Tag Archives: WI North: Richard Bong Airport

Owl Trifecta: Boreal, Snowy & Northern Hawk Owl

Year 7,

I decided I needed to go over to Sax-Zim Bog and see the famous “Admiral Road Boreal Owl”. My hope was by visiting on a Tuesday afternoon the number of birders would be at an acceptable level. Thankfully it was only me and about 15 other folks. Apparently the weekend was crazy. The good news is everyone was being very quiet and allow the owl to hunt. This small owl shows up at the Admiral Road feeders about 2:00 pm in the afternoon when the spruce trees provide good shade, which allows the light sensitive owl to hunt. The feeders attract lots of mice and voles, and this owl is very much enjoying its visit to northern Minnesota … easy food.

Boreal Owl (video link for email subscribers)

On the way home, Greg G. and I enjoyed a private viewing experience with this beautiful Northern Hawk Owl.

Upon getting home, I dropped off Greg, and never even got out of my own car. It was off to Superior for evening Snowy Owls … my third owl species of the day.

Lady Showing Interest in a small dog.

I actually broke the “golden rule” of owling yesterday afternoon. Normally I am very, very quiet around owls, but when I while watching “Lady” in a quiet neighborhood, I realized she was quite interested in a small dog. While most owls are not capable of catching prey the size of a small dog, Snowies are not “most owls”. Anyhow I yelled over to the owner who was about to leave her dog out in the back yard and suggested that might not be a good idea.

Finally … the prior evening I had fun watching a different Snowy with Jeannette L.

Quoth the Raven to the Snowy, Nevermore! (movie!)

Year 7

Okay, Edgar Allen Poe did not include a reference to a Snowy Owl in his famous poem, but somehow it seems appropriate.  My favorite lady Snowy found herself under attack yesterday afternoon (she is okay). In fact, given it was only one raven pressing home the attack, at times the owl chased the big black bird!

Raven Attacks Snowy Owl

The Movie! (link for email subscribers)

You will hear briefly some music during my short video clip. My phone was ringing (ignored). My ring tone is an excerpt from the Volga Boatmen. Kind of funny given what was taking place.

Once this attack was finished, Lady Snowy got her evening hunt underway. She was kind enough to even pose in non industrial locations, and allow a sunset photo or two. Due to this bird’s cooperation with me over the past week, I recognize this Snowy Owl is a true lady … and in the tradition of naming owls … I present:

Lady … the Snowy Owl

Lady at Sunset

Lady on the Hunt after Sunset

Just in case you might be thinking I was devoting all my attentions to Lady, I also enjoyed some time with this all white male Snowy Owl. However, this gentleman is “too cool” to ever do much of anything before sunset, let alone hunt. Thus, although he is an extremely handsome bird, I tend to ignore him.

All White Male Snowy Owl

I plan to take a few days off from blogging. Time to get ready for my visit to warmer climates!

Snowy Owl in a Snow Storm!

Year 7

Most people might choose to stay home in the midst of a snow storm, but most people are not me! When a weather window appeared this morning with lighter snow and wind, before a second storm onslaught I went looking for a “Snowy in a Snow Storm”! Now normally looking for a Snowy Owl around 10:30 am would be an exercise in frustration, but I thought last nights ugly weather followed by this brief respite might bring an owl or two out into the open. I was not disappointed.

This Snowy had been actively looking around, and then started to snooze. However, when owl and I heard crows approaching the Snowy quickly woke up and exited Stage Left!

Snowy Owl in a Snow Storm (White on White in White!)

The photographic conditions were hugely sub-optimal. I was very pleased with my results. There is not a ton of contrast available when one is attempting to photograph a white bird in a white storm against a white background. Try it some time. Given this owl is a “very white male”, my task was even more difficult.