It was -22F on my car thermometer this morning as I headed out shortly before sunrise. The conditions could only be described as frigid. This cold morning I wondered whether I might be able to find some owls along Scenic 61 trying to get the benefit of what little thermal warmth the golden orb might offer (no!). I did see Pine Grosbreaks and Bohemian Waxwings, but not in terms of photo opportunities.

Why “Signs of Spring”? In the pre-dawn darkness this morning my local Great Horned Owls were hooting their mutual love. I know from past year’s experience the owls will nest within two weeks. In addition, a few Horned Larks and Snow Buntings are already making their way back north. If you find some open ground scraped clean by a snowplow, it is not unusual to find these birds near the Superior Airport. Thus, even in the deep of winter, if you know where to look or listen, there is hope!

Having said that it was just darn cold this morning. Here are three images I snapped shortly after sunup. The fishermen are hardier than me. It was -19F at the time I took the photographs, and I was not particularly interested in hiking. My sojourn outside will be this afternoon as the mercury soars to about -8F.

Two Harbors Breakwater (the haze or fog is sea smoke … mist that rises due to the water being much warmer than the surrounding air)

Over the past 24 hours I have spent significant time looking for Snowy Owls, but my timing has been off. These owls are now starting to arrive in the Northland from up in the Arctic. Will this year be an irruption year? The jury is still out, but Snowy Owls have been seen in Spain for only the second time in history. Ornithologists suspect these owls may have hitched a ride across the Atlantic on freighters. Read more via Project Snowstorm.

For those of you who live in the northern Twin Cities area. Three different Snowies were seen yesterday in Crex Meadows! In Wisconsin quite a few Snowies have been seen in and around the Green Bay area (Door County, the Lake Michigan shore (harbors) and inland of Green Bay at various grasslands).

I was back from birding by 7:50 am this Thanksgiving morning. We have four of our almost 7 grandkids visiting. The oldest is ten, which means a bundle of activity in the house. Happy Thanksgiving.

From yesterday’s Snowy Owl search at sunset in Two Harbors. The EdnaG was built in 1896 and is all decked out for the holidays.

Earlier in the day at the crabapple tree. Pine Grosbeaks.