Experience the Beauty of Sax Zim Bog Birds and Mammals
Head to the woods and meadows of northern Minnesota to enjoy photographing a wide variety of birds that migrate to the vast bog, marsh, woodland and meadow habitats of this region each winter.
The timing correlates with the arrival of migrating birds from northern regions, including a wide variety of finches and owls.
This workshop is ideal for those interested in learning about and photographing the birds of northern Minnesota. Potential species may include great gray owls, hawk owls, snowy owls, barred owls, common redpolls, ruffed grouse, pine grosbeak, boreal chickadees, black-capped chickadees and many more. There are also potential opportunities for mammals, including moose, wolves, pine marten, bobcat and red fox.
The Bog incorporates an interesting mix of nearly 300 square miles of black spruce and tamarac bog, upland aspen and maple forests, floodplain forest, sandy upland pine stands, rivers, lakes, farms, meadows and towns.
The northern lights are also on a strong patten for the next couple of years so we will keep an eye on the forecast for potential evening outings to photograph this unique nighttime activity for photographers.
About Your Leader…..
Dawn Wilson is a professional and award-winning nature photographer specializing in images and stories about wildlife of high latitudes and high altitudes of the Rocky Mountains and Alaska. With more than 600 bylined articles and photo credits, Dawn’s text and photography has appeared in numerous regional and national publications, including Colorado Life, Colorado Outdoors, Wyoming Wildlife, Outdoor Photographer, MotorHome magazine, Nature’s Best Photography, and many others. In addition to her editorial work, Dawn leads multiple workshops each year in North and South America to photograph wildlife, such as brown bears in Alaska and birds of Louisiana. She also leads photo tours in Rocky Mountain National Park. She served two terms as President of the North American Nature Photography Association and has been the co-host of The Nature Photographer Podcast. Learn more at dawnwilsonphotography.com.
Sold Out! Other tour dates available.
5 Participants
$2,200
$300 single supplement
Jan. 31st – Feb. 3rd, 2025
Day 1 (Friday Jan. 31st)
- Dawn will meet the group at the airport (DLH) to pick up luggage and take everyone to our lodging in Duluth.
- We will start the workshop by meeting at noon on Friday to have lunch at Texas Roadhouse near our hotel.
- After lunch, we will head out to Sax-Zim Bog, about a one-hour drive north of Duluth, to look for the owls and songbirds of the area, including great gray owls, hawk owls, boreal owls, boreal chickadees, snowy owls and pine grosbeaks.
- We will return to Duluth for a group dinner at Olive Garden near our hotel.
- Dawn will be on point to watch the forecast and weather for Northern Lights that evening. If conditions are favorable, we will venture out north of the city to a lake.
Day 2 (Saturday Feb. 1st)
- Saturday morning will start with a sunrise shoot, if the weather is favorable and if we were not out too late for Northern Lights the prior evening, in Sax-Zim Bog near one of the farms. After sunrise, we will explore the Bog to look for birds and wildlife. Possibilities include bobcats, moose, marten, great gray owls, ruffed grouse, hawk owls, black-backed woodpeckers, and more. We will be out until midday when we will stop for lunch at Wilbert Café in Cotton.
- After lunch, we will head back into the Bog to continue looking for birds. During this afternoon, we will stop at the feeders at the visitor center for an hour or two before heading back out to the roads in search of owls perking up in the late hours of the afternoon.
- After shooting, we will head back to Duluth for dinner at Valentini’s Italian restaurant near our hotel.
- Dawn will be on point to watch the forecast and weather for Northern Lights that evening. If conditions are favorable, we will venture out north of the city to a lake.
Day 3 (Sunday Feb. 2nd)
- Sunday morning will start with a sunrise shoot, if the weather is favorable and if we were not out too late for Northern Lights the prior evening, in Sax-Zim Bog near one of the farms. After sunrise, we will explore the Bog to look for birds and wildlife. Possibilities include bobcats, moose, marten, great gray owls, ruffed grouse, hawk owls, black-backed woodpeckers, and more. We will be out until midday when we will stop for lunch at Wilbert Café in Cotton.
- After lunch, we will head back into the Bog to continue looking for birds. During this afternoon, we will stop at another set of feeders for an hour or two before heading back out to the roads in search of owls perking up in the late hours of the afternoon.
- After shooting, we will head back to Duluth for dinner at Famous Dave’s BBQ near our hotel.
- Dawn will be on point to watch the forecast and weather for Northern Lights that evening. If conditions are favorable, we will venture out north of the city to a lake.
