It is -18F right now at my house, and -30F inland away from Lake Superior in Sax-Zim Bog (about 40 miles distant from my house). The big lake is starting to freeze over. Lord knows, its cold enough! When our end of Gitche Gumee gets ice covered we will lose is winter warming effect.

Yesterday was an equally “warm” day, and I worked as a volunteer at the Sax-Zim Bog Welcome Center. When the temperature soared to -5F at 1 pm I took a photograph of this Sharp-Tailed Grouse. Examine the bird closely and particularly note how its legs are completely feathered down to its feet. You will then understand how this bird is well adapted for life in the Northland. Most birds do not have this feathered adaptation to the cold. The second image shows the Sharpie next to a Ring-Necked Pheasant. It does not have this winter adaptation.

I also saw one of my friendly neighborhood Snowy Owls. You can see how it is “puffed up against the cold”. I am including another flight image I took from a month ago. Snowy Owls have the same adaptation. First the sunrise pic, and then the flight show showing its legs with the winter / cold adaptation.

Finally a few more images from yesterday, including first my car’s outside temperature reading. I missed the -30F shot, but I experienced that number on Arkola Road. I will admit I kept my hikes brief yesterday (under fifteen minutes each).

Sharp-Tailed Grouse & Ring-Necked Pheasant

Snowy Owl Flight Photograph (2 days ago … early morning … light clouds)

Northern Minnesota has some chilly weather right now. Saturday morning when I head up to Sax-Zim Bog to volunteer at the Welcome Center it should be -20F. However, this week the coldest temperature that Peter and I experience while birding was -13F (-25C). That leads to the question, what does the well dressed birder wear at these temperatures? After all, assuming the wind stays below 10 mph, we take hikes! Thus, as public service I made this picture / diagram! Cheers!

When it warmed up to 0F (-17.7C) we found these White-Winged Crossbills. It was a lifer for Peter (my birding buddy from Colorado), and rare for me.

In this photograph, you will find all three plumage colorations of White-Winged Crossbills (male, female & immature), and an impostor.

Finally, we also found a Snowy Owl, but shortly thereafter people found us. Oh well! 🙂

My friend Peter Ismert arrived from Colorado, and yesterday morning we were up in Sax-Zim Bog before the sun rose. Actually the morning was rather dark due to clouds and some snow which had just moved out of the area. Given calms winds it was a perfect morning for owling. Later in the day, the sun made an appearance. It is definitely a perfect day in the woods when the temperature soars to 27F, and the sun beats down on your back with no wind.

However, we did have to face the question of … What did the Fox say? Apparently the answer is “we don’t want know stinking Snowies in our field!” Peter and I watched a Red Fox calmly walk across a farm field and send the Snowy Owl which had been sitting on a hay bale flying. The fox also might have said … “owl trifecta!”. In total we saw two Great Gray Owls, two Snowy Owls and one Northern Hawk Owl. When we returned home to have dinner with my wife Molly, my two yard birds (Great Horned Owls) were hooting their love for one another in the gathering darkness. It was a good day.

Red Fox

Snowy Owl about to be flushed by said Red Fox

Great Gray Owl

Northern Hawk Owl

Snowy Owl #2

Although I watched Great Gray Owl #2 for 20 minutes, I chose not to take any pictures of that bird. I just wanted to enjoy the experience of watching it hunt (successfully).