I went back to Tappen Slough (south central ND) this morning with the kayak hoping for some shots of "babies on backs" but I think the grebes must still be incubating for the most part. There seems to be a lot of traffic around the one cattail "island" out in the middle of the slough. As on Saturday there was only one pair of Westerns swimming around with young ones that I could see. One odd thing isthat last time there I shot Clark's and Eared while totally missing the Westerns; this time I got Western and Eared but no Clark's. New bird on the day for me was some shots of couple of drake Ruddy Ducks.

I finally got the American Goldfinches where I wanted them today after 3 days of no luck. When I set up the thistle feeder here at the campground I purposely placed it near on of the few branches on the tree that was in the open and uncluttered. The male had landed on it a few times but never long enough to get off a shot. They both paused there several times this afternoon before jumping off to the feeder.

I only saw them irregularly during winter back at the old homestead in Florida and they always seemed to come in groups. There is no such cooperation now - the females chase off other females and the males will chase off either (except, apparently, the mate). Feisty little things and very quick (as are most little birds).

This Northern Flicker showed up while I was waiting for the goldfinches to return and was chattering rather noisily about something. Its perched on the electrical box for the campsite next to mine - another new bird for this campground. (Must have flinched just as I shot because I can see a little bit of head movement . . . )

Today I also discovered a second nesting pair of Western Kingbirds in a tree near the office. The pair closest to my trailer are quite intolerant of other birds coming to "their" tree - yesterday a Hairy Woopecker had no sooner landed on it when the kingbird dropped down out of the nest and chased the Hairy away, scolding loudly all the while.

This was our last day in Bismarck, tomorow we move almost due north to Minot and the Upper Souris refuges. See ya there!

Update: This morning (Tuesday) I was sitting outside pondering whether or not I could use the roof of the trailer as a platform to get a shot of the Western Kingbird on her nest when an unidentified little bird - probably a Yellow Warbler- landed in the upper part of the tree. I don't think it was 3 or 4 seconds before the Kingbird chased it off. She simply won't tolerate anybody using her tree.