This morning the snow was coming down hard, with an increasing wind (20 mph on its way up to 35 mph). In short, it was an excellent time to go birding. Success in these conditions requires previous research and knowing how to think like a bird (makes me a bird brain?!).

The wind meant trying to find raptors (owls or hawks) would be a foolish activity. Birds that require either perfect sight lines or hearing to hunt, sit out storms. In the winter raptors conserve energy and hunker down out of the elements when adverse weather would make hunting fruitless. However, songbirds like Bohemian Waxwings will continue to eat through a storm. The will prefer protected locations.

Thus I drove back roads to a old crabapple farm. I hit the jackpot and found over 250 Bohemians. The wind and snow meant they chose crabapples trees which provided some protection from the elements. This winter the size of the waxwing flocks has amazed me. In some recent years almost nary of Bohemian flew south from Canada.

Take notice of fruit trees whenever you are out and about. Return when you have time to bird; the food will eventually attract our feathered friends.

Crabapple Eating Time

Braving the Elements (snowflake bursts against a Waxwing, and another battles the wind)

Great Gray Owl Hunting Yesterday Morning just after Sunrise

Snowy Owl Hunting Yesterday Afternoon just before Sunset

Over the past two days I’ve taken two people owling … my friend, Jeff and my son, Erik. Even though the weather has been sunny, cold with a bit of wind which is generally not good for owling, the Great Gray Owls came through in flying colors. However, when it comes to Snowy Owls I am becoming frustrated. I have seen the beautiful male snowy both of the last two days, including this morning, but always from a great distance. Oh well …

I also may have found the nesting site for my local Great Horned Owls. The number of post sundown hikes in the dark which I have taken recently is amazing. If I’m wrong I will have to wait for the crows to fill me in on the proper location when the owlets start to move about the nesting tree. Last year the 1st egg was laid on February 8th.

Erik’s morning owl

The huge flock of Bohemian Waxwings continues to move around about ten miles north of Duluth. Today the birds had descended upon an old berry / crabapple farm. When I first found the birds this morning, it was gloomy with a snow squall in progress. Three hours later when a weather front had blown through, the temperature has drop from 33F to 14F along with a 25 mph wind and sun. Not really sure how many waxwings are in the total flock, but it is over 1,000 birds. A few years ago the Bohemian Waxwing was my nemesis bird, and I could not find even one individual. I never expected to see a flock this big in my life. The invasion from Canada of Boreal Birds continues (sorry Don … no Boreal Owls!).

Eating some Crabapples

Sloppy Seconds (eating fruit that has fallen onto the snow)

Bohemian Waxwings Wing Markings (Cedar Waxwings do not have yellow on their wings, and they are smaller)

Early Morning (small part of flock … maximize photo to see crabapple tree in foreground with waxwings)

Flock on the move (morning and afternoon … video link one and two for email subscribers)