Three Owls, a Marten, and Steve the Shrike-Sax-Zim Bog Birders' Day-Virtually Live 42 S4E7

A typical birders' day in northern Minnesota's Sax-Zim Bog in winter...or is it? Highlights include THREE owl species-Northern Hawk Owl, Great Gray Owl, Barred Owl. Also Sparky joins other photographers for a photo shoot with a very personable Pine Marten. He then swings by the Sisu Feeders at the Zabin for some time with the world's most hyperactive and tolerant Northern Shrike (named Steve). Birding and bird photography in Sax-Zim Bog.
Filmed on January 9 & 19, 2024

[@jonathansteinbach580]

Great video! That was some of the best footage of a Northern Shrike I have ever seen. Sax-Zim bog is definitely on my bucket list, maybe one day.

[@SparkyStensaas]

I am pretty happy with the Shrike footage… They are usually so skittish and fly away, even when you tap the brakes :-). Steve the Shrike is the opposite! Thanks, Jonathan

[@shreecreativearts5132]

Great, birding in winter is not easy, appreciate your passion I liked the Ruffed grouse, thanks for sharing

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much for watching Shree!

[@MKrištínWildness]

Beautiful birds and your video. Great content. Many thanks for sharing it .

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks Kristin!

[@BobMacNeal]

Handsome Barred Owl. Beautiful video clips.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Many thanks Bob!

[@davearchbell9921]

Every time I one of your vlogs I want to make the 15 hour drive to visit. I have never seen a GGOW. That NOSH was amazing too.

[@SparkyStensaas]

You’ll have to come up, Dave! I tell folks to expect nothing and then they will be happy with whatever they see. Great Gray is never guaranteed but there’s surely will be something else that will be wondrous and amazing.

[@davearchbell9921]

@@SparkyStensaas Any PIGR around. I just got back from Algonquin and they were scarce.

[@Chris_Wolfgram]

Great video :) I want closer photos too.... but I think I can fill the frame with a GGO from about 100+ ft, with my 1280mm combo ;) About those "plastic" Owls... I've just about broke my neck while driving past those, and then spinning around with neck snapping speed, like OMG ! It's a .... plastic owl ☹ 😀 lol Those Martens are SO cool. We actually have a few here in Cali too. Super rarely seen and photo'd, but I got one last year 👍And those Great Greys, wow ! One of these days 🙂

[@SparkyStensaas]

1280mm! I think so! Congratulations on your California Marten… I’m sure that was no easy task!

[@servanfotografie15]

Lots of joy to watch again Sparky

[@SparkyStensaas]

Many thanks Servan!

[@ryanmarshik8971]

Supermodel Steve!

[@SparkyStensaas]

He was working it! …strutting all of his “shrikeness”

[@kaleworman3864]

Your videos are so good. I love watching them!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thank you so much Kale!

[@evgenygorshkov9893]

Hi Sparky ! Great area !!!

[@SparkyStensaas]

It is! Thanks for watching Evgeny!

[@piccadillypie]

Great grouse footage!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Always a good day when you can get grouse at eye level :-)

[@almeadows8277]

Great job, Sparky. I confess that both the Barred Owl and Northern Shrike are somewhat nemesis species for me. I’ve photographed them, but not well.

[@SparkyStensaas]

Shrikes are extremely tough! They usually fly the second I tap on the brakes :-) I’m sure you’ve had that experience too. Steve the Shrike is certainly an exception to the rule. He could care less about humans.

[@almeadows8277]

Surprisingly, I’ve gotten good, relatively close shots of Loggerhead Shrikes out west. Go figure?

[@williamtyler6998]

Great! Thank you!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad you liked it William!

[@crittaker]

Thanks for sharing

[@SparkyStensaas]

Thanks for watching!

[@leobachand8408]

Excellent video!!! Really enjoyed it!

[@SparkyStensaas]

Glad to hear it Leo!

[@deanyanko3326]

thanks, love your work I wondered why my grand parents planted black spruce as wind breaks they did tolerate 60 mph wind gusts one time and the seeds feed the migrants going north.

[@SparkyStensaas]

They are a very useful tree

[@masterhall1685]

Our woodpeckers eat lard on feeders when the temperature begins to drop to -15 degrees Celsius and below

[@SparkyStensaas]

Absolutely! I just bought a 10 pack of suet today :-)

[@chadkinsley542]

Appreciate the video. How do you keep your glasses from fogging up in the winter?

[@SparkyStensaas]

The simple answer Chad, is that I don’t! My glasses fog up all the time (especially at 20 below or on a snowy day) and for this winter I am getting ready in advance by ordering some new contact lenses just for that purpose. I guess I will also use them for snorkeling since I don’t have a mask that fits over, my glasses either.

[@garyives1218]

Quite the coincidence I just learned about a Shrike I happened to see today(yesterday)! I'm not even at a novice birder level but enjoy trying to photo what I am lucky to see. I got a few good pics of I believe a Loggerhead Shrike at Apache Wash Trailhead in Phoenix. I had to look it up. I read being the only known predatory songbird, they are famous for impaling larger items on thorns and barbed wire to eat later........yikes, wholesome LOL.

[@SparkyStensaas]

That is very cool, Gary! Yes, it was most definitely a loggerhead shrike. Our Northern Shrikes come down from the Canadian Subarctic in the winter but head back in early April late March.

[@mixtaperadio]

awesome video. what binoculars are you using and any special attachments due to your Rx glasses? I wear glasses also...thank you

[@SparkyStensaas]

Hi! You don’t need any special binoculars when wearing glasses. The most important thing is to get ones that have fold down rubber eye cups so the front ocular can get closer to your eyes.

[@TheEpiccow400]

Sparky when is the last time you saw winter buntings in sax zim bog? Are they rare there?

[@SparkyStensaas]

Snow Buntings? Not too many in winter, but certainly common in October and November.

[@michelebullock9867]

At 2:39 you mentioned the pine marten got some peanut butter. Can you expand on that? Was he baited?

[@SparkyStensaas]

The Marten comes to the Admiral Rd bird feeders where sunflower seeds, suet, and peanut butter are put out for the birds. Many critters love peanut butter. …Boreal Chickadees, Black-capped chickadees, Canada Jays, Hairy and Downy woodpeckers, and many more. It helps them all survive the winter and allows birders and photographers a close-up view.