[Mnbird] Bell's Vireos, Cliff Fen, Dakota C

[linda whyte]

Yesterday's walk at Cliff Fen was my first visit there in several years, so
it was delightful to find that Bell's Vireos still favor the place. They
were not in their original location just beyond the first power stanchion;
the habitat there was somewhat altered by construction, and rather
overgrown. Instead, they were further east along the trail, just before a
3-foot metal, yellow and black, pipeline post. There were at least 2 and
perhaps 3 of them, vocalizing loudly and chasing each other across the path
and through adjacent shrubs.

Walking further east, I made some attempt to check the area where, many
years ago, there were Chats in residence. I'm not certain that I went far
enough, but I didn't see the kind of foliage/habitat in which the Chats had
been. Maybe this too, has changed too much to appeal to them.
Other sightings were more as expected: Yellow Warblers, Common
Yellowthroat, Sedge Wrens, Flycatchers (Least, Willow, Great-crested,
Olive-sided), Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Oriole, Warbling Vireo, and
Song Sparrows among them. A longer walk, either earlier or later in the
day, would likely reveal much more, given the increasing abundance of
insect life with recent rains and elevated temperatures.
Linda Whyte
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