Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count 2017
Sax-Zim Christmas Bird Count
Monday December 18, 2017
Mild temps and a near-record number of participants enabled us to tally 37 species…which TIES OUR ALL-TIME SPECIES COUNT!
This was our 33rd year conducting the Christmas Bird Count in the Sax-Zim Bog. The center of the 15-mile diameter circle is at the junction of CR7 and CR52/Arkola.
Highlights included 5 Great Gray Owls, 2 N Hawk Owl, 4 Wild Turkeys (a first for this count), 8 Boreal Chickadees (all in bog… NONE at the feeders on Admiral!), 2 Mourning Doves (only 3rd time on the count), SEVEN Black-backed Woodpeckers! (McDavitt, Admiral, Nichols Lake Rd), 18 Sharp-tailed Grouse (including 11 at feeders on CR29/229), 2 Northern Goshawk (flying over Owl Avenue), 2 Hoary Redpolls (at Welcome Center), and a Three-toed Woodpecker (1/4 mile bushwhack into a bog 1.1 miles west of US53 on south side of Nichols Lake Road).
MISSES included Evening Grosbeak (Mary Lou’s feeders are not in the count circle :(, White-winged Crossbill (no cones…most in New England and eastern Canada),
Also, Frank and Kim found a Snowy Owl along CR29/229 but alas, it was 3/4 mile outside the count circle.
Big thanks to Sandy Roggenkamp, Bill Tefft, Martha, Susan Meisner, Sarah Beaster, Lori Williams, Clinton Nienhaus, Jessica Dexter, Dave Benson, Kim Eckert, Tony Hertzel, Pam Benson, Frank Nicoletti, Kristina Dexter, Tom & Carol Ann Bloom, compiler Sparky Stensaas, and Lars Benson.
Great Gray Owl in heavy afternoon snow along Nichols Lake Road
American Three-toed Woodpecker in bog along Nichols Lake Road. Note barred back and three toes!
American Three-toed Woodpecker in bog along Nichols Lake Road
Hardy Sax-Zim Bog CBC’ers! L-R: Lori Williams, Sandy Roggenkamp, Sarah Beaster
Pine Grosbeak at Loretta’s feeders
Wild Turkeys: 1st ever in the 30 year history of this CBC! (photo by Tony Hertzel)
Northern Hawk Owl along McDavitt Road (photo by Tony Hertzel)
Hoary Redpoll female (bottom right) at Welcome Center feeders. (photo by Tony Hertzel)
Tentative Totals of All species:
13 Bald Eagle
10 Rough-legged Hawk
2 Northern Goshawk
8 Ruffed Grouse
18 Sharp-tailed Grouse
4 Wild Turkey
5 Great Gray Owl
2 Northern Hawk Owl
8 Downy Woodpecker
14 Hairy Woodpecker
7 Pileated Woodpecker
7 Black-backed Woodpecker
1 Three-toed Woodpecker
102 Rock Pigeon
2 Mourning Dove
66 European Starling
11 Northern Shrike
58 American Crow
98 Common Raven
22 Gray Jay
22 Blue Jay
9 Black-billed Magpie
405 Black-capped Chickadee
8 Boreal Chickadee
24 Red-breasted Nuthatch
8 White-breasted Nuthatch
2 Golden-crowned Kinglet
1 Brown Creeper
6 Snow Bunting
60 House Sparrow
52 Pine Grosbeak
350 Common Redpoll
2 Hoary Redpoll
2 Purple Finch
8 Pine Siskin
2 American Goldfinch
12 Red Crossbill
(Snowy Owl just outside the count circle)
**NOTES ON OTHER BOG BIRDS
At least 13 Great Gray Owls are being seen throughout the Bog…We assume these are all “locals,” resident birds that just pop out from the bogs in early morning and late afternoon to feed.
Check all the usual roads….And roads marked for GGOW on the birding map found at www.saxzim.org
Mary Lou’s feeders are still hosting a large flock of Evening Grosbeaks every morning. Clinton Nienhaus found a Lincoln’s Sparrow there a few weeks ago.
Loretta’s feeders may be the best place to see Pine Grosbeaks right now. Many males at eye level!
Stone Lake Road is also out of the count circle, and Rough-legged Hawks and Northern Shrikes are often seen along this road.