For decades I have been intrigued by this particular bird but had never had the opportunity to see one up close. On the recommendation of long-time friends, we pulled into a county park and campground a few miles west of Waconia late one afternoon to spend a few days visiting. To my surprise, red-wings were everywhere, and the park provided a short boardwalk through a swampy area were there were thousands of them. We set up camp, and as the sun began to set, wandered down the boardwalk. The bird shown here was just one of many that struck a pose for my camera.
Spring…and subsequently summer…have been late coming to this part of the country this year, as you can tell from the still-brown reeds in the background of this picture. New growth was just beginning to appear near the surface of the swamp when we visited in mid-June.