Finishing the Year at The Bog

Northern Hawk Owl on a gray, drizzly day

It's hard to believe that 2025 has come and gone! My Green Big Year was a great success. In all, I biked over 830 miles and hiked an additional 110 miles to end up with 241 species total, breaking the previous Minnesota Green Big Year mark of 238 set by Gregg Severson. While my original goal was to get 250 species, I’m still quite pleased with how things turned out. With the weather unsuitable for biking, I decided to spend the last day of 2025 at the same place that I spent the first day of the year - at Sax-Zim Bog. 

I took some leave and left work early on the 30th. The drive up was not a pleasant one. The roads were ok, but freezing rain that accumulated faster than my wipers could clear it off my windshield was not pleasant! White-knuckle driving at its' finest. Fortunately, after about the first hour the rain mostly stopped, and I was able to make it up to the bog safely. As I was approaching along the highway a few miles south of the area, I noticed a gray form feeding on a roadkill deer up the road. Closer approach revealed the animal to be a Canada Lynx! To call that unexpected would be an understatement! I got a good look at the cat, but unfortunately couldn't stop to get pictures, which was a bummer. Still - a very cool experience. 

I arrived and headed over to an area where a Northern Hawk Owl had been previously reported and immediately found the bird. I really enjoyed watching it for about 10 minutes as it flew around the area, including several close passes over my car as it was actively hunting. Such a beautiful bird, and a rare treat. Incidentally, there was a crazy sighting of one close to where I live this year that was bikeable. I never was able to go after it, unfortunately. Can't get everything! After a little while watching the bird, I decided to move on and leave it alone. These tame birds oftentimes largely ignore onlooking humans, but it felt right to leave it be. It was starting to get dark anyhow, and I still wanted to try for Short-eared Owls!

A distant Northern Shrike clinging to a branch in the wind

The Short-eared Owl was previously seen in some of the more open, shrubby areas in the bog that are managed for Sharp-tailed Grouse. These birds are crepuscular (most active at dawn and dusk), so now was the time to see them. After about 45 minutes driving back and forth along the area as the light faded, no owls showed up. I decided to head back and try again at dawn tomorrow. For now, I'd head to the lodge and sip some tea at the woodstove. 

I woke up the next morning, had a quick breakfast, and walked out to my car to find it snowing lightly. A perfect setting for a day at the bog, although it would make seeing deer more difficult first thing. Thankfully they were hunkered down in the snow, and I didn't see any. I got back to the Short-eared spot right at dawn. Again, no luck - they must have moved on. I could see a few other cars were driving the area just north of where I was looking for Great Gray Owls, which are scarce this winter at the bog (at least so far). I figured I'd head up that way before trying for the other birds that I wanted to see - Pine Grosbeaks and Black-backed Woodpeckers. After about 15 minutes of no owls, I headed to my first woodpecker spot - the Bob Russell boardwalk at Winterberry Bog. 

The sun was starting to poke through the clouds when I arrived which was nice. It made 8 degrees feel a lot warmer when you were out of the wind. Almost immediately, I heard a quiet, whistly warble and looked up to see a flock of Pine Grosbeaks. There weren't many around last winter, and I had missed them until today. These pretty little pink and grey birds are always a treat and I enjoyed watching them as I prepared to walk into the forested bog of the boardwalk. 

Pine Grosbeaks!

I walked around the boardwalk for more than an hour and a half. Other than Black-capped Chickadees and Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers, there wasn't much activity at all. I decided to move on and try another spot after visiting the visitor center to watch the feeders there and warm up a bit. It was quiet at the center, both from a bird and people standpoint. A slow owl year will do that. I did see a flock of Redpolls at the feeders there, but that was about it. After a brief conversation with the staff there, I decided to try my next potential Black-backed Woodpecker spot - the famous Admiral Road feeders. While Black-backs don't usually visit feeders, people had been seeing them in the bog behind them. 

Boreal Chickadee at Admiral Road feeders - my lens fogged up unfortunately!

The feeders were quite active. Canada Jays, White-breasted Nuthatches and Downy Woodpeckers popped in and out along with a horde of Black-capped Chickadee. A Boreal Chickadee made a brief appearance which was fun, even if my fogged-up lens prevented any good pictures! After about 45 minutes though, no Black-backed Woodpecker. Time to move on to my next spot. 

