More of the Same

Well, yesterday we had another of those odd Minnesota weather days. It was snowing heavily through the Range at the same time that tornadoes were touching down in the southwestern part of the state. Looking at weather maps, a distinct line showed where the break was between the cold and warm air masses. All we got here in northern Dakota County was a gentle rain - about 0.3".

Several new birds have shown up - female cowbirds (they're the same size and shape as the males, but are a more uniform grey color), and chipping sparrows. The chipping sparrows are a good sign because they show up just before the juncoes leave. I'm seeing more white-throated sparrows in the backyard, too. Lots of activity as bird populations shift from their southern habitats to their northern ones.

White-throated sparrow - easy to see how this species got its name!