Recent Sightings

I chased around Wood Lake last week, trying to spot an Ovenbird. Typically, the bird was singing wildly and on the brushy ground. Also usual, it was circling me with a radius of about 30 feet. Sing for 10 seconds and then move to a new spot. Eventually making complete circles around me. I looked for five minutes and never saw it fly or run or twitch. Not a sign. They’re really spooky that way.

Then a few days later, Barb found a gift at our back door. A dead Ovenbird! I suspect, being a secretive bird of dense woods, he didn’t ram into our door. More likely, a neighborhood free-range cat left us a prize. Keep your damn cats inside.

Back at Wood Lake recently, a dark and windy day had all the leaves moving and all the birds in silhouette. Nonetheless, we tracked down a Black-Throated Blue Warbler. Rare this side of the Big Muddy and our first MN BTBW. Mostly just dumb luck. But a real highlight for the session.

Warblers are coming through thick and fast. Got to get out again pronto.