Okay … this post will make it obvious that there are Snowy Owls in Superior. I had a great time two days before Christmas, and one Snowy Owl in particular was taking in the tourist sights!

In addition, observe the Snowy stretching its neck while perched on the airport lights. A reader asked in the comments of a prior post about “neck stretching”. This is a common behavior of owls and is normally indicative of prey in sight, or that the owl is about to move hunting perches.

First the Snowy Owl went to the Rodeo (perched on lights)

Then the Owl checked out the World War II Airbird!

It’s finally hunting perch was much more mundane … airport lights

I was not planning on heading out to chase the Northern Lights two nights in a row, but when the Aurora technical numbers were too fantastic to ignore. I decided sleep was for younger folk. LOL! Thus I decided to continue my Finnish Heritage Northern Lights Heritage Tour!

Two nights ago I enjoyed watching one of the most intense Aurora storms I have ever experienced in my life (Suomalainen Kirkko near Kettle River … still images / videos). Last night I visited the historic Davidson Windmill (Old Brule Heritage Society) which was built between 1900 and 1904. This windmill is just southeast of Superior, Wisconsin. Enjoy! 

I have found the sky often gets bright green just before Lady Aurora starts her dance … such was the case last night

And the show starts. Lady Aurora was the star!

And the Movie! (video link for blog email subscribers)

Hoping for a full night’s sleep tonight!

Some folks like ducks. Some folks like hawks, and then there are individuals who LOVE cuckoos! Apparently I am that kind of person. I remember while on a self-supported bicycle tour in northern Scotland, even though I biked 833 miles I NEVER saw this fabled bird. I would take hikes after a full day’s ride to attempt to obtain a sighting. The cuckoos would be calling out just before sunset … “cuckoo, cuckoo”; yet nada. I was truly cuckoo.

Thankfully, in the last nine years I have learned the finer art of finding cuckoos. However, it was with trepidation that I headed out this morning at 6:55 am. Would Cuckoo Quest 2025 be successful? Apparently the numbers of this famous bird are a bit down this year. I think a primary food source of the cuckoo, the tent caterpillar, is not in the same abundance as some years.

Cornell describers the probability of spotting the Black-Billed Cuckoo (learn more) in this manner: “Uncommon and elusive, the Black-billed Cuckoo skulks around densely wooded eastern forests and thickets. Its staccato song can be heard day and night, but getting a look at its slender brown body and namesake black bill may take a bit of patience.”

The Black-Billed Cuckoo!

Cuckoo Quest 2025 was Success!