Minnesota Owls and More Photo Tour 2020

January 14-21, 2020

Kim Risen lead

Minnesota in winter offers unrivaled opportunities to photograph northern owls, forest grouse, winter finches and the region’s meadows, bogs and forests during its winter splendor.

For many people the first image that comes to mind when thinking of Minnesota in winter is of frozen lakes, cold, snow and ice. To photographers in the know, that image exists only as a glittering backdrop for Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls hunting from spruce-top perches, Sharp-tailed and Ruffed Grouse stripping Birch buds by morning’s glowing light, legions of Snow Buntings wheeling in tight formation, flocks of colorful Pine and Evening Grosbeaks refueling at bird feeders, frenzied Common and Hoary Redpolls darting among Alder thickets and Tamarack bogs occupied by industrious Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers. Add in boreal forest residents like Spruce Grouse, Northern Goshawk, Gray Jay and Boreal Chickadee; nomadic winter visitors such as Glaucous, Iceland and Thayer’s Gulls; notable species like Snowy Owl, Northern Shrike, Bohemian Waxwing, Red and White-winged Crossbill, Varied Thrush and Townsend’s Solitaire and you begin to see the attractiveness of a midwinter visit to these northern climes. Still not convinced? Well, recent winter tours have also recorded surprises like Ivory Gull, Boreal Owl, Gyrfalcon, Barrow’s Goldeneye, Slaty-backed Gull, Mountain Bluebird, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch.

Boreal Owl. Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen ©

As we travel through many remote areas of northeastern Minnesota, our chances of turning up a few interesting mammals are quite good. Past winter tours have recorded Snowshoe Hare, Beaver, Porcupine, Long-tailed Weasel, Mink, Fisher, Moose and Gray Wolf. Spectacular species like Pine Marten and Lynx are possible.

Our schedule is purposefully kept flexible for one reason—it allows us to travel at times and to locations that give us the best opportunities to photograph your targets. As owl and bird locations change from day-to-day, we’ll adjust our plans accordingly to get you into the best locations to obtain high quality images.

As you begin to look for flights into/out of Minneapolis, please keep in mind that it’s best if you arrive no later than 12:00 PM on January 14, 2020. This will allow us to do an evening search for Saw-whet or Long-eared Owls at a winter roost or to chase any rarity present in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area. Likewise, you should plan your departure on January 21, 2020 for anytime after 1:00 PM as we want to be able to use the morning of our last day for one last session in the field with our cameras.

American Three-toed Woodpecker. Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen.

PLEASE NOTE: January/February travel to Northern Minnesota does present winter weather concerns. Arriving a day early allows you to be a bit more relaxed in case you encounter a winter storm, and you’ll gain at least a full morning of additional birding at very little cost—remember no guiding fees are charged, those participating will simply divide the extra cost of vehicle and gas equally.

As unbelievable as it might sound, northern Minnesota is a popular winter birding destination and there will be numbers of birders scouring the area for owls and rare birds. When you add the stark, yet striking, landscape and unpredictable weather, the atmosphere here is truly extraordinary. We’ll use our experience to help you enjoy this one-of-a-kind adventure as you obtain high quality images. Remember, we’re there to photograph northern owls, winter birds, experience the boreal forest in its winter splendor while helping you make it through your adventure with a minimum amount of discomfort and a maximum amount of enjoyment!

A final e-mail will go out to the entire group about January 5th. It will have any last minute information that you may be need, phone numbers of our hotels for you to leave with loved ones and any items that have been brought to our attention that the group might find of interest.

ITINERARY

Day One – Tour participants arrive in Minneapolis, Minnesota. We’ll enjoy some local photography for owls (hoping for wintering Northern Saw-whet or Long-eared Owls), gulls or staked out rarities as time allows. We’ll begin our journey northward, enjoying dinner along the way, after light has faded. Night Duluth.

