The weather has been poor up here in the Northland for the past two days, and really horrible over the past 24 hours. For someone like me who lives for being outside, that means Cabin Fever. Thus, this morning at 7 am I informed my wife I was heading to Sax-Zim Bog.

• Did it matter that once I got in the car a bad snow squall hit?
• Did it matter that the forecast was for temperatures around freezing with sleet, drizzle and snow?
• Did it matter that the wind forecast called for strong gusts within an hour?

My answer to all of these questions was a resounding “No!”. Now logic dictates I should have stayed home, but as I approached the Bog, the weather moderated and what had been rain at my house was snow in the Bog. The trees were flocked with snow, and it was a winter wonderland. Here is a 20 second video of the Bog’s backroads this morning. (video link for email subscribers)

I tried to hide from the wind, but Old Man Winter laughed at me. Unfortunately, even though I knew the Great Gray Owls had to be hungry, not one came out to play. Just when I was about to return home, much to my surprise the sun tried to come out.  Better yet, a Rough-Legged Hawk started hunting for voles and did not care about my presence (unusual). This particular bird hovered almost motionless directly over me. Cabin Fever cured!

As a fyi, the Rough-Legged Hawk is one of my favorite raptors. It breeds in the Arctic, and I get to see it twice per year … during the Spring and Fall migrations.