SNOWY OWLS! winter bird photography Glacial Ridge NWR Prairie Chicken Snow Bunting Minnesota Tundra

Sparky makes a quick birding/bird photography trip out to "Minnesota's tundra" of Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge and Polk County. Is there anything to be found out here at Minus-40F? YES! Snowy Owls, Greater Prairie Chickens, Snow Buntings, Gray Partridge, basking Red Fox and more! Sparky even makes a visit to Key West...but he finds NO beaches...NO bikinis...NO bars or beers.
www.sparkyphotos
www.thephotonaturalist.com
​Instagram @sparky_stensaas

[@terryroth2855]

Another great adventure, Sparky. Brrrrrr👍👍

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad you enjoyed it Terry!

[@jncampos1102]

Awesome video!! I got my first Gyrfalcon last week in Washington, it is such a beautiful bird we sat in awe for like 5 mins and got some decent photos since it was cloudy and rainy but just seeing it was an amazing experience

[@SparkyStensaas]

Wow! Congrats. Very tough bird to see let alone photograph :-) We used to see them every winter in the Duluth/Superior harbor, but they were usually a mile away on top of a grain elevator hunting pigeons. Saw many, but never got more than a “speck in the distance“ photo.

[@patkeen8668]

Thanks for taking us along! Always enjoy your videos and love how you find so many species.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks Pat! Hope you are doing well.

[@ryanmarshik8971]

10-15° warmer and I might even enjoy that trip. Another well done video.👍

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! I don’t think there was enough bird action to keep your trigger finger warm

[@natpark182]

Great video as usual Sparky. Believe it or not we had a gyrfalcon down here in the lower Texas panhandle in January of 2002. I have photos taken with a film camera. Stay safe and warm buddy. danny-maggie hancock.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Crazy! That is really out of range! We used to see Gyrfalcons every winter in Duluth back in the 1980s and early 90s. And then there was one a few years ago in Superior Wisconsin but they were always a mile away sitting on top of green elevators. Waiting for my closeup white-phase Gyr!

[@kevinreichenbach5326]

Sparky, what type of footwear are you wearing in this video?

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Kevin, I swear by Steger mukluks for cold dry conditions. I’ve been wearing them since the 1980s. I also have Sorel & Kamik pack boots.

[@kevinreichenbach5326]

Thanks. I'll look into them.

[@Ron-ui3xj]

Are you wearing real fur?!? I thought you cared about wildlife and conservation?

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Ron, I would love to discuss. Feel free to email me at the email address under my KZbin profile

[@mason6883]

Fur lining on hoods is extremely functional. It creates an bubble of warm air around the wearer's face and holds the air in place.