We finally paid a visit to this area, which is part of the Cedar Creek EcoScience Reserve. We were hoping to see Red-headed Woodpeckers there, and were certainly not disappointed, with close sightings of at least 4, possibly 6, of them. The trail entrance cuts through a small section of prairie, which offered looks at Meadowlark among the prairie flowers. A Grasshopper Sparrow was heard there too, despite the high winds, and Eastern Bluebirds as well Following the trail west around the lakeshore gave access first to oak savannah where the woodpeckers were, and then to the wet meadows and marsh on parts of its border. On the lake was a pair of Trumpeter Swans with 5 cygnets. In the meadows a Sandhill Crane reared its head briefly, and we watched as what we finally decided was a Red-shouldered Hawk perched astride a low shrub, eating a small rodent. Common Yellowthroats and Yellow Warblers occupied the meadow and marsh edges, and in more wooded sections there were Brown Thrashers and Red-eyed Vireos. On the west end of the lake, by gate 8, a tanger voice sang briefly. It sounded smoother than Scarlet, and more complex in pattern, but it gave us no views to determine if it was a Summer. It seemed to retreat eastward. The most surprising voice, however, was one very familiar from many days spent up north, the Common Raven. That raucous croak could be heard all the way across the water when we reached the lake. It was coming from trees on the west shore, and soon we saw a large corvid being hassled by a Red-winged Blackbird. It happened a couple of times, and left us wondering if nest-raiding was the provocation. Due to the presence of bison, some of the other trails to the south were closed, so this area will need a visit another day--perhaps when migrators move again. Linda Whyte
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