I haven't been able to bird much this winter so brother Donn and I ventured north to Sax-Zim for a couple of half days to relieve acute cabin fever. Overall bird #s were the lowest I've ever seen, but we managed many of the specialties of the area. See below. Highlights: scoped views of a perched adult Goshawk on Stone Lake Rd.; vocalizing pair of Northern Hawk Owls being harassed by ravens at the McDavitt woodpecker site; the easiest Black-backed Woodpeckers we've ever found (and the most Hairy's (!) at the McDavitt site; video of Great-gray Owl watching group of 7 Ruffed Grouse feeding in small willow only 40 m away (thanks S. Schumacher for owl tip); a classic clean and frosty Hoary Redpoll at Little Whiteface Rd feeders. 

Trying to figure out how to get the video ( .mov extension) loaded on MOU Gallery. 

SPECIES SEEN 
From 3/3/2011 to 3/4/2011 26 species 

HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES 
Bald Eagle 
Northern Goshawk - 2 (adult perhced, imm. in flight) 
Rough-legged Hawk - 12 
GROUSE, PTARMIGAN, PRAIRIE-CHICKENS 
Ruffed Grouse - 8, 7 in one feeding group 40 m from watching Great-gray Owl !) 
OWLS 
Barred Owl - Hi 65, Aitkin 
Great Gray Owl - 1, CR 133 
Northern Hawk Owl - 3, Pair at McDavitt woodpecker site, vocal and very active 
WOODPECKERS 
Downy Woodpecker 
Hairy Woodpecker 
Black-backed Woodpecker - 3, McDavitt (male, 2 fem) 
CHICKADEES AND TITS 
Black-capped Chickadee 
Boreal Chickadee - Admiral Rd 
NUTHATCHES 
Red-breasted Nuthatch 
White-breasted Nuthatch 
SHRIKES 
Northern Shrike - 3 
CROWS AND JAYS 
Gray Jay 
Blue Jay 
Black-billed Magpie - 2 
American Crow 
Common Raven 
STARLINGS 
European Starling 
FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS 
Pine Grosbeak 
Common Redpoll 
Hoary Redpoll - 2, a classic "10" at Abramson feeder (Little Whiteface Rd); a "7" at Morse feeder (Blue Spruce) 
Pine Siskin 
OLD WORLD SPARROWS 
House Sparrow 

Jim 
Eagan 

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