Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Owling Failure

Year 8

I drove up to Sax-Zim Bog this morning arriving a bit before sunrise. I thought it might be a good morning for owling due to these reasons:

  • Two nights ago it rained (owls do not hunt in the rain … thus might still be hungry)
  • The forecast for the hours at sunrise was light winds and clouds (ideal for owls)

I failed BIG time in terms of finding any Great Gray Owls. There were some factors I could not have predicted, but meant my local owl population made themselves well hidden in the deep for rest:

  • Four Bald Eagles were hunting at my primary owling grounds
  • Two Rough-Legged Hawks were hunting at my primary owling grounds

These six raptors spell trouble for Great Grays. Thus, I failed, but did see some cool hawks and eagles. My birding also yielded a few magpies and snow buntings. Finally, this Ruffed Grouse was strutting its stuff on the connector road between Admiral and McDavitt Roads. Thus, it was a fun morning, just not what I expected.

Simply Superior: Great Gray Owls

Year 8
Had a great time watching two Great Gray Owls this morning and then was treated to listening all about these fantastic birds and more via Wisconsin Public Radio while driving home to Duluth.
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Yup, Ben Yokel (board member of the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog) and Dudley Edmonson (another well known NE Minnesota area birder) were interviewed on Simply Superior.
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Also called out in the show by name were Frank Nicoletti for his great help in being a mentor and teaching many of us, including me, a lot about birds. The final person mentioned by name was Ryan Brady with the Wisconsin DNR. Ryan lives over near Bayfield and apparently has an amazing bird bath set-up.
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I am proud to know all four of these people. Perhaps someday I will also be famous like them!!!

As a fyi, this is a great time of year to see owls in the Bog. The youngsters / juveniles now have to fend \ hunt for themselves, and they are not yet proficient. This tends to mean the young owls are often out hunting after sunrise. One still should arrive by sunrise, and avoid windy and/or wet days.

The Fall Birding Doldrums

Background, Year 8, ,
  • Most of our summer birds have departed the Northland
  • Winter birds from up north have not yet arrived
  • Eternal thick fog seems to have coated the area

In short, the birding opportunities have been few and far between over the past week. Perhaps the only excitement was fixing the bear damage at the new public bird feeders at French River.

Winter birding is just around the corner. Two prime locations near Duluth are Sax-Zim Bog just north of town, and Superior (just across the bridge from Duluth). I recently created two short birding guides for a friend’s business. Folks may enjoy downloading the free PDF’s.

The sun did briefly make an appearance yesterday morning, and I caught this Pileated Woodpecker in flight.