Lighthouse Great Gray Owls

Year 12

It should be no secret now during this Owl Irruption that there are three Great Gray Owls hunting the waterfront in Two Harbors. While most people tend to arrive after sunrise and enjoy watching the daytime hunt, I have a different goal … arrive 40 minutes BEFORE sunrise when the deeps oranges that come well prior to dawn may be seen out over Lake Superior. Such was the case this morning when I arrived at 6:20 am given sunrise would be exactly at 7:00 am. I wanted to beat sunup by 40 minutes. The only problem tends to be finding the owls in the pre-dawn darkness. Thankfully one of the three Great Gray Owls had chosen a perch well silhouetted against the sky. It was a beautiful morning! This irruption should end around the 1st of March. Enjoy while possible!

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 40 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 30 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #1 … 15 minutes before dawn

Great Gray Owl & Lighthouse #2 … 25 minutes after sunup

Canal Park Golden Eyes

Year 12

Yesterday afternoon about 3 pm I paid a visit to Duluth’s biggest bird feeder, Canal Park. I to watch Goldeneyes and there was a flock of over 400 ducks feasting on the Zebra Mussels on the sides of the ship canal. This feasting continues as long as the canal stays ice free. I like late afternoon because the sun shines straight down the canal, and also gets in the duck’s eyes. As Goldeneyes spook very easily, the lower sun out of the southwest allows me to get closer to the birds. However, dress warmly. You will be out in the open and be bashed by the cruel winter wind.

Post update (next day): The Canal has iced over. Thus no ducks are present. Check the live Canal Park web cam. Sometimes wind conditions change enough to clear out the ice. Otherwise, the canal will be wicked in with ice till the Coast Guard beaks ice just prior to the shipping season opening. Canal Park webcam.

Make certain you watch this video … the Goldeneyes all reappear, and then disappear. Ducks moving to the right are finished eating. Ducks moving to the right are about to go find their meal. (video link for email subscribers)

Canal Park Golden Eyes

Scoring the Owl Trifecta: Boreal, Great Gray & Great Horned Owls

Year 12, ,

The Owl Irruption means crazy birding excursions like mine yesterday afternoon are possible. In just over one hour, I saw all three species of these owls: Boreal, Great Gray & Great Horned Owls. I consider myself lucky to live in the Northland where all three of these owls species both live, but also some of their cousins from north of the border will occasionally pay us a visit. Normally owl irruptions end on or about March 1st, which is only 11 days away. Anyhow, yesterday’s terrific trio! Did I mention it was cold? All three owls wanted sun, but also to avoid the fierce Northwest wind. This morning it is -15F to 25F below zero depending upon where you live (real cold air collects at the bottom of hills).

Boreal Owl (sleeping in the sun … it did apparently not move for the next four hours)

Great Gray Owl (trying to get comfortable within its pine needle mattress before a snooze)

Amy! My local Great Horned Owl

The sun is finally peeking out between the trees at 7:20 am. Time to go make my rounds of all three bird feeder stations. My feathered friends should all be hungry after such a cold night.