The stiff feathers that cover the feet of this this Sharp-tailed Grouse help it from breaking through loose snow while providing added winter protection. As two pheasants reached the crest of the hill, another poked its head into view at the top, followed by a fourth that punctuated an avian scene of winter snow and clear blue sky. Another photo option presented itself as one pheasant displaced another at the top of the snowy hill. A rare threesome of Blue Jays assembled at the peanut feeder. Takeoff!

Happy New Year! As the sun broke through a hoarfrost haze, Friday afternoon I escaped from my office to do some birding, hoping for a chance to photograph birds too. Things started slow, but after sighting 8 Sharp-tailed Grouse and a like number of Gray Partridges, a flock of 16 grouse a bit closer to the road provided incentive to try for photos as I hoped not to spook the feeding birds. Three grouse provided some closer images, and a mile farther down the road I found 4 brightly colored Ring-necked Pheasants on the edge of a snowy hillside (actually, everything was snowy).

Two of the pheasants were positioned below the crest of the hill, while another poked its head into view at the top, followed by a fourth that stepped into view. I was thrilled to be seeing the foursome within my camera’s viewfinder surrounded by winter snow and a clear blue sky, and immediately started taking photos as the birds changed positions – what a treat. I also observed 2 groups of Snow Buntings numbering about 20 and 2, and closer to home I encountered a flock of 14 pheasants as they began a feeding bout. To the north I observed 4 pheasants, then 5 more, all males; along with a pair of pheasants and a pair of grouse. Hoping for an owl or raptor sighting, I took a short turn to the east on my return, where I observed another dozen Snow Buntings, 4 female pheasants, and a Blue Jay flying toward a farmstead.

Speaking of Blue Jays, I enjoyed observing and photographing 1 to 3 jays at a time as they stocked up on peanuts earlier in the day. I thought I was down to 1 Blue Jay, so it was nice to ascertain there were at least 3 in the area. The House Finches continue to add rich red color to the feeding station mix, and at least 2 White-breasted Nuthatches are regular, with Downy and Hairy Woodpeckers sporadic. The little Red-breasted Nuthatches must have taken the north wind southbound during the most recent wind storm – a big loss considering how much I enjoyed their trusting advances when I filled feeders.

Minneapolis Bound

Weather, especially sunshine, didn’t cooperate for me to make a true birding trip over the holidays, but I appreciated the chance to travel to the big city for a couple days, which was truly rejuvenating. In the greater Minneapolis area I observed a few Bald Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, and flocks of Mallards, but that’s about it beyond urban crows, pigeons, and starlings. However, I visited the impressive Eastman Nature Center on the north end of the metro that had an expansive area of native woodlands with some prairie, streams, and marshes mixed in. Most of the birds I observed there were attracted to the line-up of feeders, including a few standout species I don’t usually see – Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Black-capped Chickadees. There were also Hairy Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, White-breasted Nuthatches, and an American Goldfinch; but what a wonderful nature center Eastman is, and the visitor center is impressive, both architecturally and for the indoor opportunities that are provided, which add to outdoor hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing – all great options for Northland birders.

There were no Red-tailed Hawks north of the Twin Cities, as usual, but I did see a couple widely scattered Bald Eagles in the open country. In fact, as I began my drive east, about 40 miles from home I observed a Bald Eagle in flight above a frozen marsh as it flushed a male Ring-necked Pheasant, which flew in my direction followed by the oversized eagle. I followed the chase for more than a mile before the pheasant took an abrupt turn to head into the trees surrounding a farm, not a location the eagle was likely to follow.

Pheasants were common along the way, mostly in small feeding groups, mostly near the highway. Two areas also supported Snow Buntings, with 3 flocks within a dozen miles of home, and 4 more flocks along the first 20 miles into Minnesota, between Breckenridge and Fergus Falls – interesting the Arctic buntings were lumped in 2 widely separated areas along the way. One more bird: a Merlin sighted east of Morehead, Minnesota on my return trip through Fargo.

Before Christmas I took a couple area drives, which produced similar bird sightings to the drive I enjoyed Friday – grouse, pheasants, partridges, and Snow Buntings. In the meantime, I’m watching the weather for a sunny break in the sky for another out of state birding trip that coincides with days I’m not working.

New Year’s Sunshine!

After a foggy Saturday, the new year gave way to brilliant sunshine with everything covered with thick hoarfrost, except the birds. During a midday drive more of the same species showed – 4 flocks of Snow Buntings numbering about 35, 6, 30, and 25; along with 5 groups of Sharp-tailed Grouse numbering 4, 2, 6, 2, and 18; plus 5 groups of Ring-necked Pheasants numbering 8, 6, 24, 18, and 18. I’m a bit surprised I’m not seeing owls or raptors, but the snow is pretty deep and wind-crusted, which isn’t conducive to finding voles or mice. Blue Jays were most active at my feeders, along with White-breasted Nuthatches, so the new year is off to a sunny start, and there are certainly unlimited birding options for the 358 days ahead – for all of us. I hope your new year provides new excitement and new incentives to seek out new birds and birding locations, and every day I wish you: Good Luck!

Article and photos by Paul Konrad

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