Day Two – Duluth, Lake Superior and Two Harbors.  Great Gray, Northern Hawk and Snowy Owls are all present in numbers that greatly exceed numbers from the previous five winters. Most exciting are the number of Boreal Owls that are now being found across Duluth, the North Shore and NE Minnesota! We will take advantage of current conditions to spend the entire day photographing owls. Night Duluth.

Northern Hawk-Owl. Photo by tour participant Josh Galicki ©

Day Three – Minneapolis to Duluth, Lake Superior and Two Harbors. The luxury of a second morning to search for owls, hardy waterfowl or wintering rarity before turning northward along Lake Superior’s shore to Two Harbors. If there is open water in the Western tip of Lake Superior, we plan to visit Duluth’s Canal Park at some point to look for wintering gulls. Glaucous, Iceland, “Thayer’s” and assorted rarities are to be hoped for. The late afternoon hours should see us searching for Boreal Owls, hunting Great Gray Owls, fruit trees and open water areas in and around Two Harbors. Targets would include intimate experiences with the owls, Bohemian Waxwing, Townsend’s Solitaire in fruiting trees and wintering sea ducks in the open harbor areas. Night Two Harbors.

Day Four – Superior National Forest, northern Lake and St. Louis Counties. We’ll visit secluded boreal forests bordering the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness searching for Spruce Grouse, Black-backed and American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Red and White-winged Crossbills, Boreal Chickadee and the always entertaining Gray Jay. Another late afternoon search for hunting Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls is planned, and it’s likely that sunset will find us admiring one of these enigmatic northern owls. Night Two Harbors.

Black-backed Woodpecker. Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen ©

Day Five – Six – Duluth, Superior and Northeastern Minnesota’s Aitkin, Cook, Lake and St. Louis Counties. We’ll travel Lake Superior’s north shore and marvel at the simple beauty of ice kaleidoscopes along the rocky shoreline while we scan for ducks and gulls. Long-tailed Duck, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted and Common Mergansers are the more expected waterfowl species but rarities such as Harlequin Duck and Barrow’s Goldeneye have been found in recent years.

Superior, Wisconsin offers several vantage points to scan for raptors wintering in the harbor area and its landfill usually hosts a good variety of gulls. Raptor possibilities include Snowy Owl, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon and, if luck is with us, Gyrfalcon. A typical collection of winter gulls would include Herring, Glaucous, “Thayer’s”, Iceland and perhaps a rarity or two. A highlight from 2012 was a lonely ice floe with three gulls lined up one in front of one another offering unparalleled comparisons of Thayer’s, Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, 2015 had a Common Eider—first live record since the mid-1960’s! and 2016 began with a BANG! when an Ivory Gull elected to spend nearly the entire month of January in the harbor.

The bogs, meadows and forests of St. Louis and neighboring Aitkin Counties are reliable places to find Great Gray and Northern Hawk Owls. If snow levels are low enough, an assortment of Rough-legged Hawks and Snow Buntings are likely and these are the best areas for Ruffed and Sharp-tailed Grouse (sometimes displaying early on sunny days even in February!), Northern Shrike and Black-billed Magpie.

Duluth and other cities of the Arrowhead region are wonderful birding areas unto themselves. Large numbers of Mountain Ash and Flowering Crab Apple trees are a magnet for Bohemian Waxwings and rarities like Varied Thrush and Townsend’s Solitaire. Rarity highlights from recent years: 2013 included finding more than 600 Bohemian Waxwings feeding voraciously on Mountain Ash trees; 2012 provided a cooperative Mountain Bluebird along Superior’s North Shore; 2016 had that amazingly cooperative Ivory Gull; and this year’s highlights would certainly be any one of the many Boreal Owls encountered. Well visit established feeding stations buzz with activity, and Common and Hoary Redpoll, Pine and Evening Grosbeak and the more common winter finches are all likely to be found.

