[mou] Bass Ponds: Kentucky Warbler and Black-billed Cuckoo!

[Matt Bribitzer-Stull]

Dear Minnesota Birders:

Yesterday (5/23), while birding with my mother at the Bass Ponds in 
Bloomington, we saw a Black-billed Cuckoo at the bottom of the downhill 
entrance trail. This was a first species for me during Minnesota 
migration. I thought it would be the highlight of the day, but after a 
nice string of warblers (including Golden-winged) I heard a song I never 
thought I would hear in my home state: it was the two-syllabled 
tory-tory-tory of the Kentucky Warbler!

The bird was singing not far from the stream (near the sign that 
announces "Dangerous Waters," but across the stream). I crossed the 
stream on a fallen log and walked uphill a few paces toward the song. 
The habitat looked just like that where I've seen/heard this bird before 
in Kentucky (twice - I've also seen/heard it once during migration in 
Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario) and the ventriloqual quality of the 
song was no different either. It was nearly impossible to get a clear 
aural direction from the songster as he sat in low canopy and sang his 
heart out. After about 15 minutes, I finally got a quick look just 
before he dived down into some thick undergrowth. Spectacular!!! (As an 
added bonus, the Black-billed Cuckoo made another appearance during this 
time and graced me with his song, as well!)

My apologies for not posting sooner - my internet access at home was out 
most of yesterday.

Happy birding,

Matt
________________________
Matthew Bribitzer-Stull
Asst. Prof. of Music Theory
University of Minnesota