Owls two days in a row a sunset means the northern owls are arriving in our area. After seeing my first Snowy of the season two nights ago, yesterday at sundown it was my first Northern Hawk Owl.
This morning my plan is to go look for Snowy Owls out on some early harbor ice. It was almost three years ago exactly, I found and rescued Sky the Snowy Owl.
I saw my first Snowy Owl of the winter! It was a long way off, and did not start hunting till after dark, when it appeared to make a successful kill. Photo taken minutes before sundown.
I made another trip to the Bog early this morning. For those of you planning a visit, the number of Great Gray Owls (our locals) seems to be quite good this year. However, if you want to see the Gray Ghost, arrive at least 30 minutes “before sunrise”. The combination of what appears to be a strong vole population plus little snow on the ground is making for easier hunting for the owls (a good thing). However, this means the owls retreat to deep forest perches within a few minutes of sunup. The owls seem a bit more likely to come out a bit before sunset … particularly if the overnight hours included some difficult hunting conditions (such as high winds). Remember, Great Grays hunt with their ears. High winds makes hearing mice and voles much more difficult.
After owling at sunrise, visit one of the boardwalks. The feeders and carcasses make for good bird magnets. There are some nice birds visiting the various feeders, but not yet in huge numbers. There is a lot of natural food still available.
With respect to owling along the North Shore … not much action yet. Further inland snow depths are still not deep. Thus, there is little reason for my friends to push down towards the big lake and the normally lesser snow depths found there. A few Snowies have been reported over in Superior.
Pine Grosbeak at Winterberry Bog / Boardwalk (this morning)