My first shots of a Great Grey Owl

[Jim Almquist]

When we all through shooting at the feed station I decides I would take a different route from everybody else and I was rewarded with a GGO that did not mind me following him around. I knew that Buzzsaw and Stan would more then likely go to where they spotted one this morning and I know crowds never help so I went down McDivitt and about halfway down I spotted this guy.

[jonny_redhorse]

Way to Go Jim!.....You finally got him!.....That last shot of the great gray looking down at you is sweet!....congrats!

[Steve Foss]

Really big congrats, Jim! I like the last one best for composition, and if you brighten it up it'll really pop.

[JayinMN]

great shots, of all the owls down there that one is the flightiest, but it looks like you got pretty close.

[Royce Aardahl]

Love that last one!

[Dbl]

Congratulations Jim!

[Jim Almquist]

I went back and made this shot a little lighter and upped the contrast and saturation.

[MARINERMAGNUM]

Last one for me too. Nice!

[finnbay]

Congrats! Two day long trips to the bog for me and I got to see one at 100 yards - that's it!

[MN Shutterbug]

I'm still tempted to head up there, but I'm afraid I'll have the same luck that Ken has. Then again, he has come across wolves.

[Jim Almquist]

Ken it seems like I always left to early or just missed it so when this one appeared I could not believe it was that close AND I was able to get a couple of shots. You will have to just make another road trip to the bog-the third try is always a charm

[Caleb S]

When we all through shooting at the feed station I decides I would take a different route from everybody else and I was rewarded with a GGO that did not mind me following him around. I knew that Buzzsaw and Stan would more then likely go to where they spotted one this morning and I know crowds never help so I went down McDivitt and about halfway down I spotted this guy.

Just started looking through some of the photography posts on this site and was wondering what McDivitt is. Is this a nature preserve or...

BTW, nice pics

[Steve Foss]

Caleb, it's a region called the Sax-Zim Bog, and is a well-known area among birders and avian photographers. McDavitt is one of the roads that goes through the Bog.

I'm still tempted to head up there, but I'm afraid I'll have the same luck that Ken has.

You can't get the pictures if you don't make the trip. I'd think the ease of getting boreal chickadee images at Ribs2 feeding station alone would be reason enough. I don't know anywhere else you can drive up and park, set up your tripod and leave after a day's shooting with the near certainty that the species will visit within 10 feet of you. And being diurnal, northern hawk owls are a near certainty as well. Great gray owls are just a bonus.

[JayinMN]

Rumor has it there might be a beer and concession stand at ribs2 in the future.

[Steve Foss]

Well, the more feeders people put up there, the more people will come. Sounds like a concession stand would be a good way to recoup all the sunflower seed costs you've put into the station so far.

[Jim Almquist]

Rumor has it there might be a beer and concession stand at ribs2 in the future.

Why do you think I was there for so long today

[Steve Foss]

Hmmm, Jim, is that why some of the photos aren't so sharp?

[Lisa Almquist]

Hmmmm....better not be.....

[Steve Foss]

Yikes! It's the missus! Jim, dump your beer and run and hide!

[buzzsaw]

Nice meeting you finally, Jim! We had a great "succesful" day up in the Bog! This must be the Owl you were telling us about when we saw you down on Nichols Rd at the end of the day. Very nice! We had perfect light snowfall on and off and the birds were very much good models!

[Caleb S]

I was checking out the bog online and was wondering if there are trails to hike on or is it mostly watching from or near the roadways?

[Jim Almquist]

Everything is done by the roadside for the most part. Yesterday I went into the ditch to take a picture and it went well past my knees so if that is your plan you might want to get some snowshoes. If you are planning a trip up let us know and we can give you some tips and there is a good chance one of us will be hanging around the bog.