I love this time of year. I never know what will catch my attention on a birding expedition. New chicks fledge daily, and make their presence known to the world. While tree swallows were definitely not the focus of my trip to the Wisconsin Grasslands near Cloverland, when presented with 30+ screaming tree swallows demanding food from overworked parents, I stopped to enjoy the show.

I also enjoyed a hike into a forested glade where my Red-Headed Woodpeckers are nesting. The tall grass now reaches over five feet. At one point I heard something swishing through the grass. Moments later a fawn was staring at me from ten feet away. Mom was obviously out foraging.

Oh yes … my woodpecker friends.