Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Feathers Down to the Talons! Rough-Legged Hawk

November 13, 2023Year 10MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

This Rough-Legged Hawk (Cornell link) is one of the only three American raptors with feathers all the way down their legs to their talons (not including owls). The other two are the Golden Eagle and the Ferruginous Hawk. All three of these birds live in areas with extreme cold, and over hundreds and hundreds of years their bodies have adapted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Legs Close-Up

I had a great time just a few minutes before sunset yesterday up in Sax-Zim Bog. The large raptors are arriving from the Arctic. Rough-Legged Hawks will hang around in Northeastern Minnesota till the snow piles up on the ground (hawks don’t like to hunt through snow). Given the sun which was extremely low to the horizon and was in the hawk’s eyes, even though I was close it could not see me as it hunted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Take-Off Sequence (it only moved 30 yards to a new hunting perch)

Bog Owl Hunting

November 12, 2023Year 10MN North: Sax-Zim Bogrichardhoeg@gmail.com

Yesterday morning up in Sax-Zim Bog (Northeastern Minnesota) I found this Great Gray Owl hunting for its breakfast. While it looks like the owl was starting right at me, shortly after the 2nd video clip it dove and caught something only 10 yards in front of me (video link for email subscribers)

Better yet, this afternoon it is supposed to be sunny and 47F! The last time we had a truly sunny day was over nine days ago. Quite a few Rough-Legged and Red-Tailed Hawks have now arrived in Sax-Zim. I am looking forward to doing some bird watching along Hwy #133, and then given sunset is now so early, I may also go owling. Cheers.

Sunday Night at the Movies … Minnesota Style

November 5, 2023Year 10MN North: Amity, MN North: Sax-Zim Bog, MN North: Two Harbors Highlandsrichardhoeg@gmail.com

How many of you remember the days before one could even rent VCR tapes? In my youth during the early 1960’s this meant gathering around the TV as a family to watch “Sunday Night at the Movies”! Everyone hoped the two networks (CBS and NBC) had picked a film the entire family would love. Here in Duluth we had only two TV stations (ABC was still somewhere off in the future). Heck, our city at the time did not even have a McDonalds.

Thus, I bring you 365 Days of Birds at the Movies … on Sunday night (at least that is when I am blogging). (Image courtesy of FreePik.com)

Here is a short YouTube clip of the NBC Sunday Night Marquee Opener from the early 1970’s (video link for email subscribers).

Here are my movies, which started with an unexpected session the North Shore Duluth Scenic Railroad’s Steam Engine! I was hiking / birding in the woods near my home yesterday afternoon when I thought: “Is that a steam engine whistle?” Yup! The North Shore Scenic Railroad was out testing #332. The train was over three miles away from me when I first heard it. I upped my hiking pace … hurried home … and went to find a steam engine one mile away from my house!