North Shields Pond Natural Area 4.24.09 1:00-1:40 p.m. Partly cloudy, breezy, 70 degrees Great Blue Heron, 1 Canada Goose, 4 Mallard, 5 Red-winged Blackbird, 30+ American Robin, 5 Northern Flicker, 2 Black-capped Chickadee, 1 Mourning Dove, 1 Meadowlark, 0
Ahhh yes, the meadowlark. Well it goes like this. Today Z’nah and I went for a walk around North Shields Pond. It is so wonderful to be able to take a canine companion out into the wild with me. The few occasions I’ve taken Clementine, I spend the whole time trying to keep her from eating rocks as I shout warnings to strangers about guarding their nostrils. I’m so busy pulling rocks out of her maw that I miss all the wildlife. Not so with Z’nah! She’s a dream to hike with. But I digress. I was ambling along the path when I heard a meadowlark. I knew it was a meadowlark because I diligently listen to my bird song tapes as I drive. I whipped out my bins and spent a while peering at the surrounding field and fences. Nothing. We walked a little farther. Again with the song! This time though, it was followed by a distinctly non-bird beep. And that’s when I remembered that I had recently changed my ring-tone to a meadowlark recording. Incredibly embarrassing. Z’nah pretended not to notice but she did walk several yards in front me all the way back to the car.
Walleye said,
5.28.09 at 3:40 am
HA !!
Queso grande said,
5.28.09 at 5:31 am
Er, it’s possible the same thing happened to me today… except I was digging holes in a wetland, and suddenly there was a very loud and persistent meadowlark. In my pocket. I still looked for the bird. Must be genetic…