Day 338: Northern Hawk Owl

December 27, 2014Year 1MN North: Jean Duluth Roadrichardhoeg@gmail.com

The sun finally returned to the Northwoods, and I was treated to a special sight! While driving in the countryside north of Duluth on the way to refill my public feeders on Old Vermilion Trail, I saw my first Northern Hawk Owl of the winter. These birds come south to enjoy our “warm” Minnesota winters!

In the second to last photograph, the owl which is enjoying the nice warm rays of sunshine while preening, is attacked my a songbird!

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Northern Hawk Owl

Day 336 & 337: North Shore BirdsI

December 27, 2014Year 1MN North: Grand Maraisrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Given for the first time ever in our lives, all three children were spending Christmas with the families of their significant others, Molly and I decided to travel up the North Shore of Lake Superior and spend the night at historic Lutsen Resort (and enjoy their yummy dinner).

Althouth the weather continued gloomy, the forest was anything but lacking in beauty!

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Day 336: Female Purple Finch & Christmas Creek

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Day 337: Pine Grosbeak and the Caribou Trail

Day 335: Christmas Eve Northwoods Raptors

December 24, 2014Year 1MN North: Silver Creek, WI North: Richard Bong Airportrichardhoeg@gmail.com

One reason I love living, working and playing in the Northwoods is I am able to spend special mornings with nature. I awoke this morning to an unheard of event … breaks in the cloud cover. After our 18 day run of clouds, rain, fog and snow (1 sunny day), I got excited and drove over to my Snowy Owl stomping grounds. I wanted to arrive at sunrise, and see if I could watch some owls in the early morning light. I was treated to not one, but three different snowy owls. One ever posed for me on the baseball scoreboard with the early dawn light in the background!

After the snowies decided it was time to snooze, I was not willing to end my time in the sun. Thus, I drove well north of Two Harbors, Minnesota and was again treated to a great sight. Four bald eagles and a ton of ravens were making a huge noise while they fought over breakfast.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Rich Hoeg (me), the NorthStarNerd.