From the Tropics to the Tundra

Well, not quite the tundra, but it sure felt like it when we returned from Nicaragua just ahead of the biggest late-April snow storm on record, with up to 2 feet of the wet, white stuff in some places! It's been a week now that I've been back, and there hasn't been much time for a blog post, but in keeping with the 'cold climate' theme of this post, this past Sunday I took a trip with one of our avid young birders to Moose Bog (one of my favorite places) in search of the boreal birds that barely penetrate our northern border.



We struck gold, and managed to not only see the elusive and endangered Spruce Grouse, but one almost landed right on top of us! These stunning birds have a reputation for being gregarious, and we experienced this first-hand as a male flew out of a tree, and strutted right up to us, passing within a few feet.



Our young birder also managed to spy a Black-backed Woodpecker, another boreal breeder, excavating a nest cavity. Keep in mind he spotted this from a moving vehicle! I managed to hear a Boreal Chickadee, but the Gray Jays eluded us, and so I'll need to try again other time for the coveted Boreal Grand Slam (seeing a Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay, Spruce Grouse, and Black-backed Woodpecker in one day). Other noteworthy birds seen that day (5/2) include Blue-headed Vireo, Northern Parula, White-crowned Sparrow (pictured below), and others.



As you've noticed, I won't touch Nicaragua in this post... I have neither the time nor inclination to properly address the subject at the moment, but plan to give a nice summary of the trip sometime later this spring