While for many folks, the fog over the past two days in northern Minnesota might be a bummer, it represented a “low light opportunity” for me to go “owling”. The combination of wet, damp nights made me believe my friends might be out hunting long past sunrise.

I planned my arrivals in Sax-Zim Bog to correspond for my best estimate as to when the thick fog would be lifting (around 9 am). I was rewarded with watching Great Grays hunt three different times over the past two days … as late as 11:00 am.

The “colors” in these images are the needles of Tamarack Pines which are one of two common trees in a bog habitat. Unlike most pine and spruce trees, Tamarack Pines lose all their needles each fall. The first two weeks of October generally represents a majestic golden time of year. People tend to focus upon Sugar Maples in the Fall for their brilliant red leaves, but a sunset or sunrise against the golden Tamarack needles is heavenly. One other side benefit is for a person with a beat up body (see bottom of linked post) from a bicycle crash, slow hiking dirt roads while owling is a perfect activity!