December 7, 2008
Numbers seem to dominate the bird watching world at this time of year, as feeder counts and Christmas count arrive. Today there are eight goldfinches battling for four positions on the niger feeder, occasionally fending off some aggressive house sparrows. The latter have also become more bold in their attempts to raid the suet cage, where they are not equipped to hang on. They manage for a few seconds, but ultimately fall away. The female downy woodpecker attended this morning, with no problems as usual.
There were no fewer than 32 mourning doves crowding around the ground feeding area outside my office window yesterday – a new record for one spot. Anywhere from two to six or eight is more usual.
At Stony Brook University, taking a stroll before a meeting at the Wang Center on Thursday, I spotted a beautiful Red Tailed Hawk in the woods about 25 feet from me. It rose from the leaf-covered ground of an oak grove and flew 50 yards or so to a perch about 20 feet up on the far side of the grove. Likely it was finishing breakfast when I happened by.
The above paragraph was written around 0830 today. At 1200, as I sat at the keyboard, the window screen next to me was hit by two of many birds scattering from the feeding area. I looked out, only to see nothing. Then, I leaned to my right and saw the reason for the chaos – what looked to be an American Kestrel. It stood on the ground, locked on the body of a white-throated sparrow not 12 feet away, scanning the area for interlopers to his lunch attack. As I raised the binos for a better view, he lifted off with his prize and disappeared. Two predator sightings in a week – not bad.
- - -
Routine visitors now, in the colder weather with the leaves stripped away, include the aforementioned plus the downy’s mate, up to four juncos, 8-10 white-throated sparrows, a pair of cardinals, a blue jay
In the past two weeks a couple of robins, two red-winged blackbirds and a small flock of starlings have happened by.
On the water, up to a dozen mallards show up, pestering a resident pair that are regularly mating now. One or two pair of Hooded Mergansers show up now and then. A Great Blue Heron visits or flies by on patrol; a kingfisher and once in a while a young black-crowned night heron have been spotted. The usual gulls drop in, but more often are by-passers along with numerous Canada Geese, a few swans, good numbers of Golden-crested Cormorants
The cackling of more migrating snow geese and a big flock of brants were noted in late November overhead.
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Sunday, December 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
A Hermit & A Hawk
November 06 08
Autumn leaves are falling freely now – probably about 55% down where we are, more nearby. That still leaves quite a lot of color, ranging from blazing reds of swamp maples to the silvery brushes displayed by phragmites reeds. Yellows, oranges and tints of rust, auburn and purple dominate the wider vista, mainly because of the oaks which prevail. An array of greens punctuate the whole, from the few deciduous trees yet to start changing on through to the multi-hued evergreens.
Migrations is in full swing. A pair of Black-eyed Juncos appeared among the groundlings to herald the cool season on October 28. On that same day what looked to be a Hermit Thrush flew from the ground by the creek to a pine tree branch where it maneuvered to keep out of sight. It was gone when I had retrieved binoculars for a closer look.
The following day, the feeding area was briefly graced by a visit from a Tufted Titmouse which nervously grabbed a seed or two and flitted off to a higher perch three or four times. It, or a pal, returned two days later for a similar quick visit.
On Halloween, I confirmed the Hermit Thrush, adding a new bird to my list and raising the lifetime number of confirmed bird species at 3 Belton to 87. I had spotted the bird a couple of times since the first observation, but on Oct 31 I walked out and from about 15 feet watched it pull a fat worm out of the ground, just like a Robin would. It then flitted to the pine tree branch not far away – right in the same area I had first seen it, next to the vegetable garden by the creek. I was able to get my binos and spend some time, approaching within 12 feet of the bird which watched me carefully, but never budged from its perch. I shifted to several angles and observed for a good 15 minutes noting details which allowed the positive ID. It was quite relaxed, even squinting its eyes and hunkering its head which puffed its neck feathers, almost like it was ready to sleep – not unlike the behavior a human might show after a heavy lunch.
In the last few days a few small flocks of robins have rushed through the area and there appears to be an upswing in mourning doves – a dozen along the creek this morning, six either side.
