We braved the 'heat dome' to visit  Watkins Lake SP Tuesday morning.  Eight JAS members, including four new members, walked the uplands in search of summer grassland species.  

Storms had just torn through the area the night before and Arnold Rd. was blocked with Consumer's and Jackson County crews working to clear the road and restore power.  Due to the truck & chainsaw noise we started from the southeast entrance and worked the grassland in a clockwise path. 

A brief stop at the lake got us some swallows, including nesting Northern Rough-winged Swallow, as well as Great Blue Heron and Belted Kingfisher.

The walk out of the shade and into the sun was not too bad since we had a constant breeze to cool things down.  The Bobolink was spied a long way off on his special geocache singing post.  

Bobolink (Don Henise)

The Henslow's Sparrow was much more secretive.  We heard a few, but finally were able to get some good views of one in the western grassland at the top of the hill.  Don was able to get a good shot of one perched on a Common Mullein.  

Henslow's Sparrow (Don Henise)

We observed both Orchard & Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Meadowlark,  and of course, lots of Turkey Vultures.  The complete eBird checklist of 36 species is available at
https://ebird.org/checklist/S182676773