Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Bog Fog Birds or F’Owl Colors!

Year 1

We picked up a fair amount of rain over the weekend, particularly in the overnight hours. This has a dampening effect on our local owls ability to hunt. After all, “who” likes to hang out in a rainstorm. When the weather forecast showed extremely heavy ground fog after midnight the past two nights, and light winds each morning, I thought one of my friendly neighborhood Great Gray Owls might be out hunting long after sunrise. I hit the jackpot both mornings, and even left a hunting owl this morning just before high noon. Does anyone ever leave a hot fishing spot when the fish are biting? I did!

Each morning I arrived in Sax-Zim Bog long after sunrise (not normal), but I needed to have some ground fog burn off if I was going to have a chance at seeing anything. As often stated before in this blog, think like a bird when heading out in the woods … and find the food sources.

There are quite a lot of photographs in this post. Sorry (no I’m not!). It will give you an idea what the last two mornings were like in terms of owling. I spent close to six hours watching “old gray”. When the sun came out in bursts, the colors were amazing. The Tamarack needles are beginning to have their golden glow; the aspens are also yellow.

Day #1: Fall Colors & Ground Fog

Day #2: Tamarack Take-Off 1 (and a few Spruce)

Day #2: Tamarack Take-Off 2 (and a few Spruce)

Day #2: The Claw! (make certain you maximize the first image of the talon)

Day #2: Cedar Tree Camouflage

Cemeteries and Septic Ponds: Ross’s Goose

Year 1,

Yup, I like to hang out at Cemeteries and Septic Ponds (Sewage Treatment Ponds). Yesterday afternoon I struck paydirt at the LakeView Cemetery in Two Harbors when I saw a rare northeastern Minnesota migrant, a Ross’s Goose.

This Ross’s Goose was hanging out with about 1,000+ of its Canadian buddies yesterday afternoon at the cemetery. While Ross’s and Snow Geese might be a common sight in the western Minnesota border region with the Dakotas, it is rare in NE Minnesota. If you wondered how I was able to get close to the goose with so many birds around, the answer is to NEVER walk directly towards a bird. I spent ten minutes walking in oblique, non direct lines towards the geese. They would look at me, but decide I was not a threat. I made sure to stop every few feet.

Later this morning I plan on driving up to the Castle Danger Sewage Treatment Ponds. I generally hike / bird the area outside the fenced in ponds. It is at Castle Dangle four years ago when I found / rescued Silver the Snowy Owl while hiking.

Even with my propensity to hang out at these aforementioned unusual locations, I was “bog bound” two mornings ago. The combination of heavy ground fog overnight, plus light winds in the first two hours after dawn led me to believe my favorite Great Gray Owl would be out hunting after sunrise as the fog cleared. I was not disappointed. It was beautiful to watch the owl hunt with all the fall colors around.

Post Ground Fog Owl Hunt

Year 8

I was not planning on heading over to Sax-Zim Bog yesterday morning, but when I got up and checked the weather forecast … ground fog burning off by 8 am followed by clear, crisp, light wind weather, I changed my mind and went “bog birding”. My hope was that after two nights of heavy fog, and now a morning of light winds I would find a Great Gray Owl out hunting long past day break just because it was hungry. My rationale was owls hate rain and other damp conditions (like ground fog). One of the compromises that allows owls to hunt and fly silently is their feathers, unlike other birds, are not very water resistant. Other things being equal, a Great Gray Owl will avoid hunting in wet conditions, and perch in an area that helps protect if from the wet weather.

Did I hit the jackpot! I found an owl hunting when I arrived in the Bog at 8:15 am. The owl did not retreat to the forest for a daytime perch till 10:45 am, 2.5 hours later. During this entire time, I watched the owl hunt … often from a distance of 30 yards. In fact, the owl  at one point snatched a vole only 10 yards in front of me. It is exhilarating to have a raptor flying directly at you … eye level … and then smash into the ground where you can almost touch the bird.

Anyhow … here are lots of photographs from yesterday. While it is nice to bird with friends, I was by myself the entire time. Given everything I have been through with my heart, it was extra special to enjoy such a dramatic morning with nature … just me and the owl. My batteries were recharged.

Great Gray Owl Take-Off

Tightrope Walking (see video post)

Fall Colors Pine Grove (I have no idea what the owl was watching high up in the sky … third image down … I could not see anything)

Tall Grasses Hunt (the owl attacked a vole only 10 yards from me … hard to back off a lens when you are this close)

Final Morning Hunt

Some other raptors from yesterday! I don’t just watch owls. American Kestrel and Red-Tailed Hawk.

If you’re still with me … a video of the Great Gray Owl hunting in the pine grove (video link for email subscribers)