Confirmation of the turn toward winter: A stroll on November 3 at Belmont Lake turned up the first sighting of seasonal cold weather visitors. There were three American Coots, 30 Hooded Mergansers, a pair of Northern Shovelers, a pair of Gadwalls and three pair of Eurasian Widgeons, one of the more uncommon visitors reported to summer in Iceland. On November 6, three Hooded Mergansers arrived on Belton Pond for brief foray around 8:45 am. Two males and a female dove repeatedly, but were gone after less than 15 minutes.
Their visit was overshadowed by the scatter of nearly a dozen feeding birds about two hours later. Two or three crashed against the upstairs living room window in their haste to escape what appeared to be a Cooper’s Hawk. It swooped in from on high and as it pulled up just above the ground, flattened itself against the screened window not five feet in front of me. It was gone in a flash, but I momentarily had a full frontal view with its wings spread across the screen at eye level. I grabbed binos and stepped out to see it perhaps twenty feet away and 15 feet up the sweet gum tree at the front of the house. It swung away to the northeast on my appearance and skimmed the rooftop across the road as it disappeared.
##
Autumn leaves are falling freely now – probably about 55% down where we are, more nearby. That still leaves quite a lot of color, ranging from blazing reds of swamp maples to the silvery brushes displayed by phragmites reeds. Yellows, oranges and tints of rust, auburn and purple dominate the wider vista, mainly because of the oaks which prevail. An array of greens punctuate the whole, from the few deciduous trees yet to start changing on through to the multi-hued evergreens.
Migrations is in full swing. A pair of Black-eyed Juncos appeared among the groundlings to herald the cool season on October 28. On that same day what looked to be a Hermit Thrush flew from the ground by the creek to a pine tree branch where it maneuvered to keep out of sight. It was gone when I had retrieved binoculars for a closer look.
The following day, the feeding area was briefly graced by a visit from a Tufted Titmouse which nervously grabbed a seed or two and flitted off to a higher perch three or four times. It, or a pal, returned two days later for a similar quick visit.
On Halloween, I confirmed the Hermit Thrush, adding a new bird to my list and raising the lifetime number of confirmed bird species at 3 Belton to 87. I had spotted the bird a couple of times since the first observation, but on Oct 31 I walked out and from about 15 feet watched it pull a fat worm out of the ground, just like a Robin would. It then flitted to the pine tree branch not far away – right in the same area I had first seen it, next to the vegetable garden by the creek. I was able to get my binos and spend some time, approaching within 12 feet of the bird which watched me carefully, but never budged from its perch. I shifted to several angles and observed for a good 15 minutes noting details which allowed the positive ID. It was quite relaxed, even squinting its eyes and hunkering its head which puffed its neck feathers, almost like it was ready to sleep – not unlike the behavior a human might show after a heavy lunch.
In the last few days a few small flocks of robins have rushed through the area and there appears to be an upswing in mourning doves – a dozen along the creek this morning, six either side.
Confirmation of the turn toward winter: A stroll on November 3 at Belmont Lake turned up the first sighting of seasonal cold weather visitors. There were three American Coots, 30 Hooded Mergansers, a pair of Northern Shovelers, a pair of Gadwalls and three pair of Eurasian Widgeons, one of the more uncommon visitors reported to summer in Iceland. On November 6, three Hooded Mergansers arrived on Belton Pond for brief foray around 8:45 am. Two males and a female dove repeatedly, but were gone after less than 15 minutes.
Their visit was overshadowed by the scatter of nearly a dozen feeding birds about two hours later. Two or three crashed against the upstairs living room window in their haste to escape what appeared to be a Cooper’s Hawk. It swooped in from on high and as it pulled up just above the ground, flattened itself against the screened window not five feet in front of me. It was gone in a flash, but I momentarily had a full frontal view with its wings spread across the screen at eye level. I grabbed binos and stepped out to see it perhaps twenty feet away and 15 feet up the sweet gum tree at the front of the house. It swung away to the northeast on my appearance and skimmed the rooftop across the road as it disappeared.
