For the first time in centuries it is actually raining this morning in northern Minnesota, with some thunder and lightning thrown in for good measure. Thus, for a change I am sitting at home this morning … a rain delay. This is fantastic news as the bog water levels are amazingly low, and I was fearful of drought / wildfire conditions. Last week when hiking into a Great Blue Heron rookery, I was amazed to discover I could hike across the bog without getting my feet wet … not good. I was wearing muck boots, but they really were not necessary.

As some of you know I spent three delightful mornings birding last week down near Minneapolis in the Plymouth Wetlands. I have a few images I have been meaning to post, but to which I had not gotten around. My biggest excitement was finding three scarlet tanagers. Hopefully they will nest where I found them and provide continuing enjoyment over the course of the summer.

Scarlet Tanager (looked almost orange in the direct sunlight … red in the shade)

Great Egret Take-Off

Wood Duck Sunrise

Baltimore Oriole

Catbirds

Green Heron