Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Sunset Owl

Year 8
There are two interesting items about this Great Gray Owl which I watched hunt yesterday right at sunset up in Sax-Zim Bog.
  1.  If the wind is dead calm, GGO’s use powerlines and guide wires as hunting perches. This gives them access to areas they normally are not able to hunt.
  2. All the yellow in the background is amazing for the end of August. It shows the draught we are experiencing in NE Minnesota, and thus providing all the fuel for our forest fires.

Bog in the Fog: Great Gray Owl

Year 8

For all those times I have watched Great Gray Owls hunt in sub-zero weather in January with three feet of snow on the ground, this morning at sunrise in Sax-Zim Bog was a unique and beautiful experience. This Great Gray Owl was out hunting after sunrise. The lower light than normal was the result of two conditions:

It is always a privilege to watch a Great Gray Owl hunt. This morning it was also artistic from a photographer’s viewpoint.

Great Gray Owl in Ground Fog … Early Morning Meadow

Great Gray Owl with Forest Fire Smoke Sunrise (very difficult photographs from a technical vantage point … it is difficult to take photos directly into the sun, and still get other items in the image to display)

Great Gray Owl … no fog and not into the sun!

I also took a short video of the owl preening. Notice how wet the bird is! (video link for email subscribers).

Summer’s Predators

Year 8,

It was 38F just after sunup this morning at Sax-Zim Bog. Nature was decked out in green with scattered wildflowers. I wore shorts and a lightweight short-sleeved cotton sweater! This Great Gray Owl wore its finest down.

If you are a vole, you are in BIG trouble.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch the young Merlins scream for food. This particular Merlin was in a dead tree right off my driveway. At least one time per day the Merlin family works their way towards my yard (they nested about 800 yards distant). I am certain my feeders and the resulting songbirds attract the Merlins. I actually heard this juvenile screaming while I was inside my home.