Guardian of the Bog

After a short drive, I walked the "Magnificent Mile" trail (which is actually only about 0.25 miles round trip). Lots of good bog habitat there and some dead trees for woodpeckers makes this another good spot to see a Black-backed. Again, it was quiet, with the same cast of characters. The morning was drawing to an end, and I had to think about starting the drive back soon. I decided to just sit for a bit and listen for woodpeckers tapping rather than walking. It was peaceful listening to the silence of winter for a while. The quiet was only interrupted by the creaking of the trees in the wind. It was a nice way to finish the hike on what was turning into a sunny, beautiful day.

Canada Jay giving me the stink eye

I started the drive home, with lunch on my mind. However, on my way out I'd go by Winterberry Bog again. I debated briefly in my mind whether another walk would be worth it, which of course it would be! Who knows when the next time I'd be up at this special place again? It was a fairly easy decision, even if my hopes were low for a Black-backed Woodpecker.

Into the bog, one more time! 

Winterberry Bog was quiet once again. I spent about 20 minutes walking the boardwalk and listening, but there wasn't anything new. I had to get back on the road and reluctantly started back to the car. As I approached the parking lot, I could hear a woodpecker tapping on the trees, but couldn't see it right away. There was a parked car in the lot with an older couple that I noticed when I'd arrived that was still there. As I approached, the window rolled down. "There's a Black-backed Woodpecker in the tree there" said the woman in the passenger seat. Sure enough. I chuckled at the absurdity that is birding at times. I'd spent 3-4 hours walking through bogs that day looking for the bird, only to find it in the parking lot. Not the first time, and likely not the last that this kind of thing would happen. I took a few pictures of the male woodpecker, who was intensely hammering away at a tree trunk, and called it a day, happy to have got one more species to finish up. 

While the birding was comparatively slow compared to a "typical" day there, I had a great time none the less. It's a truly special place that I was glad to help support through this whole biking/birding thing. I hope that you enjoyed reading this blog. I've included the list of birds that I found on my green big year at the bottom of this post. 

Thanks for following! 

Here's a list of all the species that I recorded, and where I first got them:

