Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Bog Fog Magic: Great Gray Owl times 2!

Year 8

The Great Gray Owls outnumbered the humans shortly after sunrise this morning in Sax-Zim Bog Fog!

For twenty minutes … all by myself …  I watched two Great Gray Owl juveniles hunt, and occasionally take a dive at one another. This magical time in the fog ended when a darn crow invaded our domain. The crow scared both owls into the woods, and then there was one lone human on a remote road. Darn!

Two Owls in the Same Photograph!

Juvenile Great Gray Owl #1

Juvenile Great Gray Owl #2 (on the other side of the dirt road … 25 yards away)

It was actually a three Great Gray Owl morning, but pics of that bird and other Bog favorites will get their own post. Oh yes, my own juvenile Great Horned Owls were calling to me as I left home in the pre-dawn inky black darkness. I suspect they were begging for a handout from Mom or Dad, but I like to think they were saying hello to me. I saw two of the juveniles during a pre-dawn hike yesterday morning. I just followed my ear and used a flashlight to insure I would not trip on deadfall.

Owling Failure

Year 8

I drove up to Sax-Zim Bog this morning arriving a bit before sunrise. I thought it might be a good morning for owling due to these reasons:

  • Two nights ago it rained (owls do not hunt in the rain … thus might still be hungry)
  • The forecast for the hours at sunrise was light winds and clouds (ideal for owls)

I failed BIG time in terms of finding any Great Gray Owls. There were some factors I could not have predicted, but meant my local owl population made themselves well hidden in the deep for rest:

  • Four Bald Eagles were hunting at my primary owling grounds
  • Two Rough-Legged Hawks were hunting at my primary owling grounds

These six raptors spell trouble for Great Grays. Thus, I failed, but did see some cool hawks and eagles. My birding also yielded a few magpies and snow buntings. Finally, this Ruffed Grouse was strutting its stuff on the connector road between Admiral and McDavitt Roads. Thus, it was a fun morning, just not what I expected.

Simply Superior: Great Gray Owls

Year 8
Had a great time watching two Great Gray Owls this morning and then was treated to listening all about these fantastic birds and more via Wisconsin Public Radio while driving home to Duluth.
.
Yup, Ben Yokel (board member of the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog) and Dudley Edmonson (another well known NE Minnesota area birder) were interviewed on Simply Superior.
.
Also called out in the show by name were Frank Nicoletti for his great help in being a mentor and teaching many of us, including me, a lot about birds. The final person mentioned by name was Ryan Brady with the Wisconsin DNR. Ryan lives over near Bayfield and apparently has an amazing bird bath set-up.
.
I am proud to know all four of these people. Perhaps someday I will also be famous like them!!!

As a fyi, this is a great time of year to see owls in the Bog. The youngsters / juveniles now have to fend \ hunt for themselves, and they are not yet proficient. This tends to mean the young owls are often out hunting after sunrise. One still should arrive by sunrise, and avoid windy and/or wet days.