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January 27, 2026 - February 1, 2026

Sax-Zim Bog and Beyond: A Winter Birding Adventure to Minnesota

Join Stefan and Brodie on a tour of Minnesota’s best winter birding! On this unforgettable journey to Duluth, a hub for winter birding enthusiasts and home to the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog—you will enjoy exceptional birding in a wintry landscape! Duluth will serve as our home base, offering easy access to prime birding locations.

Two Full Days at the Legendary Sax-Zim Bog!
This iconic birding hotspot is a winter wonderland for birders, where we’ll set our sights on the Great Gray Owl and the Northern Hawk-Owl. In irruption years, these incredible species can be surprisingly common! We’ll also be on the lookout for Ruffed Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, and an array of finches like Pine Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, and White-winged Crossbill. Of course, no trip to the Bog is complete without a stop at the feeders and visitor center. The birding here is so spectacular, and we’ve dedicated two full days to exploring this magical area!

Exploring the North Shore and Superior National Forest
On our North Shore day, we’ll bird Two Harbors in search of the stunning Bohemian Waxwing, scanning berry-laden trees in the surrounding residential areas. As we venture into the Superior National Forest, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for the elusive Spruce Grouse, as well as target woodpeckers like the American Three-toed and Black-backed Woodpecker. After we’ve had our fill in the forest, we’ll also check hotspots along Lake Superior, hoping to spot Long-tailed Duck and gulls like Iceland, Glaucous, and possibly Great Black-backed Gull.

A Final Day of Birding and Big Targets
On our last full day, we’ll go all in for any remaining species on our list. Superior and Duluth harbor areas often host Snowy Owls, and we’ll make sure to visit Park Point, an excellent spot for waterfowl and gulls. If we’re lucky, we might even spot a wintering Gyrfalcon!

Departure Day: One Last Look
Before we say goodbye to Minnesota, we’ll enjoy a final morning of birding to savor the sights and sounds of this incredible region. Then it’s off to the airport to head home!

Accessibility

Pacing: Slow
Sun exposure: Full to partial, but with short days and low-angle sun
Amenities: We will strive for a bathroom break every two hours.
Distance: Two miles max per day, likely less
Elevation changes: None
Trail: Most likely, trails will not be used, as they will be covered in snow and ice. Participants should be ready to walk on snowy and icy areas
Weather: Can be as cold as -10F, with significant wind chill. In these instances, time outside will be limited, but participants will still need to have appropriate winter gear, from a heavy parka to ski pants, wool long johns, and gloves and winter hats, along with winter boots.

Explore a winter wonderland!

Join Stefan and Brodie on a tour of Minnesota's best winter birding! On this unforgettable journey to Duluth, a hub for winter birding enthusiasts and home to the world-famous Sax-Zim Bog—you will enjoy exceptional birding in a wintry landscape! We'll look for owls, grouse, finches, woodpeckers and more as we take in the beauty of Minnesota in winter.

Register!

Pacing: Slow
Sun exposure: Coming soon!
Amenities: We will strive for a bathroom break every two hours.

Accessibility

Distance: Coming soon!
Elevation changes: Coming soon!
Trail: Coming soon!
Weather:
Coming soon!

 

Trip Details

  • Trip leaders: Stefan Schlick and Brodie Cass Talbott
  • When: January 27-February 1, 2026
  • Fee: $2,295 members / $2,695 non-members
  • Single Supplement: $375
  • Fee Includes: Double-occupancy lodging, ground transportation, breakfast and lunch, park entrance fees, and the services of your guides
  • Fee Excludes: Airfare, dinners, alcoholic drinks
  • Group size: Limited to 10 participants

Details

Start:
January 27, 2026
End:
February 1, 2026
Event Categories:
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Organizer

Tara Lemezis
Phone:
971-222-6131
Email:
tlemezis@birdallianceoregon.org