Bohemian Waxwing. Photo by Kim & Cindy Risen ©

But it’s those owls that remain so highly prized by visiting photographers. While numbers fluctuate from year to year, Great Gray Owl is a permanent resident of this area, Northern Hawk Owl is an annual visitor and, during an owl irruption winter, anything goes. When such an irruption takes place, Minnesota’s bogs, meadows and forests provide birding thrills that are one-of-a-kind. In 2005 we tallied more than 200 Great Gray Owls and more than 35 Northern Hawk Owls in a single county…IN A SINGLE DAY! That year proved to be the single greatest irruption ever to visit Minnesota, but even in recent years, daily totals of 10 or more owls were not unusual. Like the Great Gray, Boreal Owl is a permanent resident of Northern Minnesota, unfortunately, unlike the Great Gray Owl, they are NOT to be expected during a single visit.  Our leader is well connected with the region’s active birders and the local network is always in contact when something exciting is located. Nights Duluth.

Day Seven, February 24 – Morning photo shoot. Drive to Minneapolis where tour ends upon arrival at the Minneapolis Airport. Group participants should try and book return flights that depart Minneapolis in the mid-afternoon, certainly after 1:00 PM. This will give us one last morning in the field with our cameras. Tour concludes upon return to the Minneapolis airport.

TOUR PRICING AND INFORMATION

TOUR COST: Tour – $2295.00; Single Supplement – $395
All amounts quoted are in U.S. Dollars. The cost of this trip, based on a minimum group size of three, is $2295.00 from Minneapolis, Minnesota. If the final group is less than three participants, a small group supplement may be charged.

REGISTRATION: A non-refundable deposit of $395.00 and completed registration form are required to confirm space. Without these, no one is considered registered. Registrations are taken on a first-come first-served basis with priority based on the postmark date.

COST INCLUDES: Accommodations based on two persons sharing a two bedded room. We select good hotels convenient to our birding destinations. For single rooms a single supplement will be charged. We try to supply roommates when possible, but we can’t always find one. If we can not find you a roommate, you will be charged the added cost of single accommodations. Meals as outlined in the group itinerary. All transportation, including internal segments described in the itinerary. Transportation may be by private or chartered car, station wagon, van or bus, canoe, boat or ferry. Taxes & Local Fees along with all group admissions, park entry fees and access fees are included in the tour price. Expert guide service, photo instruction and set up services.

COST DOES NOT INCLUDE: Not included are transportation to or from Minneapolis, Minnesota, excursions not included in the itinerary, laundry, personal tips, alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, juices, mineral waters and other beverages away from included meals, room service charges, souvenirs, insurance of any kind, telephone calls and use of TV not included in the room rate and overweight baggage fees.

MEAL COSTS: Only meals indicated in the itinerary are included in the cost of this tour (included hotel breakfasts.) Because a person can eat quite well for as little as $25 per day or they can choose to spend three or four times that amount for a single day, depending upon your choices, we do not include meals where we cannot control the costs. NatureScape Tours has a policy of NOT overcharging one person to cover another’s POTENTIAL meal choices—which we would have to do if all meals were budgeted into the cost of this tour.

TIPS: All expected gratuities encountered during your tour (restaurant wait staff, luggage porters, bus drivers and local guides) is included in the cost of your tour. However, if you feel your NatureScape Tours leader, local guide or lodge personnel have given you exceptional service, it is perfectly suitable for you to bestow any gratuity you elect. We strongly stress that such tips are completely optional and solely at your discretion.

DATE OF COST QUOTATION: Sept 28, 2019
We can only quote current costs. Tour planning begins more than a year before the tour runs. While we try to arrive at our best estimates, we can’t predict fluctuation of currency exchange rates, increases in hotel or vehicle rates outside of our negotiated contracts, etc. Therefore, we reserve the right to increase the tour cost when there are justifiable reasons. However, we make a sincere effort to arrive at the closest possible estimate and have even absorbed small increases at times to avoid raising tour costs to participants. Many of our suppliers have gone to surcharges in their contracts with NatureScape Tours as a means to offset the uncertainties inherent in such long distance planning. The two most prevalent are:

