Tag Archives: WI North: Superior

Darn Cold & Windy Birding

Year 9,

This week has been tough in terms of birding. How else could one describe every morning when the temperatures are -10F (or colder), and 20 mph winds (or worse). I thought my trials and tribulations had finally ended a bit before sundown yesterday when I discovered a Snowy Owl which was very close (not 200 miles distant across a field). I took the one image in this post and then moved to the other side of the building. I was even closer, and the wind insured the bird could only take off right towards me. Fantastic! However, I then realized my camera would seem to be pointed right towards an apartment. Although I was not actually aiming towards their window, but ten feet above, I was not willing to risk spooking people out.  I left the area. My point, be cognizant of your location before taking photographs.

At home I have been enjoying some “red birds”. Both Common Redpolls and a Red-Belled Woodpecker are frequent visitors.

Bog Birding! (Great Gray Owl and more …)

Year 1, ,

What a great way to start a fantastic day! I watched by myself this Great Gray Owl hunt right at sunrise yesterday morning. Our fun ended about twenty minutes later when a Bald Eagle arrived on the scene … scaring the owl into the deep woods. My day only got better and better.

My next stop was the Welcome Center for some training and birding. I needed a refresher on procedures and the locations of all our materials at the Center. My first attempt at volunteering was snowed out about one week ago. I then proceeded to hike Gray Jay Way. While I did not find my desired Boreal Chickadees, I saw Evening Grosbeaks, Gray Jays (of course), Redpolls, and this female Pine Grosbeak (and even more bird species). The weather was glorious. The temperature hovered around freezing, and nary a breath of wind stirred in the woods as the bright sun shone down of the beautiful white snowscape.

I took one more hike at the South Logging Trail hoping I might find a Northern Hawk Owl back away from McDavitt Road, but no luck. On my way out of the Bog I stopped at Winterberry Bog to do some volunteering and check to see if the Ermine was enjoying the deer carcass (not yesterday afternoon).

Rather than going directly home, given the temperature was approaching 40F (crazy warm), and there still was not an ounce of wind, I drove straight to Superior. My hope was the non existent wind and warm weather would result in my finding a Snowy Owl out long before sunset … enjoying the nice conditions. I was not disappointed!

When you have an itch on top of your head!

The claw!

Just hanging out … being weird … or a normal Snowy Owl! 

Finally, if you are still with me, and you are worried about rising food prices … particularly the cost of your holiday Turkey. I know where you may find a wild bird!

Some commentary … while it is true that you may run into crowds at some of the more popular locations (Hwy 7, Admiral Road, etc) while trying to find the Gray Ghost of the Forest (Great Gray Owl), Sax-Zim Bog is huge. I rarely saw other people yesterday except at the Welcome Center and Winterberry Bog. My private time with the owl resulted because I invested the time and effort to find a bird in the less popular locations. One may easily enjoy peace and solitude in the Bog.

A Tale of Two Snowy Owls!

Year 8
I had another “point and pray” photo taking experience yesterday a bit before sunset. I did not realize it when I took this photograph due to my own tunnel vision that the Snowy Owl was flying over to inspect another owl which was only 75 yards behind me. Snowy #1 cleared my head by four feet and landed 20 yards behind me. It then proceeded to stare at Snowy #2, which I then discovered. An amazing experience. Uff dah!
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This is the image I took as the owl flew right at my head … I pointed the camera in front of me … pressed the shutter release down hard and prayed I would get the shot.

And now in sequence as I experienced the two owls … which were never more than 75 yards away from me, and often much closer. Notice that Snowy #2 is “whiter in color”. I am pretty certain that the first owl is an immature female, whereas I think the second Snowy is an immature male. By the time male Snowy Owls are four years old they become almost pure white with no banding. The female’s banding helps with camouflage as it incubates eggs in the nest on the ground up on the Arctic tundra.

Snowy #1: Resting in the late afternoon

Snowy #1: Wakes up and sees Snowy #2 (I did not know at what it was looking)

Snowy #2: Discovered right behind me!