A quick winter birding report for NE Minnesota including Sax-Zim Bog. The promised eruption of winter finches is reality. At this time, most of the grosbeaks, redpolls, and other finches are north of the Duluth area. There is a nice sized flock of Evening Grosbeaks using the Sax-Zim Bog bird feeders. As always the best time to see these “yellow birds” is shortly after sunrise. Most of the other finches are not yet using feeders as there is plenty of natural food in the woods. However, the magic hour to easily find them on backroads “gritting up” seems to be around 8:45 to 9:00 am.

Unfortunately the number of raptors, such as our native Great Gray Owls, and migrating into the area Rough-Legged Hawks are way down. I am beginning to believe our local owls did not have a good year breeding. Some of the other raptor populations may have been affected by avian flu (i.e. preyed upon infected ducks). Hawk Ridge had one of its lowest season totals in terms of “banded birds”. Finally, Snowy Owls have not yet appears in the Twin Ports. Hopefully the latter part of December and early January will bring some Canadian owls down to our area. Time will tell, but numbers and sightings are sparse.

This morning I found this Pine Siskin hanging out with a Goldfinch Flock.

In addition, this Bald Eagle was eating moose. I don’t often find moose carcasses, and will have to revisit the scene of the crime. Moose are a lot bigger than deer, and often attract wolves, bobcat and lynx, but I need to go close to sundown.