Ames Crossing Road
I traveled light this time. No suitcase or checked baggage. I could’ve gotten away with just my backpack, but this was a work trip so my Orca bag was in tow. My mission? Produce stellar corporate video. My side quest? Birding. Minneapolis, here I come.
As far as I know, Minnesota is the perfect place to bird in early May after many of the migratory species have gone north for the summer. It’s worthy to note that I know next nothing. Thankfully, the hobby is made accessible by its incredibly generous community. I checked EBird for hot spots in Eagan and settled on Ames Crossing Rd after confirming with a local pro.
Birding is an incredibly fulfilling way to decompress after working long 12+ shifts. Some people get up early and run, some stay out late networking (drinking), and I bird. All in all, I got roughly 6 hours of birding in across the three days and added nine birds to my life list. Way more time than I can typically get with two small children at home.
My list of lifers on this trip include:
Hooded Merganser
Canadian Goose
Palm Warbler
Baltimore Oriole
Green Heron
Black-capped Chickadee
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Swamp Sparrow
Gray Catbird
As these things go, I only made successful photographs of the more common birds below.
