Change of Pace

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

Normally at this time of year we would have snow and colder temps…which would mean out-n-about in search of our Winter Owls.
So far this hasn’t happened yet only because of other obligations. The stars will align and things will fall into place to begin searching.

Well a change of pace from the recent Hawk Owl postings. Fast backwards to mid-October and the one run up Lake Winnipeg for Bald Eagles.
It’s always a crap-shoot as to what the weather will be like and can quickly change…but the day turned out good.

Good weather wise, just not as many Eagles as I had hoped we would see. We meaning…a friend from Montreal had come all this way to Winterpeg and we get hit with snow and crappy conditions so a second trip wasn’t possible. Did manage to find Eagles that provided some action.
Side note…she has family and other friends here so the Eagle Trip was just a bonus and not a total wasted trip.
I bet she’ll be back, just sayin !

Alert and Focused…Continued part 3

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

From being perched in a tree focused on prey…to successfully catching its prey was mere seconds.
I’m sure the lack of snow makes this task much easier for the Hawk Owl…do remember though that not every attempt is successful.

The location that seems to be the hunting grounds is along a riverbank…with a mix of trees, grass and open area.
With thick bush just across the river which makes for an ideal location for caching food. Observations indicate that’s exactly what the owl is doing.

Catch a vole/mouse…them off across the river. Few minutes later…returns and catches another vole/mouse, back across the river.
Then after all that hard work shopping and filling the pantry…he’s hungry and ready for a meal.

Then there’s times he just simply sits high in a tree and watches the world go by.

Alert and Focused…Continued

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photo courtesy of Dennis Swayze

As I mentioned…it didn’t take long to realize that the owl was focused on a certain area…how long would the wait be ?
The answer to that…about as long as you would wait for the signal lights to change at Portage and Main.

This Hawk Owl was on a mission and definitely focused on its prey…with the wings tucked in it was off like a rocket.
The morning didn’t turn out well for the vole…after which the owl proceeded to have Vole Tartare.

So it goes in the Nature World.