##
Monday, October 27, 2008
Snow geese overhead
October 27, 2008
A more wintry tableau is unfolding amongst the creatures outside. Goldfinches which have lost their summer luster are back in force at the niger feeder which they generally ignored through the summer months – four are chowing down as I write. Beneath them are half a dozen white-throated sparrows along with four mourning doves and a couple of house sparrows.
The wood pecker that attacked the house last month seems to have given up, but not until after doing enough damage to require the repair and painting (leading into a whole-house painting) of several holes, which seems to have discourage the beast. One recommendation to deter such activity was putting up a suet cage, so that was reloaded and this past weekend drew a pair of downies.
A few small flocks of grackles and red-winged blackbirds were spotted at Oak Beach a week ago, but they have disappeared from here to head for warmer climes, along with the previously departed catbirds, most robins and others. Plenty of noisy jays still around -- more than usual, so they may in fact be passing through. The feeding area was enlivened for a week or so by three Eastern Towhees, who hung around for the free food. Various warblers have been spotted in the area as well, but no good IDs were made.
A Carolina Wren poked around the woodpile last week. Resident cardinals, chickadees and mallards are regulars.
On the water, this morning’s early hours were highlighted by four Black Crowned Night Herons. Two adults were perched just above the pond surface on the downed tree to the east and an adult and young ‘un were on the snag opposite. Overhead, at least three ragged flocks of cackling Snow Geese moved south a low levels at midday last Friday. Our local gulls, Canada geese, cormorants and hunting osprey are often sighted or heard.
Visiting Oak Beach last week turned up what most likely was a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a pair of Least Sandpipers. IDs are tentative on the former who perched about 15 up near the top of a tree a good hundred yards away; more sure on the latter who searched a boardwalk for tidbits within a few feet of me.
During a visit to Mattituck on the North Fork on October 6, we heard a loon on the Peconic Sound – interesting in that we notably did not hear any during a few days on Lake Winnipesauke in August, a place where in past years they have almost always been in evidence.
On October 7, a great blue heron was working along the newly downed tree on the east side of the pond. I didn’t see it collect any food, but neighbor Joe saw an adult BCH at the culvert head of the creek next to Belton Ct a week ago and watched as it took a small fish, before meandering across the road to work its way further up the creek. The GBH was back on the tree again on the afternoon of the 9th, but did not stay long.
##
A more wintry tableau is unfolding amongst the creatures outside. Goldfinches which have lost their summer luster are back in force at the niger feeder which they generally ignored through the summer months – four are chowing down as I write. Beneath them are half a dozen white-throated sparrows along with four mourning doves and a couple of house sparrows.
The wood pecker that attacked the house last month seems to have given up, but not until after doing enough damage to require the repair and painting (leading into a whole-house painting) of several holes, which seems to have discourage the beast. One recommendation to deter such activity was putting up a suet cage, so that was reloaded and this past weekend drew a pair of downies.
A few small flocks of grackles and red-winged blackbirds were spotted at Oak Beach a week ago, but they have disappeared from here to head for warmer climes, along with the previously departed catbirds, most robins and others. Plenty of noisy jays still around -- more than usual, so they may in fact be passing through. The feeding area was enlivened for a week or so by three Eastern Towhees, who hung around for the free food. Various warblers have been spotted in the area as well, but no good IDs were made.
A Carolina Wren poked around the woodpile last week. Resident cardinals, chickadees and mallards are regulars.
On the water, this morning’s early hours were highlighted by four Black Crowned Night Herons. Two adults were perched just above the pond surface on the downed tree to the east and an adult and young ‘un were on the snag opposite. Overhead, at least three ragged flocks of cackling Snow Geese moved south a low levels at midday last Friday. Our local gulls, Canada geese, cormorants and hunting osprey are often sighted or heard.
Visiting Oak Beach last week turned up what most likely was a Sharp-shinned Hawk and a pair of Least Sandpipers. IDs are tentative on the former who perched about 15 up near the top of a tree a good hundred yards away; more sure on the latter who searched a boardwalk for tidbits within a few feet of me.
During a visit to Mattituck on the North Fork on October 6, we heard a loon on the Peconic Sound – interesting in that we notably did not hear any during a few days on Lake Winnipesauke in August, a place where in past years they have almost always been in evidence.
