Knowing that the tamarack needles in their golden majesty would soon all be on the forest floor, and thereby heralding the start of winter, I drove up to Sax-Zim Bog for a final version of “Golden Glory Owling”. Thankfully the star performer eventually did arrive. Unlike the other morning when I saw three unique Great Gray Owls, only one wanted its photograph taken this morning. Here were the results.

On a final note, if you live anywhere up north with no light pollution, get yourself outside by 7:30 pm TONIGHT. Find a spot with low light which faces north (public boat launches can be great). The numbers for the Northern Lights are looking great at 4 pm CDT. Unlike the big media blitz of last weekend, my own technical read of the data shows something is very much happening. See my Northern Lights Web Page for more information.

Two afternoons ago I risked a bad rain forecast and drove over to Sax-Zim Bog. The probability for rain was over 75%. However, being the weatherman I am, I looked at radar, evaluated the dry conditions as my home and took the risk. A bit of cabin fever also drove me out of the house.

Well … it sort of stayed dry. The drizzle never got to bad and I enjoyed watching this recent arrival from Hudson Bay Way hunt. Yup, my favorite hawks, Rough-Legged Hawks have migrated back into the Northland from waaaayyy up north. Only this bird and Golden Eagles have feathers down all the way to their talons to keep them warm in Arctic environments.

Rough-Legged Hawk … a Bog Hunting!

From this morning, my other Bog birds.

Gray Jay (now known as a Canada Jay)

Great Gray Owl #3 (see the other two)

The Great Gray Owls outnumbered the humans shortly after sunrise this morning in Sax-Zim Bog Fog!

For twenty minutes … all by myself …  I watched two Great Gray Owl juveniles hunt, and occasionally take a dive at one another. This magical time in the fog ended when a darn crow invaded our domain. The crow scared both owls into the woods, and then there was one lone human on a remote road. Darn!

Two Owls in the Same Photograph!

Juvenile Great Gray Owl #1

Juvenile Great Gray Owl #2 (on the other side of the dirt road … 25 yards away)

It was actually a three Great Gray Owl morning, but pics of that bird and other Bog favorites will get their own post. Oh yes, my own juvenile Great Horned Owls were calling to me as I left home in the pre-dawn inky black darkness. I suspect they were begging for a handout from Mom or Dad, but I like to think they were saying hello to me. I saw two of the juveniles during a pre-dawn hike yesterday morning. I just followed my ear and used a flashlight to insure I would not trip on deadfall.