Tag Archives: WI North: Wisconsin Point

Sax-Zim Bog Snowy Owl

Year 9, ,

Got lucky this morning. I decided even given the high winds to visit Sax-Zim Bog which is 45 minutes from my house. I had heard there was a second Snowy Owl around and it often frequented Sax Road around sunrise. Jackpot! Even though the sky was ugly, a little bit of sun sun actually tried to break through … thus a “white” owl!

Most folks look for Great Gray Owls as a first choice in the Bog, but given my proximity to the Bog, I will leave “old gray” for the crowds of birders. In about a month the Bog becomes mine once more as our winter guests stop visiting.

Yesterday I had thought of visiting the Bog, but when I walked outside, the impending sunrise quickly changed my decision. I took this image at the mouth of the Lester River about 20 minutes prior to sunup. I then spent the next 30 minutes exploring the Lake Superior shore.

The previous day found me checking out the ice conditions over on Wisconsin Point. We get some amazing ice piles as storms push ice down to our end of the lake. The ice mounds won’t totally melt till May.

You should now understand why folks including me call our area the “Arctic Riviera!”

Good Grebe Morning (Reprise!)

Year 6

Another day … another Grebe, but in this case a lifer for me! I drove over to the Superior Entry shortly after sunrise in hopes I might get lucky and find some Red-Throated Loons feeding upon smelt while taking a break from their Arctic migration. No such luck, but this Eared Grebe which was definitely at the extreme eastern edge of it migration range was present.

Then I was dumbfounded as the only two Red-Breasted Mergansers present at the Superior Entry (HUGE area) swam right over to within five yards of me. It never hurts to be lucky; however given the angle of the sun they would have had difficulty seeing me. A good morning. Just wish I would find a Red-Throated Loon that is not 1/2 mile distant out on Lake Superior.