonder how I capture beautiful images, it is with lots of research and legwork. Even if you don’t want to take photographs, successful birding requires research and time in the woods … often unsuccessful time.

This morning at 6:15 while working on my computer, I heard Hoot’s parents starting to sing. Believe it or not, I was sitting at my desk with the window open (remember it was 4F outside); I wanted to hear the owls if they starting some pre-dawn song. My thermals were already on, and within moments I was outside hiking dark trails … almost running. I knew that in a few weeks my Great Horned Owl couple would nest. Now is the time to learn their pine grove preference. I was home by 7 am with more knowledge.

My second outing of the morning was an attempt to learn where the new Snowy Owl featured in this post was roosting for the day (unsuccessful). By 7:30 am I was inspecting its afternoon territory in the hopes it might be hunting just before dawn, and then show me its daytime spot.

I hope you enjoy this “new Snowy Owl”. It is a beautiful immature male. I hope to spend some great time with it before the 1st of March.

Aborted Take-Off

The Evil Eye

The Moment of Sunset

The amazing experience yesterday was finding a flock of well over 500 Bohemian Waxwings. The light conditions were dark … thus no pictures, but if one drives to the end of Homestead Road about 1/2 way between Lester River (Duluth) and Two Harbors there is a huge thicket of buckthorn to your left on West Knife River Road. As long as the food source holds out the birds will stick around. Early morning is the best for viewing. While buckthorn is an invasive species, the birds don’t seem to mind.

Boreal Bird Bonanza!

Year 8
After essentially a two winter absence, the Boreal Chickadees are back at Sax-Zim Bog. While these birds are seen at the Warren Nelson and Winterberry Bogs, my real favorite spot is the Welcome Center for Boreal Chickadees (see below images on where to find).
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Boreal Chickadee
I don’t normally post feeder photographs, but this image helps point out how different the Boreal Chickadee is from the Black-Capped.
Hike Gray Jay Way (easy walk / well packed snow) for about 1/3 to 1/2 mile. At the end of your walk, there is a bench. Just to the right of the bench (a couple of yards away) is one small suet feeder. The Boreal Chickadees were visiting the suet often this morning. I also saw Gray Jays / Canada Jays and Pine Grosbeaks at this exact location. The birds treated me like I did not even exist … landing within feet of me. Finally, there is also a very large flock of Evening Grosbeaks at the Welcome Center.
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Canada Jay / Whiskey Jack / Gray Jay

Evening Grosbeak

Pine Grosbeak

Beating the Pandemic!

Year 8,

This Pandemic rots. I obviously don’t need to tell anyone that fact, but it still rots big time. Here in northern Minnesota folks may think we might be challenged in finding ways to safely get together with friends. Not true! Winter and cold temperatures are only a problem should you choose to have a defeatist attitude. Thursday evening Molly and I got together with good friends … safely and outdoors. We sat outside, wearing our long underwear, and enjoyed a roaring fire plus good fellowship. My friend Jon has even built snow walls to protect against the winds blowing in off Lake Superior. In total we sat outside for over 3 hours in 20+ degree weather. I was never cold! (warm chili and a glass of wine helped). I hope everyone else is “beating the Pandemic”. (remember … Molly has her own blog)

Obviously for me, in addition to outdoor gatherings in the northern Minnesota Winter, birding helps beat the Pandemic. Over the past few days I saw this Barred Owl, and quite a few Great Grays.