Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Early Winter Northeastern Minnesota Birding Report

Year 12,

A new winter storm is bearing down upon Northeastern Minnesota, and deeper snow could change the birding dramatically. To our northwest including the farm area of NW Minnesota into SE Manitoba, the plains are almost snow free.  Thus, there is little incentive for the raptors in those at this time areas to push further south … including more Snowy Owls. The Wisconsin DNR has reported the early surge of Snowy Owls this season has come to a screeching halt.

Some other notes:

  • Not a single recorded sighting of a Great Gray Owl in December has been recorded in Minnesota
  • Not a single recorded sighting of a Northern Hawk Owl in December has been recorded in Minnesota
    • The two previous statements are based upon eBird reports (do not give actual locations for these two species, but still DO record “grid area” locations
    • My own extensive private network
  • There are lots of Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks and Common Redpolls around, but few are yet visiting feeders.  Look for Mountain Ash and Pygmy Crabapple Trees. Both grosbeaks and other species (Bohemain Waxwings) are visiting those fruit trees.

A female Pine Grosbeak enjoying a meal over the weekend near my home in Duluth Lakeside.

Now Arriving on Track Nine at the Arctic Riviera: Snow Birds!

Year 12, ,

My friends who are the human version of snowbirds have all left for points south, but here on the Arctic Riviera (i.e. Duluth, Minnesota on Lake Superior) the real snowbirds are arriving. Take a look at this range map from Cornell for the Long-Tailed Duck (an Arctic seabird), it could actually also be the range map for all three species featured in this post … Long-Tailed Ducks, Rough-Legged Hawks and Snowy Owls.

All three species are now present in the Northland. In fact, I hesitate to use the word, but folks are saying this might be an Irruption Year for Snowy Owls. Both the Wisconsin DNR and Project Snowstorm (In With a Bang) are speculating that the large white owls will be in abundance this winter. All I know, yesterday I saw a Snowy in Sax-Zim Bog … the second earliest date I have ever personally seen this species of owl. My sighting was not rare. Snowys are being seen all over the Northland, and more arrive every day. The shores of Lake Michigan stretching from the Upper Peninsula to Chicago are a hot area. Migrating owls follow this migration highway due south from Whitefish Point on both sides of Lake Michigan. Apparently two Snowy Owls are hanging out on the Windy City’s waterfront (Chicago).

First … yesterday’s star attraction in Sax-Zim Bog on Highway 7 … A Snowy Owl!

And Duluth’s local Long-Tailed Duck … I suspect the duck is grinning because all of the Zebra Mussels at McQuade Harbor.

Finally to end the Arctic Trio … another lover of Lemmings and Voles, a Rough Legged Hawk (also on Highway 7 in the Bog)

This Ring-Necked Pheasant had better watch out for the owl and hawk … just south of Meadowlands. I was looking for Snowy Owls on the farm land to the SW and West of Meadowlands.

And this hawk does not belong with this post, but what the heck … I call the photo “Down on the Farm Birding. Hopefully folks can figure out the name of this species. Look at the tail. I was recently visiting my 94 year young uncle in west central Iowa. He still helps with combining corn. Retirement, that is a word farmers do NOT know.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

The Other Chickadee … Mr. Boreal!

Year 12

Most folks think chickadees are all year round residents, but in fact many, many chickadees migrate a bit further south each winter, while some stay all winter in the Northland. Over the past few weeks I have known that Boreal Chickadees were coming south … many along the North Shore of Lake Superior. How did I know that fact when Boreal Chickadees are normally NOT a feeder bird? My Raspberry-Pi Birdsong listening devices. The listening stations at my house, French River Lutheran Church and my friend who lives near the mouth of the Sucker River suddenly showed lots of Boreals migrating … from zero present only two weeks ago.

I love these little birds, and yesterday I decided to visit a Boreal Chickadee hot spot (the Admiral Road Feeds in Sax-Zim Bog). Another friend put out peanut butter, and for over an hour it was a non stop parade of Boreal Chickadees.

Meet Mr. (or Ms.) Boreal Chickadee!

As a fyi, earlier this week on a very gloomy day the Birdnet-Pi’s indicated White-Winged Crossbills were migrating along the North Shore of Lake Superior in the hundreds. After church I visited some spruce trees which I knew were loaded with cones and was rewarded with lots of sightings of crossbills. Actually I saw hundreds of crossbills. Both examples from this post are essentially non feeder birds. Both species will visit feeders on rare occasions, but it is not common.