Tag Archives: MN North: Duluth

Sundown Snowy Owl!

Year 9

Sometimes you wonder as sundown approaches and is only ten minutes away whether it is worth waiting, and then something likes this experience happens! Yesterday this Snowy Owl suddenly appeared and perched on this pine tree for about five minutes just before sunset.

I often am not able to see whatever an owl sees in the sky above. This was one of those instances, but I have learned the owl is ALWAYS right. Something was up there!

This take-off was an hunting attack that failed.

Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding (Facebook Group)

Background, Year 9,

Earlier this morning I created a new Facebook Group, Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding. The image accompanying this post defines the area. Although the group is private, a Facebook account is required to join / participate. The group’s description and basic rules are listed beneath the map.

This group covers birding in the Boreal Forest Region of northern Minnesota, including The Big Bog, Sax-Zim Bog, the BWCA, and the North Shore of Lake Superior including Hawk Ridge.  Here is Facebook direct link:

Minnesota Boreal Forest Birding Rules:
  1. Our region is defined by the map accompanying this post
  2. Images MUST be posted within the group (not linked). Only one image is allowed for your primary post, but additional images may be posted in subsequent comments. Images should be your own, or clearly identify the owner.
  3. Posts of birding photographs should be recent, and note the basic date and location. For sensitive species using a general location is acceptable. Please add text describing your birding experience.
  4. No advertising or links to commercial websites without prior administrative approval. If your web site is “non commercial” and “not trying to sell something”, and has a clear relationship to birding in our area, links ARE allowed and most welcome.
  5. Discussion of ALL birding topics relevant to our region ARE allowed, but ONLY using polite civil language (no personal attacks or bullying).
  6. Our region is not 100% Boreal Forest. Feel free to post about birds seen in other habitat found throughout our area.

Boreal Owl … Zzzzzzz

Year 9

What can I say. As always it was cold yesterday. The morning started out at my house at -13F. However, conditions like these insure that owls like to find some sun in the daytime. Assuming a perch is protected from the wind, roosting in the sun is a most desired activity.

Boreal Owl! You can tell that I kept my distance, and only used my zoom lens. The Boreal was happily asleep in the sun. It’s front was warmed by the golden rays of the sun, and it was also protected from the wind. This image is important to show. Even though a Boreal Owl is one of the rarest owl finds in North America, and obviously I would have preferred to photograph the bird with open eyes and showing some personality, no image is worth pushing a bird. This owl needed sleep, and I respected that fact.

At sundown, as shadows stretched across the ground, this Snowy Owl moved high for the same reasons. It wanted to feel the waning rays of the sun. It would not hunt till after sundown.

Today I could not find either owl. I tried! It was overcast and there was no reason to sit out in the open. Perhaps tomorrow when the sun shines again I will get lucky.