FUEL: In today’s volatile oil market, it’s difficult, nay, impossible, to accurately project fuel costs into the distant future. Prices for our tours are based upon fuel rates reasonably expected at the time of your tour’s start. While NatureScape Tours does everything possible to maintain the quoted price of your tour, with a dramatic shift in fuel prices, it may be necessary to charge a fuel surcharge. If such a surcharge is levied, every effort will be made to minimize the cost passed along to you. In almost all cases, these are additional charges being assessed NatureScape Tours by our service suppliers and vendors who have exercised their right, under their contracts with NatureScape Tours, to increase prices caused by substantial changes in their cost of fuel.

EXCHANGE RATES: As with oil, it’s impossible, to accurately project foreign currency exchange rates into the distant future. Prices for our tours are based upon the rate of exchange reasonably expected at the time of your tour’s start. While NatureScape Tours does everything possible to maintain the quoted price of your tour, with a dramatic shift in exchange rates, it may be necessary to charge a surcharge. If such a surcharge is levied, every effort will be made to minimize the cost passed along to you. In almost all cases, these are additional charges being assessed NatureScape Tours by our service suppliers and vendors who have exercised their right, under their contracts with NatureScape Tours, to increase prices caused by substantial changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

PLEASE NOTE: In more than 30 years of running tours, we’ve NEVER had to assess an additional charge or surcharge to a client. We feel strongly that our staff’s careful planning and negotiation will continue our unblemished record.

TOUR CANCELLATION: Our cancellation policy is generous. We negotiate with each of our service providers and have contracted payment dates directly with them. Accordingly, all payments received by us, less your non-refundable deposit of $395.00, will be returned to you in full if we are notified in writing at least 121 days prior to tour departure date. 

Due to contractual obligations with our hotels, trains, bus and van rentals, boat charters and other costs where we have contracted payment dates there are no refunds for cancellations within 120 days prior to tour departure. 

Payments made on your behalf to purchase nonrefundable but changeable tickets may result in the loss of that cost should you decide to cancel. In some cases, if you can find a replacement to take your spot on your tour, we can change the name on such tickets at a lower cost than purchasing a new ticket. In such cases, the difference could be refunded to you provided enough notice has been given.

Some participants have lost substantial sums when illness, or other circumstances prevented them from taking a tour or forced them to depart the tour early. We can’t offer refunds for unused portions of a tour unless agreed to before the tour. Trip cancellation insurance may reimburse you your losses if you must leave a tour early for illness or other valid reason.

Therefore, we strongly advise you to buy trip cancellation insurance which may reimburse you the entire unrecovered amount if it becomes necessary for you to cancel, shorten or change your participation on your tour.

UNANTICIPATED COSTS: Rarely we have had unexpected costs during a tour. Cancellation of air flights or trains have required staying in hotels for extra nights, hiring vehicles for extra excursions and other services. At times schedule changes or route changes have been necessary. If such changes are proposed and accepted by participants, it is with the understanding that they accept the obligation to pay any extra unanticipated costs.

On all of our tours, participants are responsible for any extra expenses incurred from deviations to our scheduled tour itinerary which result from events out of our control (additional hotel nights, transfers and transportation by air, water or ground). This could be a weather related event, the result of flight or rail cancellations, labor strikes, acts of God and the like.

We advise you to buy trip cancellation insurance which may reimburse you any unrecovered payments from cancellations or additional payments from necessary tour deviations.

UNUSED PORTIONS OF A TOUR: We can’t offer refunds for unused portions of a tour unless agreed to before the tour. If you fail to show up or meet the tour regardless of the reason, we are under no obligation to provide any refund. Trip cancellation insurance may reimburse losses if you must leave a tour early for illness or other valid reason.

COMPLETION OF PAYMENT: Foreign travel agents, hotels, tour and boat operators, etc. require advance payment. We can offer better rates on our tours because of contracted payment dates and your cooperation helps avoid problems with your arrangements. For this tour we require final payment to be received in our office by November 15, 2019.