[mou] Birding about the metro

[Steve Weston]

Stopped by Murphy-Hanrahan Park in Scott County on Thursday evening.   Found 
at least 12 warblers and might have had a Cerulean Warbler, including FOY 
Blue-winged and Wilsons.  Best birds included several singing Wood Thrushes 
(no Veeries) and Great Creasted Flycatchers.  Very abundant and noisy frogs 
definitely were a distraction, including Spring Peepers, Copes Gray 
Treefrog, American Toads, and a few Chorus Frogs.  I met a father pushing a 
stoller and leading his two youngsters on a mushroom hunt.  They were 
finding small morels.

At home I am still being waylaid on my way out by migrant birds, including 
several Swainsons Thrushes, and at least five species of warblers, including 
Blackpoll and Magnolia, and a singing Blackburnian.  In the evening a Copes 
Gray Treefrog walks across one of my windows.

Along highway 280 I observed a Sharp-shinned Hawk closing in on a larger 
Rock Pigeon.

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