Minnesota Owls and More
Overview of the Trip
Day 1:  Arrival into Duluth (by 1 PM); and afternoon birding
at Sax-Zim Bog and maybe one more site, likely starting
out with 2 or 3 owl species.

Day 2:  Bird Sax-Zim Bog:  More owls, winter finches and
grouse (at dusk/Boreal Owl).

Day 3:  Birding Northern Lake County:  Spruce Grouse
and more owls and finches.

Day 4. Bird Aitkin County and Other Sites:  Shart-tailed
Grouse, try for any missed key species, and wintering gulls.

Day 5.  AM birding for any missed species and/or other
surprises; after noon flights home (after 12:00 noon).

Important Note:  If there are any Gyrfalcons reported near
Duluth and/or any reliable sites for Boreal Owl, we will
change some of the plans above to accommodate viewing
the Gyrfalcon and the Boreal Owls.  This will either add a
tough to get species and/or reduce our birding at dusk.

Note on Flights:  See link for more detailed itinerary below.

Note on Flights:  Please contact us prior to booking your
flight, or you may end up paying additional lodging and
transfer costs.
Brief Itinerary
Current Schedule
for this Route
February 12 to 16, 2012 with Mike Hendrickson as Bird
Guide and BG Adams as Trip Host for Lucky Brigade.

February 26 to March 1, 2011 with Mike Hendrickson as
Trip Leader/Bird Guide.  We will open this date if first trip
sales out.

To learn more about the leaders, guides and hosts
mentioned above, please click the pertaining button below.
Trip Description
Minnesota Owls & More
Photo by Bill Schmoker
For more information or to register for this trip, call Charles toll free at
888-203-7464 or Charles directly at 720-320-1974 or by email at
info@PIBird.com.
Pricing Details
Trip Price:  $990

Trip price includes lodging for four nights and birding for
five days. Transport by van is included.  Professional bird
guide and his costs are included.  Trip planning and
preparation services are a part of the package.  Breakfast
is included with the lodging we have booked.   This price
is per person and assumes a shared room (with another
roommate or spouse).  

Above pricing assumes willing to share room with
spouse or room mate.  We can help find room
mates if you so desire, and otherwise single room
supplement is $260 additional.

Not Included in Pricing:  Prices do not include flights to
Duluth (currently about $400 to $460 from most
parts of the United States). The price of noon and
evening meals are not included.  Besides meals on the
flights, we estimate four suppers and five lunches can be
had for an average of $7 to $12.  So budget another
another $90 to $120 for these meals. You will pay your
actual costs and are free to spend more.

Note: Please contact us prior to booking your flight, or
you may end up paying additional lodging and transfer
costs.
More Details on This Trip
In 2012, we hope that Boreal Owl, Redpolls and other
finch species will be irrupting into northeast Minnesota,
complementing the existing owling and winter birding in
the area.  Good owl irruption years occur about every 4
years, and we are due for a good year in 2012/2013.  The
best months to look for owls and other winter birds in
Minnesota have always been January and February.  

By mid-January (and hopefully earlier), we ought to have
a good idea about the owl irruption and about how
successful the trip will be.  If it looks like a good year, we
will let everyone know that they need to start to buy plane
tickets for the trip.  Our trips are planned for the later
weeks in February in 2012.
    Note:  If it looks like a poor year, we will refund your
    trip deposit and cancel the trip.  We will not take
    you to Minnesota in winter for a non-productive
    birding trip.  Let's all hope for a good irruption year.

Besides Northern Hawk Owl, Great Grey Owl and Snowy
Owl, northeast Minnesota is also well known for other bird
species.
  • We will make plans to find Spruce Grouse, Sharp-
    tailed Grouse, Ruffed Grouse, Northern Goshawk
    and Rough-legged Hawk.  Occasionally, Gyrfalcons
    over-winter in the harbor area.  
  • Plenty of interesting gulls, like Thayer's Gull,
    Glaucous Gull and Iceland Gull, can be found.  We
    may also find (with a reasonable level of luck)  Slaty-
    backed Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull and Lesser
    Black-backed Gull.  
  • Winter finches, like Evening Grosbeak and Pine
    Grosbeaks, Hoary Redpoll, Common Redpoll, Pine
    Siskins, White-winged Crossbill, and Red Crossbill,
    can often be found.  Some of these finches are
    abundant and other species are low in numbers;
    however, when the food supply falls short north of
    Minnesota, more of these harder to get species
    show up in good numbers.  
  • Bohemian Waxwings, Northern Shrikes, Boreal
    Chickadee and Gray Jays are also found in the
    winter season here, and we should find all four of
    these species.  We should also find Varied Thrush
    and Townsend Solitaire.
  • Besides these regulars and strays from an irruption
    year, we may find some sea duck that never
    migrated east, including any of the scoters and
    maybe a Long-tailed Duck.

We are offering one trip in early February, and may add a
second if the first fills up.  See dates below.
Photo by Bill Schmoker
Photo by Bill Schmoker
Photo by Bill Schmoker