Common Name	Location	Date
Snow Goose	Yard	17-Mar-25
Greater White-fronted Goose	Yard	10-Mar-25
Cackling Goose	Yard	10-Mar-25
Canada Goose	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Trumpeter Swan	Yard	2-Jan-25
Tundra Swan	Scott County (general)	23-Mar-25
Wood Duck	Yard	13-Mar-25
Blue-winged Teal	Thole Lake	4-Apr-25
Northern Shoveler	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Gadwall	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
American Wigeon	Yard	10-Mar-25
Mallard	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
American Black Duck	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Northern Pintail	Yard	10-Mar-25
Green-winged Teal	Yard	12-Mar-25
Canvasback	Spring Lake	23-Oct-25
Redhead	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Ring-necked Duck	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Greater Scaup	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Lesser Scaup	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Surf Scoter	Spring Lake	18-Oct-25
White-winged Scoter	Spring Lake	23-Nov-25
Black Scoter	Spring Lake	30-Oct-25
Long-tailed Duck	Spring Lake	23-Nov-25
Bufflehead	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Common Goldeneye	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Hooded Merganser	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Common Merganser	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Red-breasted Merganser	Spring Lake	2-Apr-25
Ruddy Duck	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Wild Turkey	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Ruffed Grouse	Minnesota Valley State Recreation Area, Carver Rapids Unit	17-Oct-25
Ring-necked Pheasant	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Rock Pigeon	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Yard	1-Mar-25
Mourning Dove	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Black-billed Cuckoo	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	1-Aug-25
Common Nighthawk	Yard	23-May-25
Chimney Swift	En route - Murphy	24-May-25
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Yard	22-May-25
Virginia Rail	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Pet Trails	5-Jun-25
Sora	Yard	25-Apr-25
American Coot	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Sandhill Crane	Yard	12-Mar-25
American Avocet	Yard	3-May-25
Black-bellied Plover	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	21-Sep-25
American Golden-Plover	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	14-Sep-25
Killdeer	Yard	10-Mar-25
Semipalmated Plover	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Hudsonian Godwit	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	13-May-25
Short-billed Dowitcher	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Long-billed Dowitcher	Marystown Fluddle (careful, minimal shoulder)	17-Aug-25
American Woodcock	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Wilson's Snipe	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Spotted Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Solitary Sandpiper	Yard	29-Apr-25
Lesser Yellowlegs	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Greater Yellowlegs	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	4-Apr-25
Stilt Sandpiper	Marystown Fluddle (careful, minimal shoulder)	17-Aug-25
Sanderling	Yard	5-Sep-25
Dunlin	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Baird's Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
White-rumped Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	13-May-25
Least Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Pectoral Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	13-May-25
Bonaparte's Gull	Yard	23-Apr-25
Franklin's Gull	Yard	3-Aug-25
Ring-billed Gull	Yard	14-Mar-25
American Herring Gull	Yard	29-Mar-25
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Spring Lake	1-Nov-25
Caspian Tern	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	17-Aug-25
Black Tern	Doyle-Kennefick Regional Park	27-Jun-25
Forster's Tern	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Pied-billed Grebe	Yard	20-Mar-25
Horned Grebe	Spring Lake	12-Apr-25
Red-necked Grebe	Spring Lake	4-Nov-25
Eared Grebe	Spring Lake	15-Oct-25
Common Loon	Spring Lake	2-Apr-25
Double-crested Cormorant	Spring Lake	4-Apr-25
Glossy/White-faced Ibis	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
American Bittern	Minnesota Valley NWR – Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Black-crowned Night Heron	MN Valley – Upgrala Unit	1-May-25
Green Heron	Yard	1-May-25
Great Egret	Transit – Spring Lake	4-Apr-25
Great Blue Heron	Yard	16-Mar-25
American White Pelican	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	4-Apr-25
Turkey Vulture	Yard	28-Mar-25
Osprey	Yard	20-Apr-25
Golden Eagle	Shakopee Mill Pond/Memorial Park	9-Jan-25
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Yard	2-Jan-25
Cooper's Hawk	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Northern Harrier	Yard	28-Mar-25
Bald Eagle	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Broad-winged Hawk	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Red-shouldered Hawk	Blue Lake WTP	22-Feb-25
Red-tailed Hawk	O'Dowd Lake Park	2-Jan-25
Rough-legged Hawk	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Eastern Screech-Owl	Yard	7-Aug-25
Great Horned Owl	Yard	12-Feb-25
Barred Owl	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	1-Mar-25
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Scouted location – Bloomington, MN	22-Feb-25
Belted Kingfisher	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Yard	26-Apr-25
Red-headed Woodpecker	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Yard	2-Jan-25
Downy Woodpecker	Yard	2-Jan-25
Hairy Woodpecker	O'Dowd Lake Park	2-Jan-25
Pileated Woodpecker	O'Dowd Lake Park	2-Jan-25
Northern Flicker	Yard	13-Mar-25
American Kestrel	Scott County (general)	25-Jan-25
Merlin	Yard	17-Mar-25
Peregrine Falcon	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Olive-sided Flycatcher	En route- Louisville	31-May-25
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Acadian Flycatcher	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Alder Flycatcher	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Willow Flycatcher	Yard	23-May-25
Least Flycatcher	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Eastern Phoebe	Yard	25-Mar-25
Great Crested Flycatcher	Yard	7-May-25
