Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Owl Time … a ThreeFer!

Year 11,

After what had been a cold snap for finding owls, the last three days have been fantastic … an owl a day for a ThreeFer! Yesterday I found a second Great Gray Owl … once again north of Duluth no where near Sax-Zim Bog.

Today shows how stupid birders can be when a rare bird appears. Last year, essentially no Snowy Owls were seen in the Duluth Superior area. A normal year has several Snowy Owls spending their time on the Arctic Riviera (Duluth!). Regardless, when I returned home from church and I heard a Snowy Owl had been spotted at the Superior Entry to the harbor, I immediately started Snowy Search ‘2024!

Why do I call myself stupid? I immediately saw the Snowy Owl upon reaching the Superior Entry. However Lake Superior was getting nasty as a winter storm bore down on the area. Spending time outside to watch a white bird hundreds of yards distant in 30F, damp weather with 30 mph winds blowing in off the big lake might not be considered fun, let alone intelligent.

Flight Time Snowy

Just Hanging

Oh well … Snowy Owl sitting across the channel on the Minnesota breakwater. My ThreeFer! As a fyi, I was using my Canon SX-70 for these pics … Super Zoom Camera … 130x magnification. I am a loooonnng ways away from this bird.

Langley River Moonset

Year 11,

Folks should know by now I love to spend time north of Two Harbors, which includes the Greenwood Boreal Bog and Bird Feeders. There are many reasons I love this region about 40 miles north of Two Harbors, but one HUGE reason is within minutes of leaving my home the drive has little traffic, and I get to enjoy scenery which starts with the pre-dawn light over Lake Superior. As I turn inland at Two Harbors traffic drops to almost zero as I drive north through the Boreal Forest.

Yesterday to my west I realized the full moon was both beautiful and setting into the wilderness. I quickly realize the moon would be perfectly situated low in the sky at a favorite vantage point of mine, the Langley River. Thirty minutes before sunrise I pulled over and enjoyed moonset!

Langley River Moonset

Langley River during other seasons! (Winter – Summer – Late Fall)

After enjoying the full moon I continued north where during the 15-20 minutes around sunrise, the Spruce Grouse came out onto Stoney River Forest Road to grit up. I saw six but this individual really let me get close!

Can you tell I am happy to be back out in the woods with a clean bill of health!

Summer Northern Lights

Year 11, ,

While it is true that the best Northern Lights displays may be seen in Alaska or Norway, their proximity to the Arctic Circle (above or below) means that in the summer months the Land of the Midnight Sun means Aurora watching is just not possible. Down here in northern Minnesota as the days stretch towards the end of summer, we actually have some darkness. After the moon set last night at 11 pm there was a fantastic Northern Lights display.

Earlier last night I had driven up from my home at the northern edge of Duluth to the Isabella area near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA), but I found the best show was when I returned home. Up by the BWCA there was too much water vapor in the air (it rained during my drive north). This image was taken at “The Deeps” … Duluth Lester / Amity Park (200 yards from the end of my driveway).

Sand River near the BWCA

Lake County 2 … Road Scene and Zenith

Please note … many Northern Lights photographs you will see from the Lower 48 will show more dramatic colors, including red tinges to the images. I like a photograph that more accurately reflects what I am able to while Aurora watching. Thus, in post image processing I lessen the color and saturation found in my Northern Lights photos. The camera can see more light, and more spectrums than the naked eye. The other images are not wrong, but I prefer to capture something much more in line with what I actually am able to view.