Date: 5/3/24 8:55 am From: Steve Weston <sweston2g...> Subject: [mou-net] Ahhh....Spring!
Ahhh...SPRING! It is so hard to sit at the computer with the birds inviting me to get out. Even after a very productive and enjoyable Salt Lake Festival, I am still seeing lots of new birds. We personally had over 100 species on the Salt Lake trip. We stopped at Long Lake on our way out and scored the Garganey in the rain and Avocets and a half dozen other shorebirds. The weather was great on Saturday with winnowing snipe, twirling phalaropes, hiding grebes, a flashing Black-throated Green warbler, handsome Lark Sparrows, and many other treasures. On the ride back we found a Cattle Egret not far from Marietta, miles of semi-invisible longspurs and a probable Upland Sandpiper along the northern boundary of Renville County.
Back home I added Ovenbird, Nashville, and Black and White to the five warblers seen out west, along with a Horned Grebe and Avocet on Lake Byllesby and a Gray-cheeked Warbler down near Red Wing. Flotillas of geese are crossing our lake and grazing in the grass, but I have yet to see any ducklings.
Last Saturday the woodlands had erupted in bloom. Now I am seeing violets and garlic mustard flowering everywhere. Our Redbud is in full glory. It should be a good time to search for morels, but I haven't had a chance. Our Big Brown Bat is back this week, sheltering by our front door.
I urge you to step into the glory just out your door. Today the temperature should climb over 70. Turn on Merlin and listen.
Steve Weston On Quigley Lake in Eagan, MN <sweston2g...>
