Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Great Gray at 200k!

December 6, 2017Year 4MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

A very important part of wildlife photography … given the wilderness roads I travel, is a reliable car. I dare not get stuck or have breakdowns. I am often off the grid with the inability to phone for support. In the winter when on roads like the Tomahawk Trail (pictured on a different day), another car may not come by for hours, if not all day. My all wheel drive Subaru Outback has been my friend for the last 200K!

I found this Great Gray Owl about 2 miles before I hit 200K!

Owl Candy

December 3, 2017Year 4MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Yesterday I drove up to Sax-Zim Bog arriving before sunrise. Knowing that the weekend would bring out lots of folks to view the hawk owl (most welcome), but not desiring to be part of the huge crowd I hiked into a different area of the bog where I had heard reports of another Northern Hawk Owl. It was good I was there before sunup because this individual stopped hunting the minute the golden orb popped above the horizon.

However, it was not time for all the other birds to have breakfast, and many were NOT please to the the owl in vicinity. Over the course of 20 minutes, the Northern Hawk Owl attracted quite a bit of attention, or should I say attacks? Thus … owl candy which the other birds could not resist!

Each of these birds took a swipe at the owl, but ultimately grew bored and moved on leaving the owl in peace to enjoy the warmth of the morning sun. The easiest way to bird in the Bog, find an owl and wait for the other birds to attack! 🙂

Gray Jay and Norther Hawk Owl

Female Pine Grosbeak

Northern Shrike

Northern Hawk Owl on the Hunt!

November 28, 2017Year 4MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Sax-Zim Bog has turned on!

I was scheduled for volunteer training at the Welcome Center this morning to get ready for our winter season. Given our training did not start till 10:00 am, I drove the 50 miles over from Duluth early enough to arrive slightly before sunrise at 7:30 am.

Wow, and I repeat wow! How else can one describe a crystal clear morning when one finds both a Northern Hawk Owl and a Great Gray Owl within 300 yards of each other before sunrise. Given I knew the northern hawk owl would hunt well into the day, but the Great Gray Owl would retreat deep into the Bog once it started to get light, I ignored the hawk owl at first. Given the NHO is my favorite bird this decision was difficult. However, it was the correct move as the Great Gray did disappear into the deep Bog about 20 minutes after sunup while the Northern Hawk Owl was still hunting when I left for my training at 9:45 am

McDavitt Road is the location of all my fun … near the small parking area on the west side of the road. Both late yesterday and this morning I saw both owls plus or minus 500 yards from this pull out. Here are some pics … yesterday evening was cloudy and gloomy … this morning was bright and sunny.

Northern Hawk Owl Hunting Sequence (total time duration … about 30 seconds … I was not able to record the actual kill as the NHO captured the vole behind some tall trail grass)