Day 4 (Monday Feb. 3rd)
- Sunday morning will start with a sunrise shoot, if the weather is favorable and if we were not out too late for Northern Lights the prior evening, along the shore of Lake Superior.
- After the morning shoot, we will stop for lunch at Duluth Grill for a wrap-up discussion about the weekend before heading to the airport (DLH).
- Accomodations
- All ground transportation
- Expert guiding service and photography mentoring
- Fellowship with women wildlife photographers
- Flights in and out of Duluth
- All meals (you will be eating together as a group)
- Trip insurance
Moderate. There is minimal hiking but abundant walking on flat surfaces on roadsides and boardwalks on this trip. Most photo locations on this trip will be roadside and near the vehicle. There is one boardwalk trail we will explore and some walking along the shore of Lake Superior. Elevation gain is minimal, with most of this trip happening from 700 to 1300 feet of elevation. The weather in northern Minnesota in February is cold and snowy, with average highs in the low 30s and average lows in the single digits. Storms pass through the area. Extremely warm winter gear is required — winter parka, hats, gloves, handwarmers, good boots, lined pants, etc.
- Reusable water bottle or backpack bladder
- Binoculars
- Sunglasses/glasses
- Warm boots (wear them around with your socks before arriving to make sure they are warm without cutting off circulation)
- Warm socks
- Layered clothing: light-weight, moisture-wicking warm bottom layer under medium to heavy fleece layer under a warm, waterproof shell with hood (faux fur trim on hood can help block wind and snow); waterproof pants; warm bottom layer pants. Remember we are in vehicles so you want something that isn’t too bulky but keeps you warm. Longer coats that go down below your waist also help keep cold drafts coming up the coat and prevent your bum from getting wet when sitting outside.
- Clothing for down time
- Slippers or other indoor shoes for your room at the lodging
- Waterproof outer jacket
- Layered gloves for cold weather: liner for keeping on when shooting and then an outer warm shell with a flip-top mitten. Mittens keep your hands warmer, but the flip top allows you to shoot without taking your liner gloves off. Ideal liner gloves have a “trigger” tip. This setup also allows you to put a hand warmer between the gloves and not directly on your skin. And bring more than one pair if you have something that might get wet or isn’t waterproof.
- Warm hat that covers the ears (more than one in case it gets wet)
- Neck warmer (I love the Buff Multifunctional Polar Reversible Headwear and Face Mask)
- Hand warmers/toe warmers/foot warmers (I am not a fan of foot warmers as I find they do not stick and wind up bunching up under your toes and/or arches). These are allowed in carry-on luggage per the U.S. FAA but there is a limit for Canada (about the size of a soda can or ten maximum packets). Also, make sure your warmers have not expired.
- Electric rechargeable gloves or rechargeable handwarmers (optional)
- Electric rechargeable socks (optional)
- Electric rechargeable vest or jacket (optional)
- Hand sanitizer
- Traction device for your feet for walking on icy roads. I use YakTrax but microspikes could work as well. Please note that these can be slippery in vehicles and when getting in and out of vehicles but will be a big advantage when out on the icy roads.
- Plastic bag*
* See “What to Expect” for additional information about dressing for the weather and plastic bags.
- Ear plugs
Camera Gear
Gear is a hassle when it comes to moving it through an airport these days, so proper planning is a necessity to ensure your gear arrives safe.
A large rolling bag works well for the majority of the camera gear (bodies, lenses, laptop, etc.) and moves through airports much more conveniently than a backpack (and saves your back).
A smaller camera backpack is great for carrying other gear and personal items while traveling as a personal item on a plane that then becomes a field bag during the trip. A smaller backpack, preferably with a water-proof cover, or fanny pack or small backpack can be ideal for use in the field to carry batteries, smaller lenses and converters. Because activity can happen quickly, I recommend keeping your camera(s) with the lens mounted on a shoulder strap, mounted to the tripod or chest harness (like Cotton Carrier) for quick access yet secure while moving. Remember we will be in an SUV and possibly shooting from the vehicle (like an open door or window but most often we exit the vehicles) so your gear will need to be accessible.
- Lenses: Ideally you will need a 500mm – 800mm for the close-ups and action shots. A 150-600mm lens will also work well for these opportunities. The second most frequently used lens will be a mid-range zoom lens, such as an 80-400mm, 70-300mm or 100-400mm. A wide-angle lens, such as a 16-85mm or 24-70mm, will be ideal for landscapes, especially if we get an opportunity for northern lights or full moon photos, and wildlife in the environment photos. A mid-range zoom lens can also be used for landscape images.