On October 7, a great blue heron was working along the newly downed tree on the east side of the pond. I didn’t see it collect any food, but neighbor Joe saw an adult BCH at the culvert head of the creek next to Belton Ct a week ago and watched as it took a small fish, before meandering across the road to work its way further up the creek. The GBH was back on the tree again on the afternoon of the 9th, but did not stay long.
##
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Housepecker
Blue jays are more in abundance in recent weeks – perhaps part of early migration moves. Today a jay, cardinal, chickadee and a great blue heron were the outstanding morning visitors as a cold front built in after days of rain generated in part by Hurricane Kyle, an unusual
Other visitors to our feed area today were five grackles, a flock of starlings and one mourning dove, accompanying three squirrels who interrupted their acorn feasting (and burial) activities to take advantage of the free handouts. A couple of house sparrows quickly came and went.
A female downy woodpecker has found some fascination with the house. Her pecking heard from the living room drew me outside yesterday and today to see what she was after. I couldn’t tell, although there are signs of attack behind the gutter and at the inside edge of the soffit. Never a good sign when things are in the walls which a critter wants to eat.
Egrets got out of town really early this year. They decamped by the end of the second week in August, although a loner appeared a couple of evenings subsequently. The peak count this year was 14 one late July evening. No sighting since around the 20th of August, nearly a full month ahead of the usual departure date -- somewhere between Sept 15 and 27th in recent years.
On the subject of seasonal things, the Montauk daisies were a bit early with some of the first buds flowering on September 18, about a week to 10 days ahead of historic opening dates. Most are open today, although not all, especially right along the creek in the shadier sections.
Goldenrod is in full bloom along the pond, attracting scores of bees who hopefully are enjoying my new wildflower bed. I scattered a bag full of seeds in late June and with only minimal fertilizer, plus regular sprinkler action, they have completely covered a 10 x 4 plot at the pond edge, adding lots of color for late summer and fall enjoyment. They range from a few inches high to nearly five feet tall.
A single male mallard is on the pond now. Last week a couple of females held sway, but no crowds of loud birds as in past years at this time. Perhaps later on. Two turtles are regularly sunning themselves on a newly downed tree on the east side of the pond. The tall maple slowly denuded over the last year or two and toppled into the water during high winds in the early days of September. Herons have joined the turtles in making good use of the new perching platform – the tree trunk stretches just above the water about 30 feet toward the center of the pond.
We continue to hear the calls of a pair of osprey that patrol this area daily. The female perched high in a tree overlooking the pond from the west side a few weeks ago, giving out a sharp cry now and again and fixing a cold stare on the local birdwatcher who ventured into the yard for a closer look.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Goldeneye
Odd how themes appear in life. Today I added another bird to my life list with a Common Goldeneye, which appeared on the pond early in the day feeding near a mother mallard and her four soon-to-fledge ducklings. I may have seen Goldeneyes before -- most likely, as they are indeed common, according to reference books -- but this was my first positive ID of one. Quite a handsome creature with bold black and white markings and, of course, an imposing golden eye, set against a black hood, a small circle of white just below it.
Six days ago I visited the Imperial War Museum in London where we took in a special exhibition on James Bond and his creator, Ian Fleming. As Bond fans will know, Goldeneye was the title of one of the great man's tomes, but what I didn't know was that his writing-- including the first books before "Goldeneye" -- was mostly done at a Jamaican retreat he had named Goldeneye. Much of the Bond character was drawn from Flemings' own life, so one can see how he might have hijacked his own hideaway for the novel.
No mention of James as ever being a Reuters correspondent, however -- a history I happen to share with Fleming. Other than the writing influence for the author, it appears connections between life events are simply coincidental.
Back at the pond, last night's gathering of egrets was accompanied by the hunting of a prime adult black crowned night heron. None of them were at all disturbed by children playing nearby and, as night enveloped all, the sound and sight of fireworks.
At dawn today, a Great Blue Heron, a Great Egret and a young Black-crowned Night Heron were prowling the shallows. The egret scored twice as I observed.
