Andy's "Green Birding" Big Year

Monarchs on the move! It's been a relatively slow week birding wise - not because of a lack of opportunity, but because of an annoying cold! I've been laying pretty low recovering for the most part. It's been a challenge - the mind is willing, but the body hasn't been, until today! I decided to get back on the bike and head over to my favorite green birding spot, Louisville Swamp.  Gray Catbird giving me a hard look The ride over was ok but I definitely had to pace myself. I'm MOSTLY recovered, but not quite 100% yet. I immediately heard White-throated Sparrows calling as I was locking the bike up. Sifting out a Harris's Sparrow was top of my mind. The first flock proved to be all White-throated, but an Ovenbird was responsive to my "pishing" and gave me a chance to get a picture. An Orange-crowed Warbler also popped up, which was cool...but their arrival only means one thing - warbler migration is coming to an end soon. I'll enjoy it while I can! ...

Spotted Sandpiper keeping an eye on me It's been a pretty good stretch here in early September. The weather has cooled off somewhat overall which has been refreshing (although it's hot again today as I type this). With the cooler weather came some good bird movement. I've continued with my strategy of focusing on close by local hotspots and hitting those more frequently and not trying to range too widely - for now.  Sumac turning to red Early last week, I focused on working the spruce trees in my yard at every possible opportunity, hoping for a Black-throated Green Warbler. I didn't have any luck there. At the end of one unsuccessful evening search, I decided to have a seat and just watch the water for a while. A pale white bird flew into view that I first thought was a dove until I got my binoculars on it - it was a Sanderling! Not an easy bird to get in Minnesota at any time really, and a nice surprise. Best of all, it was my 20th "green" shorebird species! ...

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - I keep wondering when the last day I'll see them will be. It was a nice Labor Day weekend here. Saturday and Sunday I didn't get on the bike at all, just giving my legs a rest after the long ride to and from work on Friday. The weather was really comfortable though, so I made sure to spend time birding in the backyard every morning. Saturday morning was fairly quiet - a couple of warblers but nothing new. Flycatchers were very active. Every tree seemed to have one. Red-breasted Nuthatches also seem to be everywhere, which is cool. But I didn't really have much to get excited about. Sunday morning, however, was a different story.  The prairie mound doesn't have the color it used to, but this goldenrod is pretty. I stepped outside after breakfast on Sunday and immediately noticed activity. The flycatchers were very busy, chickadees were calling, and there were Warbling and Red-eyed Vireos in the yard, still singing, as vireos always do. A Merli...