Sometimes you see strange things while bicycling. This morning I took a 20 mile ride not too far south of the Canadian border. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye I noticed vivacious color. A lifer! The extremely rare North American Green and Orange Dabbler. This duck was enjoying the early morning light in a remote swamp. It was obviously very tired after its long migration which had started down in Patagonia. I cautiously got off my bicycle and took this perfect photograph!

Last night Molly and I visited our Common Loon nest … still no chicks. It’s now time to get on the pontoon and take a Happy Hour Cruise … the Chardonnay is chilled. Life is good here in northern Minnesota, and birding does not get much better.