Eastern Kingbird	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
White-eyed Vireo	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Pet Trails	5-Jun-25
Bell's Vireo	SMSC (restricted access)	5-Jun-25
Yellow-throated Vireo	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Blue-headed Vireo	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Philadelphia Vireo	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	22-Aug-25
Eastern Warbling Vireo	Yard	7-May-25
Red-eyed Vireo	Thole Lake	17-May-25
Northern Shrike	Yard	2-Jan-25
Blue Jay	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
American Crow	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Black-capped Chickadee	Yard	2-Jan-25
Tufted Titmouse	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Horned Lark	14025 Zumbro Ave, Shakopee US-MN 44.75169, -93.55083	12-Jan-25
Bank Swallow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Tree Swallow	Yard	28-Mar-25
Purple Martin	Yard	29-Apr-25
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	En route- work	22-Apr-25
Barn Swallow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Cliff Swallow	En route- Murphy	24-May-25
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Spring Lake	4-Apr-25
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Yard	9-Feb-25
White-breasted Nuthatch	Yard	3-Jan-25
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Thole Lake	26-Jan-25
Brown Creeper	Yard	2-Jan-25
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Northern House Wren	Yard	29-Apr-25
Winter Wren	Blue Lake WTP	13-Oct-25
Sedge Wren	SMSC restricted	24-May-25
Marsh Wren	SMSC restricted	24-May-25
European Starling	Yard	17-Jan-25
Gray Catbird	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Brown Thrasher	Yard	16-Apr-25
Eastern Bluebird	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	1-Mar-25
Townsend's Solitaire	RT Anderson	19-Nov-25
Veery	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Swainson's Thrush	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Hermit Thrush	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	4-Apr-25
Wood Thrush	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
American Robin	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
Cedar Waxwing	Blue Lake WTP	9-Jan-25
House Sparrow	Yard	5-Jan-25
Eurasian Tree Sparrow	Jeffers Pond Trail	26-Dec-25
American Pipit	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
House Finch	Yard	3-Jan-25
Purple Finch	Thole Lake	8-Mar-25
Redpoll	Spring Lake	8-Nov-25
Red Crossbill	MN Valley – Bloomington Ferry Unit	22-Apr-25
White-winged Crossbill	Yard	16-Mar-25
Pine Siskin	Spring Lake	18-Oct-25
American Goldfinch	Yard	3-Jan-25
Lapland Longspur	14025 Zumbro Ave, Shakopee US-MN 44.75169, -93.55083	12-Jan-25
Snow Bunting	14025 Zumbro Ave, Shakopee US-MN 44.75169, -93.55083	12-Jan-25
Grasshopper Sparrow	SMSC restricted	24-May-25
Chipping Sparrow	Yard	13-Apr-25
Clay-colored Sparrow	SMSC restricted	24-May-25
Field Sparrow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	19-Apr-25
Lark Sparrow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	26-Apr-25
American Tree Sparrow	Scott County (general)	4-Jan-25
Fox Sparrow	Yard	16-Mar-25
Dark-eyed Junco	Yard	2-Jan-25
White-crowned Sparrow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Harris's Sparrow	Blue Lake WTP	13-Oct-25
White-throated Sparrow	Yard	24-Apr-25
Vesper Sparrow	En route - Louisville	19-Apr-25
LeConte's Sparrow	Marsh WMA	9-Oct-25
Nelson's Sparrow	Marsh WMA	9-Oct-25
Savannah Sparrow	En route - Louisville	19-Apr-25
Henslow's Sparrow	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Pet Trails	24-May-25
Song Sparrow	Yard	10-Mar-25
Lincoln's Sparrow	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Swamp Sparrow	Yard	9-Mar-25
Eastern Towhee	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Yellow-headed Blackbird	Yard	3-May-25
Bobolink	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Western Meadowlark	En route - Marsh	9-Oct-25
Eastern Meadowlark	En route - Doyle	27-Jun-25
Orchard Oriole	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Baltimore Oriole	Yard	3-May-25
Red-winged Blackbird	Yard	9-Mar-25
Brown-headed Cowbird	Yard	31-Mar-25
Rusty Blackbird	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	26-Apr-25
Common Grackle	Yard	13-Mar-25
Ovenbird	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Northern Waterthrush	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	22-Aug-25
Golden-winged Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Blue-winged Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Black-and-white Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Prothonotary Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Tennessee Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Orange-crowned Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Nashville Warbler	Yard	7-May-25
Connecticut Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Mourning Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	22-Aug-25
Kentucky Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Main Trailhead	5-Jun-25
Common Yellowthroat	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Hooded Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
American Redstart	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	4-May-25
Cape May Warbler	Yard	31-Aug-25
Cerulean Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Main Trailhead	5-Jun-25
Northern Parula	Yard	7-May-25
Magnolia Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Bay-breasted Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	1-Sep-25
Blackburnian Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Northern Yellow Warbler	Yard	7-May-25
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Blackpoll Warbler	Yard	22-May-25
Palm Warbler	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Pine Warbler	Normandale Trails	29-Aug-25
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Yard	13-Apr-25
Black-throated Green Warbler	RT Anderson	6-Sep-25
Canada Warbler	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Wilson's Warbler	Yard	25-May-25
Summer Tanager	Murphy-Hanrehan Park Reserve--Forest trails	24-May-25
Scarlet Tanager	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	11-May-25
Northern Cardinal	Yard	3-Jan-25
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	2-May-25
Indigo Bunting	Minnesota Valley NWR--Louisville Swamp	8-May-25
Dickcissel	En route – Louisville	31-May-25