Western Grebe - Day 221

  This was an exciting find for me. Not that I had to look very hard. There were quite a few of them in an area of fairly large, unnamed wetland ponds. This is a western grebe. The black color covers the eye and the bill is greenish. I guess I read in the wildlife list that they were here, but I hadn't really been looking for them. Now, look closely. Mom is giving her baby a ride on her back.

This is a different western grebe. I actually saw this one first. I didn't know they carry the babies. I think junior got kicked off to have a swimming lesson and is protesting! I love this picture.

I also saw a great egret. The black legs are the key feature to ID this one, so you know it's not a snowy egret or a white heron.

I forgot to tell you I heard a bittern yesterday. It was hidden in the cattails, but the sound they make is distinctive.

We had me out and walking at 6:20 this morning. West Michigan is supposed to be one of the most difficult places to forecast the weather, but I think North Dakota must be tricky too. No mention of rain. But I turned around to see this black shelf cloud forming behind me. They occur where two different fronts meet, and they can serve up thunderstorms and strong winds. This one only managed to cough out some rain. I got my poncho on in time, and had no issues. It still wasn't hot when I finished my miles. Success!

Today's lonely North Dakota picture is a sight you will see on many, many hills out here. But maybe mostly in the eastern part of the state because it's the first one I've encountered this trip. These vintage reapers are parked on hilltops where they look like rusty prehistoric birds. They seem to be either a Dakota joke, or shrines to an agricultural generation that has passed.

Miles today: 15.4. Total miles so far: 2670.1

See American Avocet