Tag Archives: MN North: Sax-Zim Bog

Changing Seasons: Winter & Spring Friends

Year 2,

Winter is giving up its hold on the Northwoods. The snow has melted, even in the deep forest. While it is nice to be warmed by the sun with just a faint memory of severe below zero temperatures (F, not C), we locals know not to get too comfortable. Even as we celebrated “pi” day which comes but once per century (3.14.15 … ), everyone knows the snow will be back quite a few times before the leaves bud out in very late May.

However, for the moment like everyone else I am enjoying the change of seasons. Here are a few photos from the past few days … Year #2, Days 49 to 52.

American Black Duck … utilizing the only, but small, open water to be found
Y2-D049-American-Black-Duck-Pair

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Fire and Ice – Sunrise at Canal Park
Y2-D049-Canal-Park-Sunrise-2

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Breakfast for the Ermine / Weasel
Y2-D052-Ermine-1 Y2-D052-Ermine-2 Y2-D052-Ermine-3

Love is in the Air: Sharp-Tailed Grouse Courting (Yr. 2: Day 45)

Year 2

Today, March 7th, the day finally dawned with the temperature not below zero. In fact, when I left for Sax-Zim Bog in the pre-dawn darkness, it was a balmy 28F! Apparently everyone, including the Sharp-Tailed Grouse enjoyed the warmer weather. Shortly after sunrise I found some courting going on! Given I had never seen grouse dance, this was a special morning for me. Sax-Zim Bog is always worth the trip of 50 miles from my home. I also volunteer at the Bog Welcome Center. Stop in and say “hello”. We are open for the winter season through Sunday, March 15th. I am volunteering both days next weekend.

Sharp-Tailed Grouse Courting Display
Y2-D045-Sharptail-Grouse-Courting-1

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Another Grouse, but not Courting
Y2-D045-Sharptail-Grouse-Courting-2

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Photographic opportunities have not been restricted to sunrise. I call this photo “Ice Planet Moonrise“. The scene is the frozen expanse of Lake Superior near Duluth two nights ago.
Y2-D043-Ice-Planet-Moonrise

Sharp-Tailed Grouse (Yr. 2: Day 33)

Year 2

Share Saz-Zim Bog with a friend! Better yet, bring along two Lutheran pastors and hope some divine intervention will help your birding results! 🙂

Pastor Greg, Pastor John and I spent a delightful, productive day at the bog. We made the decision not to try for a great gray owl which would have required us to reach the bog by 6:45 am. Given the temperature was -17F, we waited for it to warm up a touch and did not reach the bog till about 8:20 a.m. when the sunny skies had warmed the area to -11F!

From the start we had a good time by seeing a small flock of sharp-tailed grouse. the grouse are located about 1.5 miles south of the Welcome Center. I have found these grouse may easily be found within 1.5 hours of sunrise, but later in the day it gets dicey. Checking out a number of other known hot spots we were able to get good looks at:

  • Black Billed Magpies
  • Boreal Chickadees
  • Evening Grosbeaks
    and
  • Grey Jays

In addition we saw all of the usual suspects! In short, a good day birding with friends.

Sharp-Tailed Grouse
Y2-D033-Sharp-Tailed-Grouse-2 Y2-D033-Sharp-Tailed-Grouse-3

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Evening Grosbeak
Y2-D033-Evening-Grosbeak