Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Great Gray Owl Hunts During a Snowfall

Year 11

This morning was truly special. I was privileged to find and watch four unique species of owls in Northeastern Minnesota … all before 11 am! My first find was a Northern Hawk Owl up in Sax-Zim Bog at 7:00 am, 20 minutes before sunrise. From that point I moved along to various locations both in and outside Sax-Zim and found a Snowy Owl, this Great Gray Owl, and I ended the morning with Les, my local Great Horned Owl. After many days of wind, it was finally calm with snow falling lightly through the air. Make certain you watch the video (link for email subscribers), it is calming … at least it was for me.

And some still images of the Great Gray Owl hunting during the snowfall

For various reasons the other owl species did not perform well for my camera. The Snowy Owl was perched in a meadow many hundreds of yards distant. The Great Horned Owl was tucked up in its “hidey hole”, and the Northern Hawk Owl was close, but contrasted against a blah sky. I had a great time.

Northern Hawk Owl

Pig Out! Pheasants, Pine Grosbeaks & Common Redpolls

Year 11,

Ever wonder up here in northern Minnesota why Common Redpolls are not visiting your feeders? One answer is the dreaded invasive wildflower, Tansy. These finches love to chow down on the seeds … spreading spillage to plant even more Tansy. I had fun watching a flock of about 200 Common Redpolls pig out on Tansy early this morning.

And the spillage … being eaten off the snow (definitely merits my anniversary tag of #365Birds01White )

The Pine Grosbeaks did not want to miss out on the pig out … underneath a forest feeding station in Sax-Zim Bog.

Finally, just south of Meadowlands and The Bog, Ring-Necked Pheasant were also enjoying some seeds …

I have managed to get out birding the past two mornings. It has been therapeutic.

Attack of the Peanut Butter Snatchers!

Year 11
I have served as a volunteer for 10+ years at Sax-Zim Bog, but I have never seen the famous Admiral Road Pine Martens. I just don’t have the patience to sit and wait at the feeders for their appearance. A few weeks back I decided it was time to rectify that omission. With my trusty Jif Peanut Butter in tow, I drove up to the Bog from my Duluth home. As instructed I smeared peanut butter all over the branches and logs. NOOOOOO! I was foiled by the Attack of the Peanut Butter Snatchers. I am still zero for ten years.
.
Note: Although Pine Martens LOVE peanut butter, so do Gray / Canada Jays and Chickadees.