Ahhh...Aitkin County, where only hitchhikers outnumber deer along the road.
Just joking, anyway McGregor Marsh was really quiet this morning, yellow rails are winding down the "singing" process. I did however end up hearing 2 Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrows, several Sedge Wrens and 1 LeConte's Sparrow. And after awhile I even got to hear 3 Yellow rails at the southern end of the big marsh, still ticking away. Then after a quick nap waiting for daylight, I headed up to Pietz's Road. I got out by the snowmobile trail and hiked south.....well I tried to at least, the mosquitos gave me one choice, so I ended up running the trail. I heard a Connecticut Warbler, but I kept running, I then heard a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, I stopped....bad mistake. The flycatcher got closer, but the swarm of mosquitos got even closer, I took off again, faster than ever. A Great Gray Owl flushed and I do admit, I jumped a little. It flew to a snag and turned to stare me down with its cold yellow eyes. I didn't stop running....I couldn't. Another Connecticut Warbler sang, pretty close, I didn't give it another thought. I decided the Owl wouldn't like me chasing it down the trail, so I turned back, now I noticed that the ticks had covered me from my ankles to my knees, with my pants being soaked up to my thighs. I started peeling the ticks off, but the mosquitos had different plans. A group of chickadees started calling, undoubtedly with a Boreal mixed in, but I had no blood left to check it out. A Gray Jay lit upon a spruce and just watched me as I sped by. 10 minutes, 4 Boreal species, 1 pint of lost blood, 42 wood ticks, and not 1 ounce of regret......I'd do it again in a minute. Waiting for the shorebirds.... Ben Fritchman Long Prairie, MN _________________________________________________________________ MSN 9 Dial-up Internet Access helps fight spam and pop-ups now 2 months FREE! http://join.msn.click-url.com/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/