Six days ago I visited the Imperial War Museum in London where we took in a special exhibition on James Bond and his creator, Ian Fleming. As Bond fans will know, Goldeneye was the title of one of the great man's tomes, but what I didn't know was that his writing-- including the first books before "Goldeneye" -- was mostly done at a Jamaican retreat he had named Goldeneye. Much of the Bond character was drawn from Flemings' own life, so one can see how he might have hijacked his own hideaway for the novel.
No mention of James as ever being a Reuters correspondent, however -- a history I happen to share with Fleming. Other than the writing influence for the author, it appears connections between life events are simply coincidental.
Back at the pond, last night's gathering of egrets was accompanied by the hunting of a prime adult black crowned night heron. None of them were at all disturbed by children playing nearby and, as night enveloped all, the sound and sight of fireworks.
At dawn today, a Great Blue Heron, a Great Egret and a young Black-crowned Night Heron were prowling the shallows. The egret scored twice as I observed.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Close to nature
Lots of young bird's out and about, learning to forage and fly. Among them are grackles, robins, cardinals, catbirds, cowbirds and sparrows (house). They are accompanied by a squad of squirrels. Looks like 5-6 newbies, one of which provided a comic moment as I tended my tomato plants this morning. I heard a splash in the creek and turned to see a bedraggled grey fellow scramble up the bulkhead to present a soaking wet rat-like image at the top. He made a few hopping shakes and stood in bewilderment before scrambling further from the water up a tree.
Also visiting (and unwelcome) are Canada Goose families ranging from two young to five. They are effectively banned from yards by fences along the water and occasional outbursts by irate lawn keepers who resent their contributions.
Two green herons have a nest over the pond. This is the sixth year of greens nesting here. Up to six great White Egrets are sleeping in the trees at night. No nesting, just resting. They arrive just before sunset and leave before dawn every day. Once in a while we will see one fishing along the shore line. Our relatively new neighbor, whose trees the birds selected for overnighting, tells me his wife -- who clearly is not a close observer of nature -- one day asked him how those "plastic bags" ended up in their trees?
A young black crowned night heron is a regular fisher here - usually perching at water level on a downed tree branch. A single cormorant drops in from time to time as do a pair of belted kingfishers.
The birds are reasonably successful, unlike myself. I have managed one bass in about six hours of fishing over the past three weeks. Not sure of an interruption in the flow of fresh water through our creek is a factor, but I think it could be. There is a leak in the culverts directing the creek underground north of here and the state and the village are fighting to see who gets to repair it.
A state DEC biologist said there would be no lasting problem for the fish, but I think some have decided they like more fresh water, in spite of his view that fish around these estuaries are very tolerant of the (low) salinity levels of the Great South Bay.
The crash of a metal trash can lid caught my attention a few evenings back. Binoculars showed a possum investigating the innards of the can, which it managed to carefully spill across my neighbor's drive. A few nights later I caught site of (presumably) the same critter ambling along the shore line of our yard, then up the creek, across it at the road and back down on the west side.
Another recent land visitor was a snapping turtle, about the size of a big frying pan. I spotted this one on a neighbor's lawn, working its way from the creek toward the well-tended flower beds. As it disappeared behind a rock I wondered if it was egg-laying or snack time.
Catbirds tend to be the most bold of our feathered visitors, often coming within five or six feet on the ground. But that was eclipsed on my latest fishing attempt. I was suddenly accompanied by a young catbird who landed on my rod just a few inches from my hand as I stood waiting for a strike. I jumped a bit and he looked me in the eye for about five seconds before deciding this was not a great place to perch. A quick, but enchanting close encounter.
Also visiting (and unwelcome) are Canada Goose families ranging from two young to five. They are effectively banned from yards by fences along the water and occasional outbursts by irate lawn keepers who resent their contributions.
Two green herons have a nest over the pond. This is the sixth year of greens nesting here. Up to six great White Egrets are sleeping in the trees at night. No nesting, just resting. They arrive just before sunset and leave before dawn every day. Once in a while we will see one fishing along the shore line. Our relatively new neighbor, whose trees the birds selected for overnighting, tells me his wife -- who clearly is not a close observer of nature -- one day asked him how those "plastic bags" ended up in their trees?
