Leaving North Dakota

I spent the morning on the prairie taking pictures of the last North Dakota prairie sparrow I needed. A guide found a VERY cooperative Le Conte's sparrow. I was about 5 yards from him. He sat up on a dry weed and called and called at me. I recorded him and went a little crazy and shot about 100 shots. Thank goodness for digital. I can delete most of them. I also stood on the top of a rise and watched a Spraig's Pipit fly around us and sing its musical song. It landed close and then took off again. No pictures but great memories. The solar on the trailer works great. I just spent two hours on the computer working with my pictures and all on solar. It does not get dark until 10 pm so lots of sun to keep the batteries up. I took interstate 94 east to Fargo and then 10 to Park Rapids. It was 20 miles north from there to the park. Fargo is the first "big" city I have been in since home. I like the black lines on the map better. They are country roads and a lot more interesting. I have covered 4,400 miles to date. I left the prairies soon after I got into Minnesota. The hills are a bit more rolling here and instead of long grass prairie they are covered with mixed forests. (Pines and deciduous woods). The lakes are larger than the pot holes of the prairies. What is not covered by trees and lakes is bog or cattail marsh. I have a good supply of bug spray etc. I think I will need it and West Nile is something to think about here. There were a few cases talked about on the radio today. The sky is very blue here with big white puffy clouds. The combination of green trees, blue lakes and sky with white clouds make for some beautiful sights. I plan to walk across the Mississippi tomorrow. :) I am at the headwaters of the 2,552 mile river. The headwaters are at Lake Itasca. I also plan to walk some bird trails and see what I can find. It is 9 at night and still light. I can hear the loons calling on the lake and smell the campfires of the other campers. I have a view of the forest with the lake peeking through the leaves. All is right with the world. Take care. Donelda
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