Sax-Zim Bog: Day 1
Meadowlands, MN
Sunday 31 December 2023
38 °F
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27:
Today was one of the most exciting days of the year: the day Kim, Susie, and I would drive up to the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog for birding and photography in northern Minnesota! Even though this would be my fifth trip up to the Bog, my excitement for visiting this birding hotspot never diminishes. So, Kim picked me up at 5:45am and we were soon on our way for the seven hour trek up north!
And after a BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE that got away from us, the first bird we spotted after arriving in the Bog by 1pm was this HAIRY WOODPECKER atop a snag:
BALD EAGLES were prolific on the drive and in the Bog itself, with twelve being seen today!
Susie had a fantastic spot with this male RUFFED GROUSE hunkered down under some bushes near Racek Rd. Just wish it was my lifer Sharp-tailed!
The odd thing about the Bog this year is the lack of snow. It’s been an unseasonably warm El Niño winter resulting in a lack of snow-cover, and the freezing and thawing has also added a new complication to the local birding: absolutely horrendous road conditions. Outside of Idaho, the roads up here this year are the worst I’ve ever ridden with potholes and ridges all over the place. Furthermore, the lack of snow means many birds are still either up north or tucked away deep in the forest, making birding needing to be all the more strategic and more based off twitching current sightings than ever before. For example, we had no trouble locating dozens, even hundreds of Pine Grosbeaks last year, and none were present today.
Next, we stopped at the Welcome Center where, as stated, very few birds were present due to the lack of snow and cold temps, save for a brief visit from this RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH:
And several vociferous CANADA JAYS:
Next, we hit the Admiral Rd feeders where one of the first species I spotted was a rare bog specialty: this BOREAL CHICKADEE! SUPER awesome to see this uncommon boreal specialty so soon after arriving!
And after a bumpy slog up to Admiral Rd on the pothole-infested roads, we didn’t find any owls unfortunately but turned up beautiful views of this female PILEATED WOODPECKER, one of nine (!) we saw today, a personal record!
Bird-of-the-day to the Boreal Chickadee with runner-up to the Ruffed Grouse. More to come: over the next few days, we hope to see Bohemian Waxwing, Great Gray Owl, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and Spruce Grouse among other targets. Fingers crossed!!!
Happy birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1173 Species
