Housepecker

September 29, 2008

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 North Atlantic cyclone that managed to stay largely offshore.

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 20^th of August, nearly a full month ahead of the usual departure date -- somewhere between Sept 15 and 27^th 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.