I did a little Breeding Bird Atlas work over in southeast Greene County recently. Although it wasn't a record-breaking block-busting event, it was fun to get out and put some effort into an area.
Here is a VESPER SPARROW that was content with me pulling up along side it:
The highlight for me (which doesn't take much these days) was this UPLAND SANDPIPER, one of the few I've seen on the ground here in Iowa:
As I was coming back to Ames on Highway 30, I spotted this breeding-plumaged CATTLE EGRET in a pasture with some cows:
It's too bad it wasn't in a BBA block! It was where Highway 30 intersects Route 144 in Grand Junction:
View CAEG in a larger map
Back at home, the orioles continue to dine on the oranges. Here is the female giving it some tongue:
