Dennis Cheeseman photographed this Warbling Vireo eating its lunch by the Kingsland Overlook Trail earlier this week. (Thanks, Dennis!)

Now is prime time for birding at DeKorte. The water levels are down so there's a lot of exposed mud, and the birds are coming in. We counted nearly 100 egrets on Wednesday afternoon, plus umpteen yellowlegs and and a few Semipalmated Plovers and Ospreys.

At 6:05 p.m. Wednesday, Mike Batard saw a Least Bittern from the trail and reported:

"From the easternmost window blind, saw a bittern flying
low across the water east to west, landing on Phrag island on left.
Stayed away from the reeds, clearly visible and exposed for at least 50
minutes, when I left.

"Four osprey hunting at the same time, alternately crashing into he
water. More than a dozen GBH and a few BCNH." (Thanks, Mike!)

The Marsh Discovery Trail is now open most of the way — the shot above was taken from a blind there on Wednesday afternoon.

We expect these conditions to continue through Kevin Karlson Day on Saturday and the entire weekend.

The butterflies and flowers aren't chopped liver either. Hope to see you at DeKorte soon.