scene: 2000 Fergus Falls CBC by open water on the Otter Tail River in residential Fergus Falls weather: near blizzard-like conditions all day
The Bloopees (Gayle and Ruth Beecher, Sandy & Dan Thimgan) were scanning the river for waterfowl when we spotted a hunched-over, raptor-like shape down near the riverbank in an inaccessible spot. We couldn't make it out, but it undoubtedly was a rarity of some sort! We hazarded some guesses. No consensus. We raced back to the car, retrieved a scope, and set it up the snow, our eyes stinging from the blowing snow. The bird just wouldn't turn around for us. So, we all galloped back to the car once again and plunged through the drifts on an adjoining snowy back street in hopes of finding a better viewing angle. Out of the car again, we circled stealthily around the corner of a house, slogging through snow up to our knees. This was high drama indeed! Peering around the house, we finally got a full frontal view of the bird. It was a......plastic penguin! Dan & Sandy Thimgan Otter Tail County Battle Lake, MN
