[mou] Miesville Ravine & more

[Steve Weston]

On Sunday (6/22) I led a MRVAC field trip to Miesville Ravine with eight 
participants.   The best birds included a couple of Acadian Flycatchers and 
a surprising Brewster's Warbler (Blue-winged x Golden-winged).  Also heard 
were Wood Thrushes, Ovenbirds, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo.  Redstarts were 
everywhere and we also found a couple of Scarlet Tanagers.  Eastern Wood 
Pewees and baltimore Orioles were unexpectedly uncommon.   Most of the 
activity was early in the morning.  After finishing at Miesville, some of us 
continued on to a couple of other sites further downstream.  We found lots 
of mosquitos, but few birds of interest.  I was the only one who caught a 
glimpse of a Ruffed Grouse dust bathing in the trail.

Yesterday (6/26)  I spied a Hooded Merganser hen sitting on a log with a 
line of eleven one to three day old chicks, all sleeping in a row.  They 
probably had just come down from one of my boxes.  the evenings continue to 
be quite noisy with Copes Gray Treefrogs.  This year the wild strawberrys 
are
especially sweet, plump, and plentiful.

Steve Weston on Quiggley Lake in Eagan, MN
sweston2 at comcast.net