Snowy Owl Snowstorm!

Year 12

The Snowy Owls have arrived back in Minnesota! It took a while for them to make their grand entrance. Other areas throughout the North Central States, particularly Wisconsin along Lake Michigan were seeing the large white birds, but Snowy Owls anywhere in Minnesota within a few hour drive of my home have been a tough find. All of that changed yesterday, when I took a long drive and over the course of 24 hours saw not one, or two but three Snowy Owls! I should know from prior birding years our owls normally hold off till about mid December to make their grand appearance.

Of the three birds … only one Snowy Owl was cooperative in terms of posing for photographs. Here is that bird … photos increasingly close to sunset.

And one of the non cooperative birds … way up on a high tension power line sleeping away the afternoon (not unusual).

Early Winter Northeastern Minnesota Birding Report

Year 12,

A new winter storm is bearing down upon Northeastern Minnesota, and deeper snow could change the birding dramatically. To our northwest including the farm area of NW Minnesota into SE Manitoba, the plains are almost snow free.  Thus, there is little incentive for the raptors in those at this time areas to push further south … including more Snowy Owls. The Wisconsin DNR has reported the early surge of Snowy Owls this season has come to a screeching halt.

Some other notes:

  • Not a single recorded sighting of a Great Gray Owl in December has been recorded in Minnesota
  • Not a single recorded sighting of a Northern Hawk Owl in December has been recorded in Minnesota
    • The two previous statements are based upon eBird reports (do not give actual locations for these two species, but still DO record “grid area” locations
    • My own extensive private network
  • There are lots of Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls around, but few are yet visiting feeders.  Look for Mountain Ash and Pygmy Crabapple Trees. Both grosbeaks and other species (Bohemain Waxwings) are visiting those fruit trees.

A female Pine Grosbeak enjoying a meal over the weekend near my home in Duluth Lakeside.

Sea Smoke Sunrise

Year 12

December 1st was the start of Meteorological Winter vs Astronomical Winter (more information from the Mount Washington Observatory in New Hampshire). Whichever winter start date you choose to follow, all I know it was COLD this morning before sunrise at our house (-10F). Given the wind had finally abated, the calmer conditions meant Lake Superior was steaming this morning, or Sea Smoke. On windier days (such as the last two mornings) the Sea Smoke blows out into the big lake. The HUGE temperature differential between the air and water forms the smoke. Even when I got home around 8:30 am (80 minutes after sunrise), it was still -7F at our house. Not quite certain how the birds survive these temps (actually … yes I do know their survival tactics). All I know is I was quite cold upon arriving home. Unfortunately to take photographs it is often necessary to remove one’s winter gloves. Uff dah.

Duluth, Minnesota Sea Smoke Sunrise (These images take you from 35 minutes before sunrise to an hour after sunrise. I also spent some time right at sunup looking for Snowy Owls. The harbor is almost completely iced over, which provides the contrast along Minnesota Point)