What : 460 images of 17 different species (7 new species)
When : Feb 5th-Feb 8th 2005 / 32 hrs of birding
Where : Aitkin Co., St. Louis Co., Duluth MN
Bob H. was kind enough to invite me to a birding trip he had planned for Duluth, Minnesota. I
had met Bob while searching of a Snowy Owl in Holgate in late December. He was the one who spotted the Owl and
I hoped that with his help, we would be able to see many Northern Hawk and Great Gray Owls.
I met up with Bob and 2 other birders Bob R. and Tom from Virginia in Minneapolis and we drove up to Aikin County. It did not take too long before we spotted
our first Great Gray Owl and a Northern Hawk Owl soon there after. Some of the other birds we saw on the first day were 5 adult Bald Eagles, 3 Rough-legged Hawks,
Common Ravens, Northern Shrike and many Common Redpolls.
On day 2 we tallied 9 Northern Hawk Owls and 5 Great Gray Owls along with Pine Grosbeaks, Gray Jays, Ruffed Grouse and 5 more Bald Eagles (2 on a nest).
On day 3 (my last full day) we went to Two Harbors and up into Lake County unsuccesfully looking for Boreal Chickadees and Pine Grouse. I did get a chance to get
some great shots of Pine Grosbeaks as they were waiting for their turn at a feeder.
Day 4 was a half day for me as I had to head back to Minneapolis (a 3 hour drive) to catch an evening flight. We spent the morning in Duluth where we saw a big flock of
Bohemian Waxwings (700+) that included a small number of Cedar Waxwings (less than 50?). On my way back to Minneapolis, I got a chance to take photos of Red breasted Nuthatches and a
Ring-necked Pheasant.
