Friday morning, the 5th, was absolutely dead calm, warm and drying out
from the previous night's light rain.
It rained sparrows as well as water, adding to and/or replacing the
many sparrows already on the island.
Other than shear numbers, there were no stand-outs: fewer BLUEJAYS ( 3
only <90%); more PINE SISKINS (50+ >100%); more ROBINS (10 > 2X); PALM
& YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS (<50%); FLICKERS ( 20+ > 100%).
The wind reached its maximum of 10 knots by noon, with lowering sky.
It was lousy for photography but each hour brought ever more raptors
and lots of aerial activity.
Things here, especially in respect to raptor activity were in line
with Doug Hitchcox's observations on Monhegan Island.
At one point there were 7 PEREGRINES, 6 MERLINS, 4 KESTRELS & 6
HARRIERS on or over the island. I have no idea how many raptors
actually passed through on the day but saying several dozens would be
no exaggeration.
Many attacks and numerous kills. Also lots of intraspecies &
interspecies action with the raptors.
It was an interesting day to be a little brown bird.
It was also interesting to watch the various species respond to the
predators.
The PALM WARBLERS continued to feed in the open, fleeing only when
very directly threatened.
WHITE THROATED SPARROWS dashed into cover at the first alarm.
Some PINE SISKINS flew high in flocks while others continued to
forage, quite exposed, as if there was no threat.
PURPLE FINCHS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, NUTHATCHES & BLUEJAYS sat quietly
and alert.
FLICKERS sat frozen while some flushed into panicked flights and those
often became meals for falcons.
KINGLETS sulked in the lowest vegetation and made hasty retreat at the
slightest approach.
YELLOW BELLIED SAPSUCKERS seemed to rise right out of the ground, make
high, erratic flights and then dash for the ground again. Several
never made it.
Harriers seemed to get these fellows, perhaps because they are so
adept at extracting prey from heavy vegetation.
I became inquisitive when two of the Marsh Hawks went to ground,
apparently in the same spot behind a low rise of rock, and neither
reappeared.
As I approached the location, first one and then another Harrier came
around the rise, passed in front of me and began working up the
island. Apparently neither had made a kill and both had returned to
the hunt.
APPARENTLY I was wrong. Three steps later I flushed a Harrier at about
5 yards away.
Okay ... one of my many misjudgements and a great close-up flight shot
missed. Still, there were lots of raptors all around. So, eyes up for
the next opportunity.
APPARENTLY I was still wrong. My next step through heavy Asters
brought the weirdist screech and a flurry of heavy wing beats. My foot
had landed within inches of a Harrier which I thought was gone. I
found myself standing amid the wreckage of a YB Sapsucker.
In hindsight, one Harrier caught a Sapsucker on the ground. A second
Harrier tried for the same Sapsucker and ended up sharing the kill or
watching the first Harrier pluck the prize.
As I stalked those two Harriers, two completely different Harriers
approached from a blind area and appeared close to the hidden,
grounded birds.
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