Gray Jays Attacking a Northern Hawk Owl!

Year 6
Sometimes the owls find you!
 
This morning I was taking a stroll down McDavitt Road in Sax-Zim Bog (crystal clear, no wind, and -12F). For about ten minutes I watched a Black Backed Woodpecker, and then directed my attention to some Gray Jays arriving on the scene (west side of road … 400 yards north of South Logging Road Trail).
At that point I heard a major commotion behind me, and saw that the Northern Hawk Owl had come out to hunt, which was not appreciated by another pair of Gray Jays which were on the east side of the road. Just a few minutes earlier I had watched these two jays, and there definitely was not an owl around … which led to this sequence of photos! (all from the same attack sequence)  I also saw Redpolls, a Hairy Woodpecker, and even the Black Backed Woodpecker decide to take bombing runs at the owl. However, the Gray Jays were by far the most persistent.
 
This morning’s events were just another reason I like to get out and walk! Better yet, this escapade was a private performance for me!
Gray Jay (Canada Jay) Attacking a Northern Hawk Owl
One Gray Jays takes a bow while the other sings out!
The Northern Hawk Owl eventually moved to this Black Spruce.

Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race

Year 6

Yesterday Molly and I covered the Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race. There were blizzard like conditions in the Ely, Minnesota area. Thus, one could only describe the weather as very nasty. The race was split up into two events … mushers racing with eight dogs or six dog teams. The eight dog teams had a huge part of their race that went across Bear Head Lake near Ely. I can’t imagine the wind and snow the musher’s experienced.

One reason my wife and I enjoy covering these events is because of the amazing information we learn. While obviously the money we are paid by Lake Country Journal is nice, our status as media gives us access to neat parts of the race behind the scenes. On Saturday evening we attended the musher’s meeting. In this meeting in addition to the race officials discussing the race course, rules and other concerns are reviewed. Just like when we covered the Arrowhead 135 Winter Ultra Marathon, we learned how mushers had to be prepared in order to insure the dogs health was paramount. For instance, if you don’t have cable cutters in your sled’s kit, you don’t start. Should this item or others be missing upon finishing disqualification is immediate.

You may wonder why a cable cutter is necessary? Should an accident occur during the race out on a remote trail, the cutter insures the dogs can be cut loose with all do haste. While not required in this race, I talked with one musher who was carrying an axe. As axe is part of his normal kit just in case he meets up with downed trees across the trail. The reason an axe was not required for this race is although the course is remote … at times ten miles from the nearest road, it is also a commonly used snowmobile trail. In the winter in northern Minnesota on a Sunday, snowmobile clubs insure trails are kept clear of deadfall.

Here are just a few images from yesterday’s Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog race. The full article with many more images will appear early next winter just before the next running of the race. Notice the snow in the photo from the start.

Oh … you get this post now because I decided I did NOT want to be cold once again. This morning it was -17F with a strong wind. Yesterday Molly and I experienced blizzard like conditions while covering the race. I was about to go Nordic skiing this afternoon but could not get myself motivated. It’s presently 7F with a decent breeze (no sun). This means a chilly ski when it is later in the afternoon. I decided to stay home and stay warm, which is an unusual decision for me. Molly did go running!

The Start …

Out on the Trail …

Ice Sculptures in Ely’s Municipal Park (just after sunrise  this morning)

The White of Winter!

Year 6

As we experience the snowiest February in recorded history here in northern Minnesota, one color dominates the scene … white! Whether it is in the early evening as one shovels snow for the umpteenth time, or watching my favorite male Snowy Owl north of Duluth, the color is white.

Male Snowy Owls become progressively whiter with each additional year. The females and juveniles have black markings. Thus, I figure this guy is in his prime!

Today I am experiencing another kind of white … white out! Molly and I are up in Ely covering the Wolftrack Classic Sled Dog Race. While there is some snow in the air, the wind is howling like crazy (along with the dogs).

I did learn a new fact today. While sled dogs are not exactly quiet while waiting to start a race, the moment the dogs are hooked up to the sled, pandemonium breaks out. These dogs want to run. In order to insure the team does not go anywhere before their alloted time to approach the starting corral, every team was hooked up to their musher’s truck with no exceptions. These dogs are born to run!

Photos to follow … with lots of white! Time to head out to the Boreal Forest and take some race photos amongst the snow encrusted pines!