Sax-Zim Bog: Day 3
Meadowlands, MN
Wednesday 3 January 2024
34 °F
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 29:
We enjoyed another STUNNING day in the Bog today. Once again, we started off the day with Susie spotting this RUFFED GROUSE foraging in a tree alongside the road:
Then, I spotted a flock of Waxwings fly over Arkola Rd and even before confirming, I knew I had my lifer BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS as they outnumber Cedars 100:1 here in the Bog this time of year! They first; however, needed to set down in a tree which thankfully they did, and began to appear to be drinking the slowly-melting hoarfrost off the trees.
And we clinched the ID on BOHEMIAN WAXWING by observing their rusty-reddish undertail coverts which set them apart from Cedars, among other traits! Very cool! LIFER DANCE — it took me five trips up here to do it, but I finally got this bird!!!
After a quick drive through the area to search fruitlessly for Great Gray Owl, we headed to some nearby game trails to take a hike in search of our life bird Sharp-tailed Grouse where four were reported yesterday. The hoarfrost from frozen water condensation on plants was incredible this morning, making for stunning wintry views:
Photo credits below: Kim Habel
Unfortunately, no Grouse were seen, so we confined to Admiral Road to search for a reported Pine Marten which would be a lifer mammal for us. 
While waiting, we enjoyed the CANADA JAYS in the hoarfrost:
BOREAL CHICKADEE was AWESOME at the Admiral feeders, though inexplicably almost every other birder watching was oblivious to its presence:
We also dipped on the Pine Marten, so we headed to Mary Lou’s Feeders to try for Evening Grosbeaks but we seemed to show up too late in the day for these guys. Thankfully, a consolation bird in the form of PURPLE FINCH was present, our first of the trip!
Then, we got a report of a Black-backed Woodpecker at Winterberry Bog so we took the state highways there, and along Highway 7 we were treated to some STUNNING views of ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS, lifers for Kim and Susie just a few days ago:
Right after I said, “Not to sound bratty, but I could use a dark-morph right about now,” a DARK MORPH Rough-legged turned up alongside the highway which in my opinion is one of the most beautiful birds in the country with their underwing pattern in flight:
At Winterberry Bog, we thankfully got the BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER immediately along with a number of other birders already on it, though unfortunately it never afforded great views, sticking behind branches while it was in view for a few minutes.
Next, at McDavitt Rd we found this intermediate-morph Rough-legged Hawk:
As well as a Pine Squirrel enjoying the sun:
And a Canada Jay:
BALD EAGLE:
Despite cruising the right roads for hours this afternoon/evening, no Great Grays showed up. I did; however, have a heard-only pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS hooting back and forth while we watched this Snowshoe Hare off Admiral Rd, a lifer for all of us and a great spot by Susie:
And a final, yet unphotographed, sighting for the evening was Susie’s and Kim’s lifer SHORT-EARED OWL that flew over the road on S. Admiral Road. This was an incredible sight to see this bird hunting low over the grassland at close range — usually this species is not present in the Bog during winter, so I attribute its presence to the unseasonably warm temps and lack of snow cover. Super cool!
Bird-of-the-day to the Bohemian Waxwings with runner-up to the Black-backed Woodpecker. Hopefully, tomorrow morning (before we head back to Chicago) is the morning for the Great Grays this trip — fingers crossed!
Happy birding,
Henry
World Life List: 1174 Species (1 life bird today: Bohemian Waxwing)
