900 and counting!

Special Day today I saw my 900th species of bird in Aitkin Cty, MN. Not only did I see it, but we spent a good 30 minutes observing @30 Sharp-tailed Grouse displaying & feeding. Such an amazing way to bring in #900 with good friends (Kent & Linda) and great birds & Alex Lamoreaux with Wildside Nature Tours.

The day started off with the first of several Rough-legged Hawk.

Then we happened upon my 900th species!

Sharp-tailed Grouse - in all 33 of them!

Barred Owl

Ruffed Grouse

More Ruffed Grouse

We had several Trumpeter Swan flyovers earlier, but this was the prize sighting!

This is a animal carcass but I initially thought there was an Eagle on the ground.

Black-billed Magpie

Ring-necked Pheasant

Bald Eagle

Ring-necked Pheasant

Common Raven

Sax-Zim Bog Visitor's Center

Pine Siskin

Redpoll

Pine Siskin Green Morph

Redpoll

There was a deer carcass hanging on a tree outside the Visitor's Center -- this Red-breasted Nuthatch seemed to like it...

Canada Jay

Downy Woodpecker

Nice berries!

Canada Jay

More Vegetation

Canada Jay

Barred Owl

Again, we dipped on the Northern Hawk-owl – no one has reported it for a day, but apparently I am a good Ruffed Grouse in a tree spotter.  Went into the bog late in the day – it was actually warm.  Alex spotted a White-winged Crossbill flock in a tree but they flew before I could grab a photo.

The snow was melting and the sun was out.  This is not good for spotting Owls – they like cold and clear.  Not as many people but less Owls as well.

No water again when we returned to the hotel -  you would think they would at least give each room a bottle of water – Nope!