Willowsippi WMA Birding

Year 10

Before there was Sax-Zim Bog, there was the Willowsippi Wildlife Management Area (WMA)! Sax-Zim has gotten all the publicity over the past decade, but this WMA which is not too far from “The Bog” as the crow flies (or the Great Gray Owl) has a great combination of flatlands, wetlands and Boreal Forest. This used to be where birders in the know looked for Great Gray Owls. 320th Place Road off Aitkin County #18 was the “Admiral and McDavitt Roads” of Willowsippi (Google Maps link). In addition this WMA is only a few miles distant from the Mississippi River (think bird migration highways).

Three mornings ago I drove the 90 minutes over to this region for some birding. It was a fun and very birdy time. How else may one describe seeing 39 Sharp-Tailed Grouse? I need to find their LEK to watch some serious dancing this winter.

In addition, this Northern Shrike and its much bigger Bald Eagle friend were searching for a kill.

Give this area near Hill City a try! Coming from the Duluth area or Sax-Zim Bog you will even get to visit the “Catfish Capital of the World“!

Feathers Down to the Talons! Rough-Legged Hawk

Year 10

This Rough-Legged Hawk (Cornell link) is one of the only three American raptors with feathers all the way down their legs to their talons (not including owls). The other two are the Golden Eagle and the Ferruginous Hawk. All three of these birds live in areas with extreme cold, and over hundreds and hundreds of years their bodies have adapted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Legs Close-Up

I had a great time just a few minutes before sunset yesterday up in Sax-Zim Bog. The large raptors are arriving from the Arctic. Rough-Legged Hawks will hang around in Northeastern Minnesota till the snow piles up on the ground (hawks don’t like to hunt through snow). Given the sun which was extremely low to the horizon and was in the hawk’s eyes, even though I was close it could not see me as it hunted.

Rough-Legged Hawk Take-Off Sequence (it only moved 30 yards to a new hunting perch)

Bog Owl Hunting

Year 10

Yesterday morning up in Sax-Zim Bog (Northeastern Minnesota) I found this Great Gray Owl hunting for its breakfast. While it looks like the owl was starting right at me, shortly after the 2nd video clip it dove and caught something only 10 yards in front of me (video link for email subscribers)

Better yet, this afternoon it is supposed to be sunny and 47F! The last time we had a truly sunny day was over nine days ago. Quite a few Rough-Legged and Red-Tailed Hawks have now arrived in Sax-Zim. I am looking forward to doing some bird watching along Hwy #133, and then given sunset is now so early, I may also go owling. Cheers.