Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Great Horned Owl Loves its Winter Perch

Year 11,

How do I know this fact? Every morning for the past 25 days I have checked in on my friend, and Poppa Great Horned Owl is always on its favorite perch. Thus, what defines a great perch?

  • Near where his “lady love” sometimes comes for a visit
  • Protected and hidden from above and those pesky crows.
  • Shielded both from fierce winds off Lake Superior, and out of the NW

I have tried to find where Momma Great Horned Owl likes to perch, but other than a general idea I have failed. However, the duo seems to be interested in a couple of nesting spots near where Poppa resides … we shall see. I took this image a few days ago shortly after sunrise.

I do know that the owls hunt my feeders. 3 nights ago around 4:00 am I heard a hooting duet outside my bedroom window (we keep a window open all winter long …). Anyhow I threw on a jacket and went out on the deck in my PJ’s. The stench of skunk was strong, and I knew Pepe Le Pew had met its demise. Great Horned Owls are one of the few animals or birds willing to prey on skunks. It was obvious what had happened. There were two skunks that visited our bird feeders every night … my trailcams now only show one. I suspect the duet during the early morning hours took place after Poppa fed Momma skunk (normal this time of year … she is developing eggs)

On a sad note, a friend let informed me that the Sax-Zim Bog Snowy Owl was struck by a train around noon yesterday. Unfortunately this owl obviously liked to hunt near the tracks. Yesterday it was actually sitting on the tracks, and did not move away fast enough. The owl most likely did not understand trains which do not exist in the Arctic.

Snowy Owl Catches a Vole

Year 11

Late Friday afternoon I drove over to Sax-Zim Bog. My hope and goal was to photograph an owl against the riding moon. I have found the day before the “full moon” is the best day to photograph objects in the foreground (like an owl) with the moon still not to far above the horizon. From a strictly photography vantage point the day before full, the moon is at 99% of full, and rises about one hour before the next evening (the actual full moon). The eye can not tell the difference between 99% and 100% full moons, and the earlier rising hour makes for more light on foreground objects. During my photographic career, I have pulled off these photos a few times. First one much find an owl, and then it must agree to pose during the 15 to 20 minutes where moon pics are possible.

Here is an effort from last winter when I succeeded.

However this past Friday night I failed. Although I found two owls, neither bird was willing to hunt during the early evening where I could align the rising moon behind them. All was not lost, however, the male Snowy Owl which has been hanging out in Sax-Zim Bog the past few weeks provided me a great show before sunset, and at sunset!

Snowy Owl Hunts & Catches a Vole

The Attack

The Capture, Meal and TakeOff

Snowy Catches Another Vole (TakeOff)

Sunset Railroad Snowy

One cool fact from this sequence … I was standing about 50 yards away from the owl. Little did I know it had spied a vole within 15 feet of me. The Snowy flew right at me … attacking the vole right at my feet (it missed). My heart was going thumpa, thumpa, thumpa!

Yup … moon shot failures. Who cares?!

Unwinter Messes Up Camouflage

Year 11

It is 52F outside at 12:30 pm on February 22nd as I type this post. My youngest son, an elite cross-country skier is scheduled to compete in the American Birkebeiner on Sunday … he hopes. The Birkie is a 54 kilometer long ski marathon with over 10,000 competitors … reduced to 30 kilometers on a tight gerbil track this winter … no snow. However it is not just championship skiers who hate this weather; animals and birds which use winter white camouflage for their protection have a difficult time this year. Snowshoe hares stand out like a sore thumb making them easier prey.

Two days ago I watched this Long-Tailed Weasel bringing bedding to its den. The weasel is a predator, but is winter coat of white fur allows its prey an easier ability to spy its approach. Many folks have visited Sax-Zim Bog this winter and say … “I saw an ermine”! Maybe yes, maybe no! Here is how one may tell the difference between a mink, ermine and weasel. I watched this weasel far from any carcasses put out by the Friends of Sax-Zim Bog. In fact, I was privilege to watch the furry white critter for 35 minutes which was amazing. It was bringing bedding to its den where soon youngsters will be born.

I also spent some time with our resident Snowy Owl. Soon it will head north. It’s natural jacket of white feathers might often make it decide to take cover during the day to hide from crows and other pesky folks. White is useless this winter.

Making the big leap from one perch to another.