Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors

Minnesota Owl Irruption and the Magic Lighthouses!

Year 12

When one lives in the middle of the Great Gray Owl irruption of 2025, one can be very picky about when to head out and look for owls. Yesterday morning was beautiful, albeit very cold, but with clear skies long before sunrise. The day prior we had experienced a snowstorm with 40+ mph winds. Thus, I knew that Great Gray Owls which hunt by hearing voles running beneath the snow, had gone hungry during the storm. I expected my local owls to be out before sunrise looking for food. Thus, I took the short drive to Two Harbors, ignoring other owls because I wanted the sunrise and both of our two lighthouses in my photographs. I really can’t believe I have become this “picky” on when and where I will look for owls!

Regardless … Great Gray Owls and the Two Harbors Lighthouses at Sunrise

Lighthouse #1 and Great Gray Owl

Lighthouse #1 and Great Gray Owl

Lighthouse #2 and Great Gray Owl

10 Minutes After Sunrise … Owl Hunting … I’m Leaving (going home)

Great Gray Owl Hunts in the Pre-Dawn Light near a Lighthouse!

Year 12
There are magical moments in life … including one yesterday morning well before dawn. I watched this Great Gray Owl hunt in the pre-dawn light over Lake Superior with the Two Harbors lighthouse light blinking in the background. I like the period 30 to 45 minutes before sunrise because of the deep orange colors. Depending upon cloud conditions, I have found the reds and pinks tends to come 10 to 15 minutes before sunup.
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I left before the sun even rose above the horizon. I needed to drive north and refill the Greenwood Creek Birdfeeders. Here is a sequence of images and a movie of my special moment (video link for email subscribers)
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Great Gray Owl Hunts 35 Minutes Before Sunrise

Now in Sequence … my first view of the owl …

After 10 minutes the Great Gray moved to a pine tree

However, I really got excited when the owl moved to another tree in line with the lighthouse!

8 minutes later, I captured the pre-dawn takeoff. Notice the lighthouse is shining in the first photograph, but not the next three images. Total elapsed time for these four photographs is about 1/2 second. This is why one MUST use burst mode for photography. Lots of action happens in micro seconds.

The Movie!

The Lake Gives & Takes Away Birding Opportunities

Year 11

Lake Superior dominates our weather in Northeastern Minnesota. As I left home this morning wind advisories were posted … 60 mph wind gusts! Given the horrible weather of late I really wanted to spend some time outside. Thus, I turned inland at Two Harbors which was a horrible idea. Although nice and sunny down at Lake Superior, the strong winds off Lake Superior generated plenty of rain just 25 miles inland (approximately a 1,500 foot climb from the lakeshore). Anyhow, winds exceeding 50 mph plus rain out my hiking plans on hold. I turned around and drove back down the the lake … and sunshine.

In Two Harbors, assuming one could find protected areas, there were a few birds. This Rough Legged Hawk was using two different signs next to the road as hunting platforms. The advantage of both of these signs was they were only 15 yards from the forest’s edge, and thus a bit protected from the fierce wind.

I also checked out the Two Harbors Campground and found some snow buntings also working their way south from the Arctic.

I did take a short hike out onto Lighthouse Point. It was reasonably protected from the wind while receiving the morning sunshine. I was also wearing ski goggles which allowed me to see in the blustery conditions. It’s now time to go check the roof of my house. A large dead, but rotten tree fell onto the roof. I was not willing to get on a ladder to climb up onto the roof to check if there is any damage till the wind died down some.