Winter Owl Blitz: Sax-Zim Bog
For many people, the first images that come to mind when thinking of Minnesota winters are of cold, snow, ice, and frozen lakes. To birders, those images exist only as a glittering backdrop for Great Gray and Northern Hawk owls hunting from spruce–top perches; Ruffed Grouse stripping the buds from birches by morning’s glowing light; flocks of colorful Pine and Evening grosbeaks filling-up at bird feeders; frenzied redpolls darting about an alder thicket; and tamarack bogs occupied by industrious Black–backed and American Three–toed woodpeckers. Venture into the North, searching for the rare and breathtaking species that call the boreal forests home. The birds may be different each year, but the camaraderie remains the same!
Itinerary
Day 1
An early morning departure from home airports will allow for a mid-morning arrival in Minneapolis. We’ll bird around the city, looking for overwintering ducks, swans, and possibly Long-eared and Northern Saw-whet owls that are overwintering in the area. After lunch, we’ll begin our drive north towards Duluth.
Night: Duluth
Meals: B
Days 2 - 5
Our schedule is purposely kept flexible, since it allows us to travel to locations that give us the best opportunities to find our target birds.
The bogs, meadows, and forests of St. Louis County and neighboring Lake County are reliable places to find Great Grayand Northern Hawk owls. If snow levels are low enough, an assortment of Rough-legged Hawks and Snow Buntingsare likely, and these are the best areas for Ruffed and Sharp-tailed grouse (whose numbers have decreased in recent years), Northern Shrike, and Black-billed Magpie.
Duluth and other cities of the Arrowhead region are wonderful birding areas unto themselves. Large numbers of Mountain Ash and Flowering Crab Apple trees are a magnet for Bohemian Waxwings and rarities like Varied Thrush and Townsend’s Solitaire. Well-established feeding stations buzz with activity, including Redpolls, Pine, and Eveninggrosbeaks, and the more common winter finches are all possible.
But it’s the owls that are so highly prized by visiting birders. While numbers fluctuate from year to year, Great Gray Owl is a permanent resident, Northern Hawk Owl is an annual visitor, and, if it’s an irruption winter, anything goes. When such an event takes place, Minnesota’s bogs, meadows, and forests provide birding thrills that are one-of-a-kind. In 2005, we tallied more than 200 Great Gray Owls and more than 35 Northern Hawk Owls in a single county! That year proved to be the single greatest irruption ever to visit Minnesota, but even in recent years, daily totals of 10 or more owls have been possible. Like the Great Gray, Boreal Owl is a permanent resident in parts of Northern Minnesota. Unfortunately, unlike the Great Gray Owl, they’re not expected during a single visit. Our best chance is to hope for an irruption year or that we happen to find one on a day roost. (Your leader is well connected with the region’s active birders, and the local network is always in contact.)
We’ll also dedicate a day to exploring far north of the bog, through the logging roads of Superior National Forest. This gives us our best chance at both Black-backed and American Three-toed woodpeckers, and an outside chance at Spruce Grouse. A recent burn has made the grouse more difficult to locate, but with such an expansive habitat, it never hurts to check! Of course, our schedules will remain flexible as you never know what might show up in the winter months.
Our hotel is located in downtown Duluth in Canal Park, where multiple restaurants and breweries are all within walking distance, and offer refuge from the cold evenings with warm food and drinks.
Night: Duluth
Meals: BD
Dinner is included on Day Five only
Day 6
We’ll depart early for the drive back to Minneapolis, where we’ll depart on mid-morning flights back home.
Tour Leader
Matt Bell
EcoTravel Frequently Asked Questions
Why travel with EcoTravel?
We’re proud to offer small group travel in support of conservation, both locally and across the globe! By traveling with EcoTravel, you’re supporting environmental education and habitat management everywhere we go. When traveling internationally, we strive to use local companies who know the best places to visit, providing an intimate experience with the culture and wildlife.
