I promise I will quit talking about this bird soon, but I have one last update.  Today I got off my bike and snuck up to the nesting site, slow and quiet.  After a few minutes of eye strain I was finally convinced that the bird was gone and the nest is unoccupied (no eggs).  I lingered a few minutes thinking about the eventual trail re-route around a fallen red oak tree and all of a sudden the mama bird comes flying out of the brush about 10 feet from where the nest had been.  She then does the elaborate broken wing, flailing-on-the-ground act as she limps away trying to get me to follow her away from the (just guessing here) newly hatched chicks.  I quickly moved away from there and slunk away, sorry about having disturbed her again.  A few minutes later and 75 yards from there I saw what I’m guessing was her mate checking to make sure I was really leaving.  This critter sighting just won’t end! On a less fun note, it appears to be horsefly season.  Not a fan, though it is satisfying to smack one of those suckers.  

This is getting old. Every ride I end up with a ton of burrs. Granted, this was probably the worst example but was just from a pretty standard BCGB/SATN combo ride. No bushwacking or mystery trails involved. 

I had to dig up a picture of one so I can try pattern recognition to find it!

Yes. They are!  The adult sits on them to incubate them and is incredibly well camouflaged.  Here are two admittedly poor photos of the mother(?) on the “nest”.  I initially found the nest while using the chainsaw to clear a Red Oak that had blocked the trail.  When I came back a few days later I was reluctant to get very close since I had scared her off the nest earlier.  

Are those eggs just on the ground? Can't believe nothing has eaten them.