A young black crowned night heron is a regular fisher here - usually perching at water level on a downed tree branch. A single cormorant drops in from time to time as do a pair of belted kingfishers.
The birds are reasonably successful, unlike myself. I have managed one bass in about six hours of fishing over the past three weeks. Not sure of an interruption in the flow of fresh water through our creek is a factor, but I think it could be. There is a leak in the culverts directing the creek underground north of here and the state and the village are fighting to see who gets to repair it.
A state DEC biologist said there would be no lasting problem for the fish, but I think some have decided they like more fresh water, in spite of his view that fish around these estuaries are very tolerant of the (low) salinity levels of the Great South Bay.
The crash of a metal trash can lid caught my attention a few evenings back. Binoculars showed a possum investigating the innards of the can, which it managed to carefully spill across my neighbor's drive. A few nights later I caught site of (presumably) the same critter ambling along the shore line of our yard, then up the creek, across it at the road and back down on the west side.
Another recent land visitor was a snapping turtle, about the size of a big frying pan. I spotted this one on a neighbor's lawn, working its way from the creek toward the well-tended flower beds. As it disappeared behind a rock I wondered if it was egg-laying or snack time.
Catbirds tend to be the most bold of our feathered visitors, often coming within five or six feet on the ground. But that was eclipsed on my latest fishing attempt. I was suddenly accompanied by a young catbird who landed on my rod just a few inches from my hand as I stood waiting for a strike. I jumped a bit and he looked me in the eye for about five seconds before deciding this was not a great place to perch. A quick, but enchanting close encounter.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Starlings are a Pain
After withholding suet for a few weeks because of an overload of starlings, I refilled the cage suspended over the back yard this week. The locals were back in no time. A chickadee, female cardinal, house sparrows and of course starlings were at it in no time. There is a male cardinal working it over this morning.
I am watching for the woodpeckers who are my prime targets, and may have startled one away this morning when I opened the shade in the living room (it was too quick for slow me to recognize). What is most interesting is how hard the sparrows work at getting some. They are not physically prepared to hang on a cage and feed, but they want the stuff so badly, they will hold in place with wings a flutter long enough to get a beakful, or dislodge a chunk that they follow to the ground.
The starlings are a pain -- one jumped on the female cardinal on the ground, chasing her away from pieces that fell as another starling attacked the brick.
We had three egrets taking their night's rest on trees east of the pond last night. They were gone at dawn as usual, but a handsome black-crowned night heron accented the view as it perched on a bulkhead watching for prey. The fish are in there -- I have seen several swirls and eddies when they touch the surface and two days ago watched a cormorant sail off with what looked like a small one in its beak.
The mallard pair appeared briefly this week and I spotted the female on the street in front of our house once, but she is in hiding -- no doubt on a nest -- while the male patrols the pond night and day.
Nearly all the trees are leafed out now. We tend to run a little behind the area due to sea breezes and the pond's cooling effect. It has been a cool spring to date with temps not getting out of the 50s during the last couple of days of rain. We should touch 70 today, rising from a morning 51.
The sound of the hammer and claw, trucks and saw echo in the land. Between the gigantic new house at 3A Ct Belton and roofers who arrived today to attack number 4, there are few hours of quiet when the sun is shining of late. This on top of a year of construction at the south end of the pond where an apparently perfectly fine and lately renovated house was yanked down and a new one built. Peace, along with higher real estate valuations, may yet return.
I am watching for the woodpeckers who are my prime targets, and may have startled one away this morning when I opened the shade in the living room (it was too quick for slow me to recognize). What is most interesting is how hard the sparrows work at getting some. They are not physically prepared to hang on a cage and feed, but they want the stuff so badly, they will hold in place with wings a flutter long enough to get a beakful, or dislodge a chunk that they follow to the ground.
The starlings are a pain -- one jumped on the female cardinal on the ground, chasing her away from pieces that fell as another starling attacked the brick.
