In 2022, 23, and 24, we traveled to Northern Minnesota’s Sax Zim Bog in the middle of winter to photograph owls. We always had a magical time and were fortunate to see everything from great grays hunting in the snow to a playful mink who seemed to enjoy posing for us as much as we enjoyed photographing her.
With Uganda already on our 2025 travel schedule, we were unable to make a trip north that winter. Unfortunate timing for us, as it was an “irruption year,” a rare event that occurs when there is a sudden increase in the population of certain owl species, including great grays.
We hoped for the best in 2026, but by mid-January, it was clear that this winter was nothing like the last. Sightings of any owls were scarce, and great grays were non-existent.
It didn’t make sense for us to travel all that way only to be disappointed. We felt that by going further north, we might have better luck with our wildlife sightings, so TG found an affordable Airbnb in the small town of Ninga, Manitoba.
Bethany’s Country Corner Stay was a charming duplex and perfectly suited our needs.
You can find her listing here:
Country Corner Stay – Apartments for Rent in Turtle Mountain, Manitoba, Canada – Airbnb
Ninga was very cold!
The forecast called for warmer temps in the coming weeks, so on our first full day, we made a quick grocery run to Brandon and then stayed close to home. Still, on that first drive we saw a red fox running across a snowy field, several white-tailed deer, flocks of snow buntings, a magpie, and, to our delight, a snowy owl. The area seemed promising! We also took a few walks around the tiny village of Ninga: population 45.
We quickly settled into a routine. Every morning, we woke early and planned our photo safaris. Since we were in snowy owl country, we were confident we’d have good luck no matter which road we took. Over the four weeks, we saw 28 snowy owls.
As a local said, “This is wheat country, and where there is wheat, there are rodents. And where there are rodents, there are owls!”
While searching for owls, we also hoped to photograph other prairie birds such as gray partridges, snow buntings, and grouse.
We wanted to get close-up photos of the red foxes we saw running through the fields,
And maybe even spot a moose or two.
The cold weather meant we stuck to driving safaris. Even though we planned our routes each day,
We often ended up turning onto side roads. That was part of the fun and led to some unexpected adventures!
Based on eBird sightings, we had reliable intel of a great horned owl on a nest in Winnipeg, about a three-hour drive from Ninga. I wanted to check out the Via Rail train station anyway, so we made a day trip out of it.
We didn’t have any luck finding the GHO that day, even with help from a friendly local named Ray—“as in Ray of Sunshine.” But we did hike over 10,000 steps, which felt great after long days of sitting in the car. Our other sightings made up for it: lots of beautiful birds in the park, and on our drive, a cooperative red fox, five coyotes, big herds of white-tailed deer, and four snowy owls!
Two weeks later, we learned that the GHO owlets had hatched. With clear directions this time, we drove back to Winnipeg and were delighted to find mama and her two babies in the nest, while papa kept watch from a nearby tree.
And, on our drive, we spotted two more snowys. Altogether, it was a six owl day!
We were almost home when it began to snow. Even though we needed to keep moving, a beautiful rough-legged hawk landed on a pole right in front of us, so we stopped to take a few photos.
Almost daily, a barred owl was listed on E-bird at a park about two hours away. After two failed attempts to locate her, we had given up, unsure if another search was worth it. One night TG received a message from a fellow bird-lover with a map, GPS coordinates, and a recent photo. Armed with that intel, we found her, and she certainly was worth the effort!
Everywhere we went, we were asked if we had seen any elk. “Not yet,” we’d reply. On our drive home that afternoon, we finally saw a large herd standing in a snowy field.
We had heard about a screech owl at a park in Winnipeg but weren’t sure we’d be able to make a third trip before heading home. However, a beautiful Monday changed our minds.
Since we were already in the area, we also decided to check in on the great horned family and say goodbye to the barred owl. On our drives to and from Winnipeg, we spotted four more snowys—three males and a female.
The screech owl was not at home in her tree, but it was still a three-species, nine-owl day!
The International Peace Garden was established in 1932 to promote peace, cooperation, and friendship between the United States and Canada. This 3.65-square-mile botanical garden sits on the border between Canada and North Dakota and features 150,000 flowers, fountains, various structures, and an 18-foot floral clock.
In the winter, there isn’t much to see outside, but the Conservatory was a perfect way to stay warm on a cold day.
At their peak in the 1940’s, there were more than 5,500 wooden grain elevators or “prairie sentinels” across Manitoba.
But as farms switched to steel silos, the wooden elevators became outdated and costly to maintain. Now, with more lost each year to demolition, fires, or natural disasters, these landmarks are quickly disappearing.
Across the province, only 80 classic wood elevators are still standing. Hoping to preserve some of this history before it is gone forever, we planned our wildlife safaris along routes where TG could capture a few of the old elevators that are still left.
We also stopped to photograph interesting landscapes and other structures while out exploring.
March 13 turned out to be an extraordinary day. We didn’t have any specific plans – the snowstorm the prior evening had left many roads too edgy for our low-clearance VW Jetta.
By mid-afternoon, the sun was shining, and TG suggested we pick up dinner from The Burning Bale. While driving, we saw a coyote by the side of the road and then two snowy owls in beautiful afternoon light. On the way back, we spotted two more snowys, bringing the total to four for the day!
But the true magic happened later that night. A G2 storm bumped the KP index up to 6, and around 10 pm, we went outside to check the sky. The stars were bright, and the Northern Lights shimmered above us. Through our cameras, it glowed a brilliant emerald green. It was too cold to stay out for long, but we were grateful for this unexpected gift from Lady Aurora.
Ninga is about 14 miles from Boissevain (pronounced “boyz-eh-vane”) and was our closest option for gas and groceries.
The Boissevain-Morton Arts Council (BMAC) was founded in 1990 to develop outdoor murals and promote tourism. More than 20 professional murals now tell the town’s story, several of which were visible each time we drove through.
So, one day we walked around town to photograph them.
We met so many wonderful people during our visit—our gracious Airbnb hosts, Bethany, her mom Alma, and brother Justin were just the first. Richard recommended quiet roads for spotting moose and other wildlife. At The Burning Bale, Chef Germaine welcomed us with warmth and amazing food.
Gord suggested Rt 245 for a scenic drive home.
And when we mentioned our passion for owls, many locals offered helpful information.
Manitoba’s license plate reads “Friendly Manitoba”—and we couldn’t agree more!
With everything going on in the world right now, it’s important to take a break from the chaos once in a while. Manitoba’s wide-open spaces, abundant wildlife, and welcoming community helped us stay grounded and reminded us to look for peace, no matter what life brings.
To view all our photos from our month in Manitoba, click on the Flickr links below:
TG:
JET:
On The Road with Tall Guy & JET 