For all those times I have watched Great Gray Owls hunt in sub-zero weather in January with three feet of snow on the ground, this morning at sunrise in Sax-Zim Bog was a unique and beautiful experience. This Great Gray Owl was out hunting after sunrise. The lower light than normal was the result of two conditions:
It is always a privilege to watch a Great Gray Owl hunt. This morning it was also artistic from a photographer’s viewpoint.
Great Gray Owl in Ground Fog … Early Morning Meadow
Great Gray Owl with Forest Fire Smoke Sunrise (very difficult photographs from a technical vantage point … it is difficult to take photos directly into the sun, and still get other items in the image to display)
Great Gray Owl … no fog and not into the sun!
I also took a short video of the owl preening. Notice how wet the bird is! (video link for email subscribers).
It was 38F just after sunup this morning at Sax-Zim Bog. Nature was decked out in green with scattered wildflowers. I wore shorts and a lightweight short-sleeved cotton sweater! This Great Gray Owl wore its finest down.
If you are a vole, you are in BIG trouble.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch the young Merlins scream for food. This particular Merlin was in a dead tree right off my driveway. At least one time per day the Merlin family works their way towards my yard (they nested about 800 yards distant). I am certain my feeders and the resulting songbirds attract the Merlins. I actually heard this juvenile screaming while I was inside my home.
My adult children say better a Cyborg, than a Borg! Events over the past three days have been interesting:
3 mornings ago: Watch Great Gray Owl hunt just after sunrise (bike ride in afternoon)
2 days ago: Rest day prior to surgery when it was moved up by almost 7 weeks
Yesterday: Surgery
Without going into all the details, I am doing fine this morning (post surgery). My planned Ablation (blocks extra electronic signals in the heart) turned into a Pacemaker Replacement to get a new model implanted which 100% controls your heart. Some pacemakers assist the heart, but the more complex “3 lead” versions totally control the heart. Shut my pacemaker down now, and you shut me down.
I am beginning to feel like the “6 Million Dollar Man” for those of you that remember the TV show from the early 1970’s (TV video trailer link for email subscribers). You would need to be a “sci-fi freak” (which I am) to understand my Cyborg / Borg opening sentence. The statement was sent by one of my kids after I texted them this video clip last night. Towards the end of the video, the narrator talks about all the operations and devices installed in “Colonel Steve Austin”. (Wikipedia link)
Over the next 7 to 14 days after recovery from surgery I will learn my new normal. Prior to this point, I got tired very easily but was still pushing my myself to hike, bike and bird. Birding and blogging will be part of the new equation.
Now on to some birding. As noted three mornings back I had the good fortune to watch a Great Gray Owl hunt just after sunrise. Given the combination of ground fog and forest fire smoke, the light was a bit subdued which kept my friend out past sunrise. The owl’s feathers were quite wet from diving into sopping wet grasses. Here are a few of the images I took …
How many of you have Guard Dogs? or at least does Fido let you know when strangers appear? While I don’t have a dog anymore, I do have a “Guard Hummingbird”. Apparently my Bee Balm is prime stuff and worth guarding from other hummingbirds. This female or immature male has set up shop in a small dead tree ten yards from my flowers. Any other hummingbird which appears get quickly chased away! I like these photos because it gives a clear view of the hummer’s feathers.