We had three egrets taking their night's rest on trees east of the pond last night. They were gone at dawn as usual, but a handsome black-crowned night heron accented the view as it perched on a bulkhead watching for prey. The fish are in there -- I have seen several swirls and eddies when they touch the surface and two days ago watched a cormorant sail off with what looked like a small one in its beak.
The mallard pair appeared briefly this week and I spotted the female on the street in front of our house once, but she is in hiding -- no doubt on a nest -- while the male patrols the pond night and day.
Nearly all the trees are leafed out now. We tend to run a little behind the area due to sea breezes and the pond's cooling effect. It has been a cool spring to date with temps not getting out of the 50s during the last couple of days of rain. We should touch 70 today, rising from a morning 51.
The sound of the hammer and claw, trucks and saw echo in the land. Between the gigantic new house at 3A Ct Belton and roofers who arrived today to attack number 4, there are few hours of quiet when the sun is shining of late. This on top of a year of construction at the south end of the pond where an apparently perfectly fine and lately renovated house was yanked down and a new one built. Peace, along with higher real estate valuations, may yet return.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Strange but true
Who would believe the coincidence of the British term "twitcher" and Kazakhstan showing up in one story. I have TWICHR as a license plate and I was in Kazakhstan (!) when a British friend alerted me to this story.
Rare bird sends twitchers on a wild plover chase
ALAMY
The Caspian plover has only been spotted in the UK in two of the 118 years since the first record in 1890
May Flowers
No sooner had the apple blossoms opened across the creek than the first Oriole of the season appeared. It is hanging out several times a day with an ear-piercing cry every few minutes while feeding not more than 15 feet from the kitchen door at deck level. A bright flasher of orange, this is a welcome returnee.
Our resident egrets slipped in number to a worrying zero in mid-April, but they have settled at two a night for the last couple of weeks, and have a black-crowned night heron along most nights.
Today, as the sun had a chance to appear after many days of clouds, a pair of turtles hauled out on the snag that marks the halfway point of the west side of our pond.
Cowbirds are in abundance -- an unusual sight. There is at least one pair that return daily but yesterday seven showed up -- six males and a female. They compete with a couple of redwing blackbirds and two or three grackles in searching for seeds.
This past weekend also marked the return of catbirds. Absent since November, the first two or three are on scene and taking up residence in the usual spot, a stand of brush next to the creek outlet.
Our resident egrets slipped in number to a worrying zero in mid-April, but they have settled at two a night for the last couple of weeks, and have a black-crowned night heron along most nights.
Today, as the sun had a chance to appear after many days of clouds, a pair of turtles hauled out on the snag that marks the halfway point of the west side of our pond.
Cowbirds are in abundance -- an unusual sight. There is at least one pair that return daily but yesterday seven showed up -- six males and a female. They compete with a couple of redwing blackbirds and two or three grackles in searching for seeds.
This past weekend also marked the return of catbirds. Absent since November, the first two or three are on scene and taking up residence in the usual spot, a stand of brush next to the creek outlet.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Predator Pair Aloft
The distinctive cry of an osprey caught my attention early this afternoon on return from a shopping trip. It took a couple of minutes before a pair wheeled directly overhead, slowly circling each other and scanning the waterways below. They split up, staying within sight and sound of each other. One headed off to the south and west a bit, sweeping over two ponds and related tributaries; the other moved north to scan a set of three ponds and a river outlet from its high viewpoint. Against a bright blue sky, their black and white v-patterns were clear and vibrant, a healthy pair perhaps due to set up nesting facilities for the summer.
The thermometer in the sun cracked 70 for the first time, although the actual air temp was more like 56. It managed to get to 60 for most of the afternoon as our struggling daffodils that have been fighting the ocean's chilly effects finally burst into blossom; at least a few did, there are some closer to the water that remain at the ready.
New attendees at the feeding station are three cowbirds -- a male and two females. They arrived last week.
Mama mallard is hiding out most of the time, although she showed up at midday to eat some of the seeds at the feeding station. She has likely found a nesting spot. Her mate is on permanent guard duty, posting along the pond edge and driving off any other bird that dares alight on its surface. Quite a job at first, I suspect, as we had nearly three dozen mallards hanging around for weeks.
