Within the past 48 hours a new wave of Snowy Owls has arrived in NE Minnesota and NW Wisconsin … from Sax-Zim Bog to the North Shore to Ashland, Wisconsin. Better yet, I have seen my first male Snowy Owl! (see below). Neither the photo ops nor light has been great, but it is so neat to see a male owl (much, much whiter than the females). These two images were taken 14 hours apart. Hopefully this owl has set up a winter territory.
Northern Hawk Owl!!!
The first Northern Hawk Owl arrived in Sax-Zim Bog yesterday just north of Duluth! This pic is from this morning. Other than one brief sighting in the Duluth area, this is the only NHO that is being seen to my knowledge.
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This owl is one of rarest “owl finds” each winter in the Lower 48. In rather small numbers it migrates down from Canada to the Minnesota Boreal Forest. A few years ago I knew of only two birds across the USA (other than Alaska). Conversely the Snowy Owls seem to have gone further south than northern Minnesota, with a sighting even down in Kansas. Have no fear, the Duluth area will get some Snowys that will stay the winter. It’s early yet.
Northern Hawk Owl on the Hunt
A “Snow Shower” in the Sun!
Frost at Sunrise
Eagles, Hawks and Owls Taking Off!
I haven’t posted much over the past few days because we had a humdinger of a winter storm here in the Northland. Yesterday when the sun finally came out I was marooned at our house. 60+ mph wind gusts brought down some pine trees which blocked my only exit from my small neighborhood. Just as well because I needed to shovel all the snow off the sidewalk and driveway.
However, this morning I escaped and arrived at Sax-Zim Bog a half hour before dawn. Perhaps that was not a great idea. The mercury was -18F. While the winds had finally abated the severely cold temperature is never great for birding.
On the way home I did find a very cooperative Rough Legged Hawk. See the very final image which will show you how you may know when a raptor is about to take off … within seconds! Cheers.
Look towards the bottom center of this image!!! At this point you would want to press the shutter down, and keep it down (continuous mode)