Birding adventures

From Colorado in July, we traveled to the Fargo/Moorhead area to get the Bobolink, a life bird. We figured we could work hard to get one in Texas in the winter (or get lucky), or just go where they live in the summer and get them easily. Based on Thayer’s abundance graph, we expected to see 30 to 100 a day. With considerable effort the first day, we got exactly *one* male Bobolink. We spent a week where they’re supposed to be common and that was the only one we got. Maybe fall comes early for Bobolinks and they all scatter to somewhere else as soon as they’re through nesting.

Meanwhile, much farther north in Minnesota, Bald Eagles every day. Common Loons in breeding plumage. And another life-bird. Ruffed Grouse! (Through the windshield, so he’s a little hazy.)