I’ve spent a lot of time in Sax-Zim Bog over the past few days. The weather has been sunny, and the temperatures moderate (OF at sunrise rising to 25F). Given I always wear choppers and thermal underwear, I have been toasty warm on my extensive hikes. While the snow is not very deep in the woods (4 to 8 inches) which means owls are not hunting the roadsides (lesser snow depths at roadsides make for easier hunting), the light snow cover has made it much easier for me to bushwhack through the back country. Better yet, my tracks in the snow mean it is impossible to get lost. Remember, bog country is very flat and the terrain does not give many landmarks.

Here are just a few of the birds I’ve enjoyed, none of which were birded from my car.

White-Winged Crossbills

Northern Shrike

Black-Backed Woodpecker

and of course … the Northern Hawk Owl! (I now know this birds morning routine and favorite perches from 8 to 11 am)

Finally … the “far off Snowy Owl”. I never got closer than 400 yards to this bird, but these photographs are included because I DID NOT hike on private land. I know some recent visitors to the Bog have violated this rule. If you do not have permission from a landowner, even if the property is not posted with “no trespassing signs”, stay off! Farm land like the property show is obviously private.