Yesterday (Friday) was pretty quiet along the Milwaukee lakefront. I birded the southern half of my BIGBY route and found mostly the usual suspects. * When the birding is slow, my observations slow down. That's when I look at the more common birds in a new light. Yesterday I found myself thinking that I probably underappreciate the beauty of male Mallards. Probably because they're under my nose all the time. Took this random photo yesterday. The orange feet, yellow bill, green head, and rich body colors make for a striking bird, even if it IS "just another Mallard". :-) http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/6246634431/in/photostream * The Canada Geese are starting to congegrate in Veterans Park in greater numbers. There weren't as many geese this summer as last summer. I'm thinking it's because of the dry weather. The grass in Veterans Park was really dry and brown this summer. Ironically, the grass in Veterans Park now looks like spring grass with the recent rains: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/6247159416/in/photostream * I kinda like this photo taken from the south end of the Veterans Park Lagoon. I like how it juxtaposes the natural areas of the park against an urban skyline: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/6247161800/in/photostream * A gull hunts the ubiquitous grasshoppers in the Lakeshore State Park prairie. The bird was so intent on gorging on its prey that it completely ignored humans that were passing by. This park is still loaded with grasshoppers, and has been for a couple of months: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/6246641423/in/photostream * And some American Crows have discovered the grasshopper buffet: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14463444@N07/6247166440/in/photostream Bernie Sloan Milwaukee #################### You received this email because you are subscribed to the Wisconsin Birding Network (Wisbirdn). To UNSUBSCRIBE or SUBSCRIBE, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn To set DIGEST or VACATION modes, use the Wisbirdn web interface at: //www.freelists.org/list/wisbirdn Visit Wisbirdn ARCHIVES at: //www.freelists.org/archives/wisbirdn