Category Archives: Year 6

A Superior Snowy!

Year 6

They’re back! Duluth / Superior Snowy Owls! Best late afternoon / evening’s entertainment in December … owling followed by Bentleyville. I will admit it was a touch cold just before sunset this evening. I spied the owl from a distance, and then found a spot to park my car. The Snowy was kind enough to sit tight while I hiked 1/3 of a mile in the -1F (-15F chill factor) conditions. The owl then let me take photographs for over five minutes before moving on to its next hunting perch. By the time I got back to the car, I was cold … but happy!

Posing for me

Snowy Owl Take-Off

Yet Another Snowstorm … Backyard Birding

Year 6,

Eight inches of snow fell overnight and into this morning. Our total snowfall for the past twelve days in my neighborhood since Thanksgiving is thirty-seven inches of the white stuff. My total time shoveling is now nine hours, and I will still have to clean the driveway and sidewalk one more time from this storm. However, on the plus, or I should say minus side skies will clear tonight and the mercury will plummet. Upon waking tomorrow morning the temperature will be -10F (-23C). Perfect for birding!

Given the current weather, my seven bird feeders are very popular with our fine feathered friends. Notice the snow in the images and the video (white streaks). The woodpecker definitely always hangs out on the downwind side of trees.

Female Northern Cardinal in a Snowstorm

Red-Bellied Woodpecker in a Snowstorm

Video (YouTube link for email subscribers)

From two days ago … Northern Shrike in Sax-Zim Bog. I also have a shrike hunting songbirds at my bird feeders, but I have yet to be able to get a photo. Thus … this power line photo in the Bog.