Tag Archives: MN North: Two Harbors Highlands

Great Gray Owl Irruption???

Year 7
I spent quality time before church this morning with a Great Gray Owl. In fact, I left this owl while it was still actively hunting. Even in this Pandemic, I needed to get home in time for church! We do church live via the internet, and as much as it was extremely difficult to walk away from this owl when I knew more fun was in store (i.e. its continuing hunt), one must have priorities in life (serious comment).
One fyi … originally I was 50 yards from this bird, when it decided to fly over and land very near me … a special moment as I knew I was not disturbing the hunt. In fact, in the owl’s world I did not even exist.
I am not quite ready to call this winter an irruption in terms of Great Gray Owls but they are appearing throughout Northeastern Minnesota, not just at Sax-Zim Bog. I am also not sure if all the owls we are seeing are strictly “local birds” (i.e. good breeding season last Summer) or whether some of the GGO’s are also down from Canada.
On the hunt … a dark and gloomy day w/o any wind (perfect for owls)

Always important to get images that show the full environment

This Great Gray Owl was so cooperative, I could slowly move around to get different compositions (artistic presentation)

Moving into Winter!

Year 7,

It was a tough morning birding today. Not much was happening as I made a swing through some my favorite haunts where owls will set up winter territories.  I made certain to check everything out in the pre-dawn light. After the sun came up I finally found a few Pine Grosbeaks “gritting up” including this male.

Up at Sax-Zim Bog the feeders are now up. In addition the ultimate suet is now at the Welcome Center and at most the boardwalks. We put up deer carcasses (from venison processors). Both the birds and small mammals lover same. While I am not allowed to put up a carcass in the woods near my own home (wife does not like the idea), I am allowed to offer real suet. Thus, I just purchased some meat suet which I will hang within the next few days. The bears should now be hibernating.

Gray Jay / Canada Jay enjoying a snack.

A Winter’s Walk

Year 7, ,

Today has been infinitely more pleasurable than exactly 3 weeks ago (open heart surgery). In addition to Molly taking me birding by car this morning … a fantastic experience given the beauty of the newly flocked pines, this afternoon I took a two mile hike / walk.

Lester River (during my walk)

Sounds of the River (email subscribers follow this video link)

Early this morning at my house … Female Cardinal

While birding … I saw my first male Pine Grosbeak in two years. The sun was obliquely in my face making photography difficult. It sounds like this winter may be a HUGE winter finch invasion. Evening Grosbeaks are being seen in numerous locations where they have not been seen in 20 years.