Why is the worst weather of the week always on a Tuesday? It seems that the only day Jeannette and I can go birding together for any significant amount of time (our store is closed on Tuesdays) is the day that it rains, snows, or is otherwise yucky out. Oh well, we make the best of it.

Yesterday, we decided to suck it up, don the Gore-Tex, and visit Reid State Park despite the plethora of rainshowers in the area. Luckily, our timing worked out quite well – we were still in the Brunswick Diner when a rather unexpected thunderstorm and downpour rolled through. And, most of our walk was rain-free, with the next shower not beginning in earnest until we were just about back to the car. What luck!

Birding though, wasn’t spectacular however. A small number of Surf Scoters, including a number of molting immature males were quite close to shore, which was nice to see. A few Sanderlings scurried around on the beach. A very good-sized group of about 35 Red-necked Grebes slept offshore, and a few Green-winged Teal recently arrived in the marsh. A nice-sized group of 15 Hooded Mergansers were in the pond near the park’s entrance.

Certainly the highlight of the day however, was an encounter with a Mink! While walking the Todd’s Head Road back towards the entrance gate, a Mink darted out from the woods, about 50 yards up ahead. It stopped in the center of the road, staring at us, no doubt surprised to see humans out on this dreary, damp day. It also seemed to be deciding whether or not our dog was a potential threat. Our dog, meanwhile, simply stared back – also seemingly unsure as to what to make of this critter (Not to anthropomorphosize or anything!) Well, it wasn’t a squirrel, or a cat – was it a hybrid between a squirrel and a dachshund? Maybe. Nevertheless, our dog – fierce hunter she is not – didn’t seem quite sure of what to do about it. The mink lost interest in our dog’s thought process, and continued across the road. Moments later, it darted back into the road (that road is closed in the winter I should mention), and stared at us again for a few moments before trotting off into the marsh.

What either animal, our dog or the Mink, was thinking may never be known, but Jeannette and I were only thinking about how lucky we were to see a Mink sitting still in plain view! Just goes to show you why every day is a good day to be out birding.