Dare I say it?

Sure, okay....IT'S ALMOST JUNE and no mosquitoes! This time last year Crow Valley was like the jungle. I poured repellant all over my clothes and took a deep breath and braved a trip around the campground. I have no complaints. Barring any ill effects on the bird community I think this is just lovely. I spent six hours at Crow Valley today. If I hadn't pooped out I could have stayed all afternoon. Mostly familiar faces, but ones I was eager to see:

Northern Mockingbird. The pair at work again nest-building, I think.

A new and great bird...well, pointed out to me once before I think, but this time my own find.

Orchard Oriole. Threw me off by hanging out with a female Bullocks.

A lovely female (I think) Black-headed Grosebeak

After a while I decided to sit in the shade and let the birds come to me. My only real takers

were a pair of Swainson's Thrush

I followed several (again I think) Red-headed Woodpeckers around Crow Valley.

I missed one unrepeatable fantastic photo op, but did get some nice views.

It was really time to go (my legs were doing their pondwater/molasses routine) and my only lament was not getting a Common Nighthawk shot. TA DA....on the way back to the car.

Left just in time to drive through a hailstorm heading West on 14.

More of today's photos:

The Complete Crow Valley list:

(not counting the Empids and the one Macgillivray's Warbler I think I saw)

American Robin

Western Kingbird

Chipping Sparrow

Blue Jay

House Wren

Brown Thrasher

Northern Flicker

Western Meadowlark

American Kestrel

Red-headed Woodpecker

Gray Catbird

Swainson's Thrush

Yellow Warbler

Spotted Towhee

Yellow-breasted Chat

Lark Sparrow

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Mockingbird

Red-tailed Hawk

Wilson's Warbler

Eastern Kingbird

Common Nighthawk

Warbling Vireo

Orchard Oriole

Black-headed Grosbeak