[mou] Clay Co. Louisiana Waterthrush refound

[Benjamin Fritchman]

I was looking for an excuse to take a break from studying for finals...and 
the Louisiana Waterthrush was the perfect excuse. I arrived this afternoon 
to the Waterthrush spot, but I couldn't see any birds from the road. I drove 
around a little while and came back. Again I scanned the water edges for any 
waterthrushes, nothing. I gave up and was driving off when I heard a 
Waterthrush chip come from about 30 feet south of where I was looking from 
the road. I followed the chip into the woods and found I had a better view 
of the water from inside the woods there. I followed the chip and finally 
saw a Waterthrush....although it was a Northern. A few seconds later a 
Solitary Sandpiper across the water caught my eye, and as I looked at it, I 
noticed a smaller bird foraging near it. I looked at it and realized it was 
the Louisiana Waterthrush! It was drastically different than the Northern 
foraging to the right of me. It was really neat looking at all the 
differences Bob O'Connor noted. I even heard it chip once when the Solitary 
got too close to it, I agree with Bob that it was not as hard as a 
Northern's.
Anyway, it was a great day, although really windy. Where the Waterthrush 
was, there was no wind, so as long as it's this windy, I think the 
Waterthrush might stay put.
I believe this is a first county record.

Ben Fritchman
Fargo for the next 2 days, then back to Long Prairie.