Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Snow Storm Raptors

Year 5,

It was not worth checking out most of my owling grounds today. Any smart owl was in the deep woods due to the presence of this Bald Eagle.

Yesterday was a good day north of Duluth. After many days of high winds, the air calmed which I knew would make for easier birding. Remember, Great Gray Owls hunt by listening for voles and mice running underneath the snow. High winds make it very hard to hear anything. I found this owl hunting very near my house!

Finally I found this Boreal Owl sleeping before sunset along the North Shore of Lake Superior!

Road Kill Cafe

Year 5

I suspect many of you already know these facts, but for beginning birders, whenever you are driving along a road in the winter in snow country, if you spot lots of ravens and crows near road kill, stop and look for eagles. Our nation’s national bird is a top of the food chain scavenger. Yesterday while driving the expressway from Two Harbors, I noticed lots of crows, then roadkill, and then this Bald Eagle. Thus, don’t just blow by road kill at high speed. You may miss a nice photo opportunity.

The Other Owl!

Year 5

Yesterday, my readers who subscribe to this blog know I had a fantastic evening … privy to a Snowy Owl fight. Believe it or not, talons were a plenty beyond the Snowies. Northern Hawk Owls, unlike most other owls, hunt during the day. Around noon a friend and I found this individual sharpening his talons up for the midday hunt.

Talons!

Actually not sharpening talons … preening!

If you were a vole, you would be in BIG trouble!