After the winter storm yesterday, a Canadian high pressure system screamed into northern Minnesota bringing temperatures of -20F ten miles away from the lake. Before the mercury dropped too much I made my final trip of the year over to the Bog and hiked into the back country. While much of the way I was able to use a poorly maintained snowshoe trail, for the last 400 yards I slogged through deep, deep snow … that rose up to my mid thighs (I am 6 feet 2 inches tall). The effort was well worth the trouble as I got to watch this Northern Hawk Owl try to consume its prey. Here is one still image followed by a short stop action video which demonstrates the gyrations the Northern Hawk Owl went through while trying to eat a vole. The owl actually had to try five times to successfully swallow its prey, stopping to tear some flesh off the vole before it was successful at eating the vole. Guess its eyes were bigger than its stomach (or in this case its mouth and throat).

This first still image was taken moments after the owl had finally consumed the vole. It looked over at me (only 15 yards distant) and seemed to say with its stare: “What are you watching, bub?”

This stop action video was created from 23 images. The actual length of what you are watching took a little over 2 seconds

A few more still images which document the experience!

The winter storm which dropped over 12 inches of snow in northern Minnesota is now history. At the storm’s outset the snow was very wet, and now that the temperatures have dropped below zero all the trees are flocked with snow and ice. Tis a Winter Wonderland.

The winds are now finally calm and it was only a few degrees below zero this morning. My youngest son and I drove over to Sax-Zim Bog where this male Snowy put on quite the show. First it chased a small bird for hundreds of yards, flying within 40 yards of us. The owl then perched in these nicely flocked pine trees till it got chased away by crows, once again flying right in front of us … 30 yards away. What an experience. Uff Dah! (note the male pine grosbeak in the background of the second image)

After all this excitement, the Snowy Owl settled down for a daytime siesta. We left it sleeping peacefully on a hay bale. I assume it will not move till late afternoon.

Oh yes … there were lots of other visual delights in the Bog … like this Pine Grosbeak amongst the iced branches.
All of these photographs were taken with my new Canon SX70 at full optical zoom (digital was turned off). Photographic conditions were near perfect. See my full SX70 Review.

I escaped to the Bog this morning … sun was forecast before the blizzard hits NE Minnesota this evening. In addition, it was the only free time before kids and grandkids arrive (before the blizzard). I must have had a bit too much Christmas Cheer, as I forgot my new Canon SX70 camera and took the SX60 in its place. I was “bog bummed”!

Oh well … I had used the SX60 for four years. Thus, it was time for a last hurrah with an old friend. The sun finally arrived and I went searching for Boreal Chickadees. For the past two winters they have been a hard find. This birding season is different. The feeders out in the woods on Admiral Road were Boreal Chickadee heaven!

Tomorrow I will search for a Snowy in a Snowstorm! My eldest grandchild, who is nine, will be birding with me. We are looking forward to “Blizzard Birding”.

Boreal Chickadees and its first cousin

Pine Grosbeak on a deer carcaas (just a perch … did not take a bite)

My old friend, the Northern Hawk Owl