What's included in the cost of the trip?
Most everything. Most every travel expense is included in one up-front price – airport transfers as specified in the itinerary, all hotel accommodations, birding/sightseeing with experienced guides, meals as specified in the itinerary, airport transfers, services of local guides, and more.
Most meals are included on EcoTravel journeys. All breakfasts are included, and some dinners. Occasional lunches in special locations may also be included. Although some dinners may not be included, suggestions for dining options will be offered by your tour leader. Many EcoTravel guests choose to dine together to share in new friendships and discoveries, but the choice is yours. Dining is a delightful and integral part of the EcoTravel experience – and that is why we select restaurants that offer a true taste of each region you visit. Most included meals offer limited choice menus, and some may be from a set menu or buffet. All appropriate gratuities for included meals are included.
For exact information of what’s included on a specific trip, please check the trip page.
What's not included in the cost of the trip?
Alcoholic beverages are not included, nor are meal gratuities for not-included meals, local guides, luggage handling, bellmen, doormen, and dining room servers. EcoTravel guides and driver gratuities are not included and should be offered individually, not as a group. Transfer driver gratuities are included.
Luggage service on EcoTravel tours is not included.
For exact information of what’s not included on a specific trip, please check the trip page.
What's your cancellation policy?
All trips are non-refundable.
Day Trips run as scheduled, and all participants are expected to be there. In the event weather postpones the trip and you can’t make the new date, or we don’t receive enough signups to run the trip, you’ll receive a non-expiring credit for the full value paid.
Overnight Trips can be partially refunded outside of 120 days before departure. Payment is due in full 120 days before departure, and no refunds are given. Exact details for each trip can be found in the terms and conditions on the Printable Itinerary.
What's the average group size?
Almost all of our trips are kept to single digits! We believe that small groups give a better experience to everyone. Day Trips and certain overnights may include up to 14 participants, with two guides.
Many of our trips run with just 4-6 participants!
What level of birder do I need to be?
All levels are welcome! While some trips are more intense than others, our guides are skilled at helping everyone see as many birds as possible while having a great time.
Do you sell travel insurance?
EcoTravel is an authorized agent of Travelex travel insurance. Please call the office for more information.
What happens if the tour doesn't fill?
Day Trips: Cancellation results in a credit for the full value that can be used for future trips.
Overnight Trips: Travelers are given the chance to rebook the same trip for a future year, or to move their money at full value to another trip.
What's the activity level of the tours?
It varies! Some tours have lots of walking, while others are more sedentary. For exact information on the activity level of a specific trip, please call the office.
How far in advance can I / should I book?
We encourage you to make your reservation just as early as possible – especially if you are limited to the time period in which you can travel. EcoTravel journeys are popular and tend to fill quickly.
Can EcoTravel help make arrangements for pre-tour and post-tour hotel nights?
Absolutely! Many guests choose to extend their stay and we’re happy to help. As a service, EcoTravel will make hotel reservations before and/or after your journey at select pre-/post-stay hotels offered for that tour. Rooms are reserved at the first or last night’s hotel property of any EcoTravel journey, so there’s no worry of having to change hotels or rooms at the start or end of your trip. Rooms are reserved on a space-available basis, and the cost will be added to your tour cost.
Arranging hotel accommodations in the city where your journey begins for the night preceding your EcoTravel itinerary not only gives you more time to explore on your own, allows your group to become better acclimated to time changes before your journey begins and helps to relieve stress from potential travel delays – important factors to consider! Guests wishing to spend more time in cities where our journeys end can extend their stay – a great way to make your vacation last a little longer.
Are transfers included to and from my pre-tour and post-tour hotels?
Complimentary transfers are included from the airport to your pre-stay hotel for the start of your journey and from your post-stay hotel to your departure airport.
Please Note:Transfers are included for EcoTravel-approved pre- and post-stay hotels. Non-EcoTravel hotel transfers must be approved prior to leaving on your tour.
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