Barn Swallow, Upland Sandpiper, Blue Grosbeak...

I awoke to sunshine despite the clouds also up there, so I packed up and hit the road. I didn't get far south before I drove into rain. Just as forecasted but hey, a gal can dream...I changed my route plan but plunged ahead. Right off I missed a fabulous shot; seems to be my M.O. ...last time it was a coyote and two pups, this time it was a gorgeous hawk. Why can't the wild critters just sit still and cooperate?!

The last time I saw barn swallows, they were flying in circles around the small bridge they had nests under, at Lacreek Wildlife Refuge near Martin, SD. This is one of two barn swallows that stayed perched for me today in Custer Park. Is this a fledgling? It seems to be.Oh the excitement! Is it a lesser yellowleg? No, it turns out to be an Upland sandpiper! This one is perched on one of the fences along the wildlife loop in Custer State Park. I only had the chance to take two quick shots of this bird before it flew off...it isn't in my bird ID book, "Watchable Birds of the Black Hills, Badlands, and No Great Plains." Ok, maybe I need a field book...anyway, after snooping online under grosbeaks, the bird it most resembled, turns out it's a blue grosbeak! My first sighting, how cool... You can actually see the raindrops in the photos I took today. It took some digging online again to find what sparrow this is... a lark sparrow! Also along the wildlife loop at Custer Park. The Western meadowlark always cooperates...the males sing their hearts out as a way of claiming their territory... And last for the day, a Mt. bluebird was looking a bit soggy...