4th of July

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What is it?

Yesterday, I was disappointed in not finding any Yellow-heads or Bobolinks -- but I did come across a number of birds I could not ID. I like to take pictures more than just watch birds -- that's why I don't keep any life list or those other check-off lists that seem to drive so many birders.

Yes, I know that's a Song Sparrow.

But what is this? Are sparrows (if that's what it is) changing into their fall camouflage already? I have 4 field guides on my desk -- and they didn't help.

And what is this? With the distinctive head & tail markings it should be easy to identify -- but I can't.
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Killdeer

This morning I realized I had run out of current photos to post on this blog. What to do?
I decided to go back to the South Forest Lake location I've been writing about for the last week or so. I hoped to get better pictures of the Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Bobolinks in particular.
I spent 2 to 3 hours there and didn't see either species! I did find other birds I will post and ask you to help me identify. However, tonight I'm going to share some pictures of the many Killdeer that frequent the area.

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DANGER!

Since last Wednesday I've published a number of posts about a wonderful area near the new Service Center/Library just south of Forest Lake. I want to mention again that housing developments there are putting in danger the Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Bobolinks, and other birds that are difficult to find in the metro area. I'm not sure what, if anything, can be done to save this little corner of nature. Holly, whose email post led me to the place, may try to publicize the area's plight. Does anyone have any other ideas?
Below is a Red-winged Blackbird on a stake marking a building lot.

I'm worried that the Wetland Boundary/Buffer will not be sufficient to keep these Yellow-heads coming back.

"I like it here!"

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"Don't ..."

"Don't turn your back on me when I'm talking to you! Do you hear me?"

"You think flying away will solve our problems?"
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Bobolink

After our pleasant, though uneventful, morning at Carlos last Wednesday, Les & I decided to head over to Forest Lake and the area I described in my post last Wednesday.
I was looking for Bobolinks -- Les was anxious to photograph the Yellow-headed Blackbirds.
Here are some of my Bobolink shots.

more to follow

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slow morning at Carlos

Yesterday morning Les picked me up & we headed out to Carlos. Our main goal was to photograph the Bank Swallows I posted about last Tuesday & Wednesday. However, we came upon only 2 pairs and, with them just shooting in and out of nesting cavities, our photo ops were limited. Maybe we should have stayed with the swallows since there wasn't much going on elsewhere.
This is some of what we did photograph:

some Sandhill Cranes at a long distance

a Song Sparrow

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Pied-billed Grebe

You could tell it was a slow day when our picture taking was reduced to awkward, half-grown goslings, ...

... turtles, ...

... and old Coots.
photo by Les

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Thank you, Holly!

About a month or so ago I was surprised to see a posting on the MOU Listservice by Holly Peirson about near-by Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Other than one sighting at Springbrook more than a year ago, I hadn't seen any of these colorful birds in the northern suburbs of the Twin Cities.
Here are directions:
First, find the new Washington County Service Center & Library, just off Highway 61, on the West side about a mile south of Scandia Trail (#97). Here is a link to a map.
If you go directly West from the Service Center/Library, you will find ponds and fields on both sides of the road for about 3/4 of a mile (after which you will come upon a housing development). It is within this 3/4 mile stretch that you will find Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Bobolinks, and much more!
According to Holly, even more of this small piece of land will be developed soon, perhaps causing many of these birds to find other grounds. This would be very sad since it is wonderful to find such a concentration of interesting birds in the metro area.
Below are some photos from a week ago.
My friend, Les, and I revisited the site today; I'll be posting those photos in the next few days.

Upon arriving at the above-described location, I came upon the "Great Egret tree." Immediately to the left of the top-most Egret is a Yellow-headed Blackbird.

Some of the Egrets were successfully fishing.

There are a number Killdeer here as well. I didn't find any Bobolinks on this first trip, with the exception of one "possible" fly-by.

Now for some shots of my main quarry.

Thank you again, Holly!
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fishing with a Great Blue Heron

A couple of weeks ago at Carlos Avery.
"It's a long morning when you can't find any fish or frogs."

"Maybe I need to find a better spot."

"This looks much better."

"AHAA!"

"I told you so!"

"It's a beauty!"

to the nest, maybe?

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rest of the Thrasher pix

it looks like he's trying to carefully walk a tight-rope --
or, as if the branch is really hot

the second Thrasher almost gets lost; look at the bottom right

although it's not an "action" shot, I like it

it was fun to see how this pair was inseparable --
do they stay this close for the rest of the summer?
I'm not that familiar with Thrashers

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Brown Thrashers -- II

After gathering sticks from the top of the bank, they moved down into the sand. The Thrasher on the right makes it appear as if the sand was too hot to walk on.

more to follow

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