The thermometer in the sun cracked 70 for the first time, although the actual air temp was more like 56. It managed to get to 60 for most of the afternoon as our struggling daffodils that have been fighting the ocean's chilly effects finally burst into blossom; at least a few did, there are some closer to the water that remain at the ready.
New attendees at the feeding station are three cowbirds -- a male and two females. They arrived last week.
Mama mallard is hiding out most of the time, although she showed up at midday to eat some of the seeds at the feeding station. She has likely found a nesting spot. Her mate is on permanent guard duty, posting along the pond edge and driving off any other bird that dares alight on its surface. Quite a job at first, I suspect, as we had nearly three dozen mallards hanging around for weeks.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Birdsong
The mornings are getting fat with bird songs as more arrivals take their places or at least try to.
Driving the Long Island Expressway today, we saw hundreds of robins along the roadside -- migrating groups, no doubt, having ridden in on the southerkly winds that ended last night with the arrival of a new cold front. Temperatures have been running well below normal and continue there now with highs in the 40s instead of close to 60 where they should be this time of year.
That hasn't stopped the crocuses and bluebells however. Daffodils are starting in and red buds adorn many trees.
The evening egret roost expanded from four to six for a brief momemt Friday morning. Two additional birds showed up around 0630 and were gone by 0640. That night, we had five staying over.
On Thursday, one of the downies was investigating a pile of wood left over from felling a tree last year. Today I found out why when Ron, the firewood man, came around with his wood splitter. He showed me oak borers under the bark of several logs -- quite tempting-looking white grubs.
Several birds scoured the area after he removed the wood and stacked the pieces elsewhere.
Driving the Long Island Expressway today, we saw hundreds of robins along the roadside -- migrating groups, no doubt, having ridden in on the southerkly winds that ended last night with the arrival of a new cold front. Temperatures have been running well below normal and continue there now with highs in the 40s instead of close to 60 where they should be this time of year.
That hasn't stopped the crocuses and bluebells however. Daffodils are starting in and red buds adorn many trees.
The evening egret roost expanded from four to six for a brief momemt Friday morning. Two additional birds showed up around 0630 and were gone by 0640. That night, we had five staying over.
On Thursday, one of the downies was investigating a pile of wood left over from felling a tree last year. Today I found out why when Ron, the firewood man, came around with his wood splitter. He showed me oak borers under the bark of several logs -- quite tempting-looking white grubs.
Several birds scoured the area after he removed the wood and stacked the pieces elsewhere.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Spring ahead
St Paddy’s Day opens at 30 degrees with a bright blue sky and the first crocuses showing themselves -- just ahead of daffodils that look ready to pop. Buds are everywhere and the lawn is barely beginning to green, just in time for the day’s celebration.
A male white-breasted nuthatch graced the
I caught just a flash (the white tail patch) of a flicker on the east side of the pond. Robins abound – nearly three dozen were in the trees when Eileen and I returned from a walk on Sunday and a dozen or more are scattered around today. I’ll skip the list of regulars but note that a blue jay seems to be frequenting the area now and the first red-wing blackbirds arrived this weekend. At mid-afternoon, a black-backed gull dragged the corpse of an eight-inch bass onto the dock and proceeded to make lunch of it.
At
At sunset last night, an egret appeared in the tree midway down the east bank of our pond, the surest sign of the return of warmer weather. Apparently the scout for our usual summer visitors, he was decked out in breeding feathers, although bedraggled by a pouring rain. There this morning before dawn and joined by a black-crowned night heron sitting on an opposite snag, he was gone by sunrise. His arrival is three days ahead of last year (four really, since we got an extra day in February this year). And last year, the first egret was in 10 days ahead of the 2006 calendar date. Global warming?
Fairly cool weather and high winds blew in as the front moved through this morning and it was nippy by
Last night the egret contingent jumped to four, a good sign that we are likely to get to our usual complement of a dozen or more overnight guests. Grackles are up to half a dozen hanging around the pond now, along with at least four red-winged blackbirds.
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