Crossbill Craziness; Bushwacking for Black-backeds. SAX-ZIM BOG Dec 2

[@fernie5128]

Thank you! What a great walk and birding outing! I am amazed by the numbers you saw! Can't wait for the evening grosbeaks! And a black backed woodpecker, oh my! Thanks from a southerner, lol, Twin Cities person...

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you, Fernie! We’ll see how many of those we can find on our Christmas bird count on Monday. And I also am waiting for the Evening Grosbeaks to show up at the Welcome Center. They are at other feeders around the Bog.

[@cynthiabehning1539]

What a treat to find this station!!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad you found it Cynthia!

[@duckypam]

I visited the Bog in 2020 and fell in love. Hopefully I can visit again in 2026. This January it’s the RGV. Thanks for sharing your adventure. Loved it

[@SparkyStensaas]

Great Pam! I was at the RGV Festival in November...First Texas video is out, with at least one more coming. Hope you have a great trip to The Valley!

[@duckypam]

@ thank you! So excited

[@1coolkitty]

Thanks for taking us along on another great adventure, Sparky. It's my dream to visit the bog one day.

[@SparkyStensaas]

I hope you can cool kitty! Thanks for your kind words.

[@gerrysibell7860]

Another great video, Sparky! We live out by the Hibbing-Chisholm Airport. So far, we are waiting on the winter migrants also. Yesterday, there were two flocks of about 30 and 50 white-winged crossbills showing up at the top of our spruce trees. We also have a nice flock of American goldfinches. With the nice winter last year, they stayed around the whole time. Only one common redpoll, a male, so far. Thanks againj!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Good birds Gerry!

[@2MuchPurple]

Hello Sparky! I just found your channel. A bird lover, I live in Northwestern Washington near Canada which is actually further north than Minnesota. But...we do not get many boreal birds because it's not cold enough here! Id love to see Crossbills and Redpolls. But our marine climate is too mild with very little snow.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Welcome to the channel!… And to the American Arctic :-) I have about 150 videos on the channel if you want to go backwards :-) There is a four part series on Northern California, which I know you share many of the same species. Awesome birding!

[@DuluthHarborCam1]

Nice summary, Sparky! Love the bird feeder!

[@SparkyStensaas]

You helped make it happen Denny!

[@ivan11cast]

Awesome video Sparky. Hopefully the purple finches come down to my area in Texas this winter. Havent seen them since winter of 2020 i think

[@SparkyStensaas]

Wow Ivan… I didn’t realize they made it that far south some winters. Yes, they are fun to watch and fun to have at the feeders :-)

[@mattquickoutdoors6951]

Was near Mille Lacs lake in a huge tamarack swamp 2 weeks ago and the white winged crossbills were everywhere in huge flocks of around 100. Saw thousands in just a few hours. Heard the call of a northern saw whet owl but chose not to pursue.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Wow, Matt! Very cool. This is definitely their year in the North Woods. Must not be much of a cone crop up in Canada.

[@HopeSmith-tc1pq]

Wonderful! If I ever get up to Minnesota I hope to visit the bog!!!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Absolutely!

[@BirdBrainBrian64]

What a great spot you have for birding! I hope I can visit there eventually. So far I have only seen 1 black-backed woodpecker. It was in the Black Hills of South Dakota.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Brian, they are very cool birds, that’s for sure. Would never be caught dead at a suet feeder :-)

[@guymatson7731]

Another great video Sparky - hope to visit next week.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Happy birding Guy!

[@susanmatako8469]

I can't wait! I hope all those bird's will be there the wk of 16 Dec. I saw a black back in Michigan in the summer by the Augusta National park. Didn't get a picture though. It landed for a few seconds on a tree near the road and then took off.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Have a great trip, Susan! There won’t be much snow, but the birds are still here :-)

[@kathyporter6479]

Looks like a pretty heavy hemlock cone crop, Sparky. Great video but darn it looks cold.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi Kathy, we don’t have Hemlock up here… Only black Spruce and Tamarack. But you are right, the Spruce and Tamarack both have good corn crops in Sax-Zim this year.

[@kathyporter6479]

@@SparkyStensaas I should probably know that since I'm originally from far northern Maine. We had lots of spruce and tamaracks. I'm in MA now and last year was a bumper crop for white pine cones. Had quite a few crossbills.

[@MaidenBklyn]

Sparky, do you do any guiding for visiting bird photograhers?

[@SparkyStensaas]

I hung up my “guiding hat“ eight or nine years ago. Too busy as Director of the Bog and my publishing businesses. But the good news is that there are at least six excellent guides listed on our website at sxzim.org.

[@marghART]

Hoping for more snow maybe for cx skiing up there 🎿🦉🪶

[@SparkyStensaas]

Absolutely! There is fantastic skiing just a little north of Duluth and the North Shore up to Grand Marais/Gunflint Trail right now.

[@ryanmarshik8971]

Looks busy in the bog! May have to plan a visit

[@SparkyStensaas]

Let’s do it!

[@ronboe6325]

We just saw you in passing on McDavitt Road this fall; so hopefully I'll get to see you in person this winter. Alas; Sue will be dog sitting. Again.

[@andrewlamberson539]

I will be up there soon…3rd year in a row…the advantage of being retired!!! Could you do a brief video on how to call…phisss (?) and the other ways you get their attention. I think I have it down…just not a lot of success in SE Minnesota!!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Ha! Maybe I should do a “Masterclass” in pishing and squeaking :-) Glad you’re coming up again! Looking like winter up here.

[@rerolley]

Tell the crossbills to stick around through February when we are coming up.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Will do! I’ll put in a good word. :-)