Mammals take the spotlight in this early spring episode from Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog. Sparky encounters two charismatic weasel species in the Bog’s first unfrozen water of the year. 

The snow is mostly gone, but ice clings to area lakes and rivers, but Sparky finds some open water to check.

First he spots something on the ice at Sax WMA, which turns out to be a River Otter, but there is something wrong with this “mega water weasel.”

Later, while looking for early returning waterfowl at Stone Lake (Wood Duck, Canada Geese) he finds, and travels with, a fast-swimming Mink.

The day ends with a brief sunset encounter with a hunting Great Gray Owl.

Sparky shares his six favorite photos from the two days.

He also gives an update on upcoming spring and summer field trips in Sax-Zim Bog, and shares some details on Andy Forbe’s Big Green Year on behalf of Friends of Sax-Zim Bog.

Filmed March 17 & 22, 2025

Virtually Live 52 S5E7

Tired of running around Sax-Zim Bog chasing the most recent owl sightings with many others? Here are some simple quiet ways to enjoy some solitude in one of winter’s most popular birding and photography areas.

January 3-6, 2025: Sparky finds and photographs FOUR species of northern owls during Friends of Sax-Zim Bog’s 2025 BRRRRdathon-World’s Coldest Birdathon. TWO Boreal Owls, TWO Great Gray Owls, Snowy Owl and Northern Hawk Owl! What a great event, and photos of the other teams are shared.

Bitter cold makes birding difficult as he tries to fat bike and bird on a remote forest road (unsuccessfully). But Sparky has more success along Lake Superior with a very late lingering Bufflehead. White-winged Crossbills appear along Gray Jay Way in Sax-Zim Bog. Other highlights include two “rough” birds…Rough-legged Hawk and Ruffed Grouse. Sparky also explores a bit of the 1010 acres Friends of Sax-Zim Bog recently purchased along Owl Avenue.

Sparky takes an early December spin around the Sax-Zim Bog to see what he can find. Redpolls and White-winged Crossbills seem to be everywhere! But he has to bushwhack in to the bog to find a very trusting Black-backed Woodpecker. Canada Jays are curious and give Sparky a close up look. A lingering American Tree Sparrow is also encountered.

Sparky updates all on Tiny Bird Art 2025, BRRRRdathon 2025, the new LIVE Bird Feeder Cam at the Welcome Center and much more.

Warbler-Palooza II starts strong with Sparky finding one of the rarest breeding warblers in North America….the Connecticut. But technical difficulties hamper the warbler count. Fortunately he is able to share video of some beautiful warblers including Northern Parula, Golden-winged Warblers. And there are many other highlights to be seen in northern Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog in summer…Great Gray Owl, Sedge Wrens, LeConte’s Sparrow, Snowshoe Hares and much more. Sparky also shows us highlights from May’s Warbler Wednesdays and the bi-annual “garbage clean-up best find contest.” Oh yeah, it’s also time for Tiny Bird Art!

Sparky finally makes it to Coastal California to do some more birding and bird photography—Point Reyes, Bodega Head, Elk Head Trail at Trinidad Beach. Lifer Elephant Seal appears at Drake’s Beach! Inland bird highlights include Chestnut-backed Chickadees, singing Wilson’s Warblers, fruit-eating Band-tailed Pigeon, curious California Thrasher pair, and a surprisingly loud Yellow-breasted Chat.

On the way to the Coast Sparky detours to enjoy the MASSIVE California Redwoods along the Avenue of the Giants and Founders Grove in Humboldt Redwoods State Park. He even drives THROUGH the Chandelier Tree!

Along the Coast, the best sightings were a couple pairs of enigmatic Black Oystercatchers, Western Gull with four fuzzy chicks, Heerman’s Gulls, Pelagic Cormorants, thousands of nesting Common Murres and watching the fascinating courtship and mating rituals of the Brandt’s Cormorant.

Spring in Sax-Zim Bog filmed on April 25, 2024: Season FIVE of Virtually Live from Sax-Zim Bog begins with Sparky seeing what spring migrants have returned to northern Minnesota. Along McDavitt Road he finds TWO rarely seen behaviors…Mating Sandhill Cranes and two leaping Black Bears! We also see some crazy video clips of our 8-year old friend Blake who has an American Woodcock that has chosen him as a mate! Other avian highlights include cooperative Green-winged Teal, courtship display of the Broad-winged Hawk, and slow-motion Trumpeter Swans.

Sparky also encourages everyone to join Friends of Sax-Zim Bog’s big spring event called the Big Week. It runs from May 11-18.

Lots of positive and exciting things going on in Sax-Zim Bog! Sparky spends some time with the Evening Grosbeak researchers David and Mallory as they track the birds with satellite transmitters.

We also enjoy one last look at the beautiful white male Snowy Owl that graced Sax-Zim with its presence for a few weeks before being hit and killed by a train.

Sparky interviews young brothers Ari & Asher from Tennessee about their trip, and also runs across Big Year birders Owen & Quentin whom share in a close Black-backed Woodpecker sighting.

And how about some hockey at the Zim Rec rink?

Virtually Live 43: S4E8

Early February in northern Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog. Despite being nearly snowless, the birds and wildlife are here in abundance—Ermine darting about and feeding, an unusual red phase Ruffed Grouse doing its balancing act high in the birches, and a one very patriotic Northern Hawk Owl.

Sparky also meets a future “Bog Buddy,” 8-year old Blake.

He also shares the results of the Tiny Bird Art auction 2024.

I find some cool things in this episode of Virtually Live from Sax-Zim Bog. Snow Buntings and Pine Siskins have arrived from the north. Then I run across a bizarre sight…A Muskrat is chasing a Wood Duck around a Beaver pond!. Later a Great Gray Owl flies over my van and into the bog so I put on my rubber boots and go in after the owl. Amazingly I find it and plop down in the Sphagnum moss to enjoy the show. Eventually the Great Gray comes within 30 feet or so and plunges into the moss for a vole. Wow! 

Birding and bird photography in Sax-Zim Bog in October.

Also remiders of the upcoming Tiny Bird Art fundraiser, BRRRRdathon: World’s Coldest Birdathon, 2024 Bog Wild Calendar, and Wrap up of Bog BioBlitz XI in Sax-Zim.

Virtually Live #39: Season 4 Episode 4

October 16, 2023