Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Great Gray Owl Hunting

Year 11

It was  quite windy earlier this week, and when Tuesday morning was forecast to be calm and overcast … hopefully with no rain, I trekked over to Sax-Zim Bog. Not many returning migrants were yet around with the exception of Sandhill Cranes which I saw many places. One of my bigger surprises was finding a huge flock of evening grosbeaks … mixed sexes. I would have though these finches would have returned deeper into the Boreal Forest in preparation for the breeding season, but the grosbeaks were not in any hurry to end their winter patterns.

Later in the morning, I stumbled across a Great Gray Owl in an unusual location hunting long into the daylight hours. The owl even put up with small amounts of drizzle. I watched the Great Gray hunt for over 75 minutes with nary a car or other person present.

Here is my first view of the owl … however within 10 minutes it flew over to hunt only 20 yards from where I was standing!

Great Gray Owl Hunting

The Movie (video link for email subscribers)

Transition Birding

Year 11,

Snowmageddon is supposed to hit the Northland in a few hours. By early this afternoon it is supposed to be snowing at a rate of 1/2 inch of white stuff per hour as the winds clock in off Lake Superior over 40 mph. Right now it is Sunday morning and some gentle white fluff is falling through the air, and the winds are somewhat calm. Even my owls are still hooting a bit after sunrise. However, the storm is supposed to continue for over 48 hours.

This preamble leads me to today’s topic, Transition Birding. Over the past few days I have visiting some of my favorite winter haunts … both in Sax-Zim Bog and north towards the Greenwood Forest Fire Burn Area. At times the forest is devoid of a single bird, and then I come across unexpected pleasures … with bird species that are still hanging down in the area like the Northern Hawk Owl (mid Manitoba bound) to Greater White-Fronted Geese which are early migration arrivals as they push to arrive on the shores of the Arctic Ocean and their breeding grounds. Thus, I never know what I am going to see … and sometimes I see nothing. However, while out birding yesterday morning north of Two Harbors I noted that even though I was on paved roads for much of the time, in 60 miles of driving I only saw four cars. The end result is I enjoy peace and solitude out in nature.

Transition Birding – Passing Through

Greater White-Fronter Geese

Transition Birding – Early Arrivals on their Breeding Grounds

American Kestrel

Transition Birding – Winter Visitors Leaving Soon for Points North

Northern Hawk Owl

Common Redpolls

Just Plain Local – Year Round Friends

Wild Turkey

Owl be Seeing You!

Year 11,

Even though the cold winds and temperatures have returned, winter has lost its grip on the Northland. I was dumbfounded yesterday to see that the ice had gone out on two area lakes, Pike Lake and Rice Lake Reservoir. March 16th was the earliest ice out dates in recorded history … one month earlier than normal. Monday night when a southerly wind returns, I suspect there might be a strong push of waterfowl into the area. These birds often follow ice-out north.

Last week we did have some nice sun which gave me the opportunity to explore the “Looks of Amy!” Remember I live in Duluth, which means there is a huge hill leading up from the big lake … up to glacial Lake Superior’s shoreline. The hills sometimes provide neat viewing points for birds. There are many locations in the forest near my home where I am often able to be at eye level or even above birds that are still high up in the trees. Such is the case with Amy, Momma Great Horned Owl.

The Views of Amy, the Great Horned Owl (as two of the images are landscape photographs, you may wish to click to see at full resolution … you will better understand the white-pine nesting habitat)

Near the nest … from the ground but a raised mound

At approximately eye-level

From above!

The weather yesterday was very, very windy, which did not encourage much birding. Thus, I decided to work upon some video content from this winter … Great Gray Owls across the winter months.

Great Gray Owl in the December Sunshine (video link for email subscribers)

Great Gray Owl During the Falling Snow (video link for email subscribers)