Led by Scott Barnes and Sean McLaughlin This tour focuses on owls, boreal birds, and winter finches with four full days of birding and is based from a lakefront hotel in Duluth. While nowhere near the top of the average traveler’s list of winter destinations, Northeast Minnesota offers a remarkable amount of excitement for any birder at this season. The lively port cities of Duluth and Superior, Lake Superior’s picturesque North Shore, the famous Sax-Zim Bog, and the vast Superior National Forest all come together to present a unique blend of wildlife and general experiences that are not to be missed! Given the cyclical and irruptive nature of many of the birds we seek in these northern environs, the “list of possibilities” will be slightly different winter-to-winter and sometimes even month-to-month. Species we hope to find on this short tour include Great Gray, Snowy, and Northern Hawk owls, Spruce, Sharp-tailed, and Ruffed grouse, Canada Jay, Black-backed Woodpecker, Common Redpoll, Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, Boreal Chickadee, Northern Shrike, Black-billed Magpie, and Red or White-winged Crossbills. Rarer species that occasionally appear here include American Three-toed Woodpecker, Boreal Owl, Townsend’s Solitaire, Harlequin Duck, and Gyrfalcon. Mammals can also be a highlight, with possibilities including Porcupine, Snowshoe Hare, Pine Marten, Ermine, and if we’re very lucky – Moose, Gray Wolf, or Canada Lynx. GROUP SIZE: Travel during this tour will be in a passenger van with no more than 7 participants plus the leader. A second vehicle may take up to 5 participants and leader. ACTIVITY LEVEL: Easy to Moderate We will typically leave our hotel around 6-6:30 am, depending on how far we intend to travel to reach our first stop of the day. Sunrise is around 7:30am with sunset around 5:30pm here during late January, meaning days in the field will never be extremely long. Temperatures generally range from 0-30ºF but can potentially be a bit lower or higher than this at times; effects from windchill can be a concern in more open areas. Being prepared for the cold is key! Snow and sleet are the most likely precipitation types to be encountered. There will be extended time spent in the tour vehicles, with a couple of longer (~2 hour) drives possible. MEETING LOCATION: The tour begins and ends at our hotel in the Canal Park section of Duluth, Minnesota. TOUR PRICE: $3,295 based on double occupancy. Single supplement $300. Tour price includes transportation in Minnesota, 5 nights lodging, all entrance fees, and leadership. It does not include meals. A deposit of $500 will hold your space until November 30, 2026 when full payment is due. PROVISIONAL ITINERARY: Day 1: Arrival to Duluth during afternoon. Arrangements for transportation to hotel, or participants with own transportation can go birding in the immediate Duluth area. Group meets at hotel at 6:00pm for introductions and then dinner. Days 2-5: Our daily schedule will be flexible on account of weather and road conditions, and the latest information on bird sightings. We plan to dedicate at least one full day to exploring Sax-Zim Bog and nearby environs, where many of the trip’s target species can be found. […]