Despite the cool wet weather nine people from across Manitoba came to the Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve to search for great grey owls, herons and the rare golden winged warbler and were treated to a host of wonderful warblers and other exciting boreal  forest birds in the Biosphere Reserve’s core protected area, Riding Mountain National Park. While the weather was a bit wetter than some would have liked meeting friends, old and new, great food and excellent accommodations to come back to at the end of the day made for a thoroughly enjoyable weekend. The group was led by expert birders and enthusiastic raconteurs Ian Thorleifson and Ken Kingdon.