Green Point - interesting morning

[Mike Fahay]

The sporadic sprinkles this A.M. may have shut down some singing, but on the other hand, it seemed like the end of the heavier downpours inspired some species to sing harder.  Altho' the object was to find Orchard Oriole, several other events and sites made up for this miss. 

1.  At least 2 singing male BGGnats.  At opposite ends of the lower causeway.  They differ in the nature of their eyebrows.  Mark has been running into a singing male (?) at the corner of the upper orchard which might be No. 3. 

2.  A BBCuckoo, acting just like it's supposed to, thus the name "rain crow".  Oh wait...that's a YBCuckoo.

3.  Briefly singing Olive-sided Fly.

4. A singing Alder Fly, plus the regular Leasts, phoebes and Great Crested

5.  24 BBPlovers flying in tight formation, swerving to miss a soaring ad Bald Eagle

6.  The Bobolinks really put on a show this morning.  I'm not sure I've ever seen their "parachute drop" flight off a tall maple tree before.  Both the upper and  middle fields were very entertaining.

7.  A Green Heron fly-over.  Not a "patch-bird" but I've seen precious few here in the past.

8.  Out of the 100 or so Tree Swallows coursing over the wild rice flats, I was able to find 1 Bank, 1 Barn, and 1 Cliff.  This was in 2 minutes of looking.  I'm positive there was a Roughie in there as well. 

9.  about 10 sp of warblers.  Some of these were silent until it rained.  Then they perked up after a downpour ended.  I don't think the vireos had tickets to this party.  Only one silent Warbling vireo.

10.  Finally...a ball-shaped flock of peeps (prob. least sands) crossing the wild rice flats. 

My camera and I got soaked.  Had to go to the Y to swim...to warm up.  Does that make sense?