MINNESOTA: PHOTOGRAPHING OWLS TOUR
Photography Tour by Wildside Nature Tours
DATES: FEB 24 - MARCH 1, 2025
TRIP LEADERS: JENNIFER LEIGH WARNER
COST: $2,950PP
GROUP SIZE: 3-5
Winter in Minnesota provides a unique opportunity to photograph owls and other birds that live in this winter wonderland.
We will spend 3 full days exploring the famous Sax-Zim Bog looking for owls including the Great Grey Owl, the Snowy Owl and the Northern Hawk Owl. We will also look for other boreal specialties like Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Boreal Chickadee, Canada Jay, and Northern Shrike. We’ll visit local feeders to look for rare Hoary Redpolls mixed into swirling flocks of Common Redpolls. Pine Grosbeaks, Evening Grosbeaks, Red-breasted Nuthatches, Pine Siskin, and Purple Finches also frequently visit feeders and can also be found foraging in conifers and birches throughout the region. We will also check berry-laden bushes for flocks of hungry Bohemian Waxwings.
Other exciting winter wildlife photography is possible in this area including Pine Marten, Ermine, Fox, Deer, Moose, Coyote and maybe if we are really lucky a Timber Wolf. You just never know what you may find.
We’ll use Duluth as our base for this tour, so you can unpack and stay in one hotel throughout this tour.
Detailed Itinerary
*Exact itinerary subject to change depending on current conditions.
*Single hotel for the entire tour
Day 1 – Arrival at Duluth International Airport. Duluth
We strongly recommend that guests arrive the day before this tour officially begins, in order to avoid issues with flights during a time of the year when winter storm risks, long delays, and cancellationsare regular. On Day 1 we will meet at noon in the hotel lobby, and will spend our first afternoon photographing in Sax-Zim Bog. Group orientation at dinner.
Days 2 through 4 – Photographing at Sax-Zim Bog throughout each day. We will be starting well before sunrise and returning after sunset. The mornings will be spent searching out owls and the mid-day will be spent looking for smaller boreal bird species.
! Dress warm. Each morning we will leave the hotel very early (well before sunrise) in order to have the best chances at finding rare owls at first light. We may spend several hours in the cold snow waiting for owls to take flight for those perfect action images.
*Be prepared for early mornings and long days in the field!*
Day 5 – Morning birding and departures from Duluth International Airport.
We will spend any available time during the morning hours to track down some last-minute target birds, or try for better photo opportunities, and then head to the airport. Please plan for mid-day departures from Duluth International Airport.
