Last year I went up to Sax Zim Bog in MN to try and photograph a Great Grey Owl (GGO) that had been on my bucket list forever. That 2024 trip write up here: Great Gray Owls.
So this year, I headed back to North Eastern MN to find a Boreal Owl (Lifer). Every once in a while there is an “Owl Irruption”. The last irruption was 2010. An irruption is caused by a mild winter, followed by a larger than normal hatch from a very successful breeding season. That followed by a colder winter than normal forces migration of sorts due to fluctuations in their food supply This year, winter 2025 is an Irruption year for both Boreal and Great Grays.
The Boreal Owl (BOOW) is named for its northern habitat, the boreal forest. It is one of three small owls in North America, about eight to nine inches long (20–23 cm) with a wing spread of 21 to 24 inches (53–61 cm), weighing in at 4.2 – 4.5 oz. Once the word got out, eBird took all reports off their sites. I knew I had to go now, while my data was only 3-5 days old.
Tuesday 1/14/25 was a travel day. I got up to my first location north of Two Harbors MN with around 2 hours of light so I thought I would do a little scouting and the lay of the roads. No Boreal Owls sighted.
Wednesday I had an outstanding day of “Owling”. The first place I got to before sunrise I could see the silhouette of a Great Gray Owl. Waited until usable light, and of course when it flew, nothing but butt shots. I had a total of 10 GGO’s and lots of hunting and flight shots. Once I finally found a sleeping BOOW it was buried so deep in I had to force manual focus through all the trees.
Now you know why you have to drive 5-10 MPH while scanning deep in every pine and tamarack tree. I finally found one that was almost a useable photo.
Thursday I had to drive by hunting GGO’s to focus on Boreals! I had 4 encounters with one lasting 2 hours and 45 minutes. For over an hour I stood and watched the owl sleep. Never getting a photo with either eye open. Patience finally paid off. It opened it eyes, preens, pooped, even coughed up a pellet and then finally hunted. I missed all 4 flight shot opportunities. I blame my 15 year old super telephoto lens. It had nothing to do with the fact that I hadn’t shot any birds in flight for over a year LOL.
Coughing up a Pellet.
Falling pellet.
This is the first documented Boreal Owl in Sax Zim Blog. I was proud to be a part of it. Before we ran out of light I am guessing 70- 80 people were observing and photographing it.
Watch for more posts of all the GGO’s and more birding adventures. Next up, back to the Big Muddy Mississippi for Eagles, and hopefully over to Iowa next weekend for another Lifer: Saw Whet Owl!
Life is good and I am blessed!