- Camera bodies: At least one camera body. A second camera body is recommended with extra camera batteries for versatility on lenses and/or if one camera body fails or breaks during the trip. Remember the charger and power cords. Remember to try and avoid switching lenses in the field to prevent moisture getting into the body or lens. Multiple bodies helps with this concern too.
- Camera manual: Printed manual or download it to your mobile device prior to the trip to reduce weight. Please get familiar with your camera and its menus and buttons prior to the trip. Your guide is familiar with Nikon and Canon but no guide can know all the features of each camera in each system.
- Digital media. Bring enough memory cards to hold 1000 images per day or more. Ideally these cards should have a fast read and write speed to avoid buffering out in the field during intense periods of action. On my first trip, I took 7,300 photos over the course of seven days.
- Computer: A laptop with enough storage and processing space for downloading and editing images. Make sure to bring the power charger. Laptop should also be loaded with at least one photo editing software. We can have sessions in Lightroom and Photoshop for participants during the evenings as desired. Weight is a concern so this would be one way to reduce weight if you are not concerned about editing during the trip. You should still have some sort of device to transfer files from the camera card to a hard drive so you have a backup of your images during the trip.
- Card Reader: to transfer images. Make sure it works for the cards you use.
- Back-up storage: I recommend downloading all images each day during the trip to one back-up storage drive and to the laptop. This will provide two copies of all images (to prevent loss of images prior to returning home) and allow you to empty the memory cards as needed for use in the field. Keep these in your carry-on bags. Previous participants have had hard drives held at the airport when that were in their checked luggage.
- Tripod: A sturdy tripod with a gimbal head for long lenses. Bring a back-up ball-head for any landscape photos, such as sunrise, stars, etc. As newer cameras and lenses increase the ability to shoot at higher ISOs and have increased stops for vibration reduction, hand holding is becoming more common than using a tripod for wildlife, especially since we will be in a vehicle, but a tripod will be needed for any night photography. Spike feet are helpful to keep the tripod from slipping on snow and ice. A monopod can be a lighter alternative to a tripod but will not work for night photography.
- Bean bag (optional): or some other easy to pack, lightweight option for photographing from the vehicle. We will stop at a store to pick up something for filling these, if necessary. Towels can also be another option.
- Extra batteries: Remember to bring chargers and power cords as well.
- Rain gear: Weather is very likely during our trip. Protect your camera gear by using rain covers for the camera body and lens. Remember to bring something for your camera field bag as well if it is not waterproof. Extra Ziploc bags can be useful for the odd need to keep items dry, such as tissues.
- Cleaning equipment: Sensor brush, micro-fiber cloths, blower, lens solution. The cold can be tough on the front glass so plenty of cloths for in the field.
- Plastic bag(s): Bring a plastic bag large enough to put your camera gear into when moving from the cold to indoors and vice versa. This helps with preventing condensation gathering on the glass, lens and body. The condensation gathers on the bag instead as the temperature of the gear/bag equalizes with the indoor/outdoor temperatures, depending on which way we are going.
- Something to Capture Video (optional): In most cases, cell phones work well for this. A GoPro would be another small but good option.
what to expect
Northern Minnesota is a beautiful area that is unexpectedly abundant with wildlife. The region of the bog provides a variety of habitats, including tamarack forest, open meadows, marshes and farms.
The weather will be cold, damp, and possibly stormy so be prepared for winter conditions. On my last trip, the weather was dry with very little snow but frost most mornings and cold temperatures. The previous trip, the forecast called for temperatures in the 20s every day of our trip, with snow one day and a couple of feet of snow on the ground. Best to be prepared for the latter and adjust as needed.
We will continue to work in the field even during the tough weather as photos of birds and wildlife in falling snow is delightful. Participants may opt to stay back at the hotel during inclement weather. Be prepared for various weather conditions by layering your clothing.
Our photo shoots will take place on the land — along the roads of the bog, near a few bird feeders on private properties and along a river through open farms and meadows. We will be out of the vehicle for most of the photo opportunities. Stay warm with good boots, a warm jacket and layered gloves. Make sure your socks are not too thick to cut off circulation to your feet in the boot. Poor circulation can increase the chance of your feet being cold.
Wi-Fi is available at the hotel. There is also pretty good cell coverage in the bog. We will also stop for coffee on the drive to the bog each morning. Lunch will be at a couple of the few restaurants in the area of the bog during the day. We return to the hotel each evening, having dinner in Duluth.
See you in Minnesota!!