Yesterday (Thursday) brought the first few YELLOW RUMPED WARBLERS and a couple BROWN CREEPERS.
Both species are here this morning, along with at least two EASTERN PHOEBES that are hawking insects on the southern exposures of buildings.
HERMIT THRUSHES could be found easily all over the island and ROBINS were at their highest this spring.
I've seen several Hermits around the patio and boardwalks again this morning but fewer Robins.
A couple CHIPPING SPARROWS continue among the SONG SPARROWS and still numerous WHITE THROATED SPARROWS.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS, including several IPSWICH TYPE, have taken over the island, easily outnumbering the other sparrow species combined. I can easily see 25-30 having breakfast around the house.
A varying number of PURPLE FINCHES continue. 4 females and 2 males among the sparrows on the patio at this moment.
I took the time to visit the lingering drake WOOD DUCK yesterday afternoon. It's hanging out at our little pond and making excursions to tidal puddles.
After a short photo session, I left him feeding and proceeded to the shoreline. No sooner had I arrived than along comes Sir Drake landing next to me in a pool, quite unconcerned with me. I shot a few more frames from as close as 15 feet and then walked off.
Almost immediately he flew close past me, plunked down 30 feet ahead of me on the rocks and walked forward to a tiny pool.
A few more close photos and again I walked off. This time he stayed, at least until I had moved off.
So after playing with the duck, I tilled the garden, formed up rows et cetera, hopefully to get a few seeds in this weekend.
I'm hoping the weight of White Throated Sparrows will be past by then. Those little buggers dig so much I've had to rebuild whole rows and reseed in other years. They aren't after the plant seeds but, given loose earth, they are monstrous excavators in search of other food.
Anyway, shortly after leaving the garden for the day I glanced out to see .... (Did you guess it?) ..... Sir Drake foraging through the fresh earth.
Both species are here this morning, along with at least two EASTERN PHOEBES that are hawking insects on the southern exposures of buildings.
HERMIT THRUSHES could be found easily all over the island and ROBINS were at their highest this spring.
I've seen several Hermits around the patio and boardwalks again this morning but fewer Robins.
A couple CHIPPING SPARROWS continue among the SONG SPARROWS and still numerous WHITE THROATED SPARROWS.
SAVANNAH SPARROWS, including several IPSWICH TYPE, have taken over the island, easily outnumbering the other sparrow species combined. I can easily see 25-30 having breakfast around the house.
A varying number of PURPLE FINCHES continue. 4 females and 2 males among the sparrows on the patio at this moment.
I took the time to visit the lingering drake WOOD DUCK yesterday afternoon. It's hanging out at our little pond and making excursions to tidal puddles.
After a short photo session, I left him feeding and proceeded to the shoreline. No sooner had I arrived than along comes Sir Drake landing next to me in a pool, quite unconcerned with me. I shot a few more frames from as close as 15 feet and then walked off.
Almost immediately he flew close past me, plunked down 30 feet ahead of me on the rocks and walked forward to a tiny pool.
A few more close photos and again I walked off. This time he stayed, at least until I had moved off.
So after playing with the duck, I tilled the garden, formed up rows et cetera, hopefully to get a few seeds in this weekend.
I'm hoping the weight of White Throated Sparrows will be past by then. Those little buggers dig so much I've had to rebuild whole rows and reseed in other years. They aren't after the plant seeds but, given loose earth, they are monstrous excavators in search of other food.
Anyway, shortly after leaving the garden for the day I glanced out to see .... (Did you guess it?) ..... Sir Drake foraging through the fresh earth.
He stayed around for perhaps a half hour when I spotted him wandering down the lawn.
Just then a single CANADA GOOSE flew in, landing at the far end of the lawn and being very vocal.
Just then a single CANADA GOOSE flew in, landing at the far end of the lawn and being very vocal.
After keeping a close eye on me, the goose decided to vacate.
Shortly after, the wood Duck was back in the garden so I decided to see if seed would interest him. I reasoned that his relative tameness could mean he was accustomed to people, possibly somewhere that he was feed.
Well, Millet and Sunflower are not for his palette and I have no Corn to try so he's on his own for food.
I don't know where the duck spent the night. He wasn't around at dawn but by sunrise he was back in the tilled earth.
Now he's gone again ...... perhaps to the tidal pools ...... who knows?
I've seen a couple SHARP SHINNED HAWKS hunting this morning. Early movers or hold-overs from yesterday ... I'm not sure.
There were equally early movers yesterday that were definitely new arrivals. I noted several MERLINS and a couple PEREGRINES, as well as a half dozen Sharpies yesterday.
There were also KESTRELS passing through. One of those perched 8 feet from our kitchen window for half an hour.
Another perched on the roof for twice as long and seemed completely oblivious to the cloud of sparrows feeding around the house and lawn. Responding to his non-threatening behaviour, the potential prey went about their business as if unconcerned about their lethal observer.
Shortly after, the wood Duck was back in the garden so I decided to see if seed would interest him. I reasoned that his relative tameness could mean he was accustomed to people, possibly somewhere that he was feed.
Well, Millet and Sunflower are not for his palette and I have no Corn to try so he's on his own for food.
I don't know where the duck spent the night. He wasn't around at dawn but by sunrise he was back in the tilled earth.
Now he's gone again ...... perhaps to the tidal pools ...... who knows?
I've seen a couple SHARP SHINNED HAWKS hunting this morning. Early movers or hold-overs from yesterday ... I'm not sure.
There were equally early movers yesterday that were definitely new arrivals. I noted several MERLINS and a couple PEREGRINES, as well as a half dozen Sharpies yesterday.
There were also KESTRELS passing through. One of those perched 8 feet from our kitchen window for half an hour.
Another perched on the roof for twice as long and seemed completely oblivious to the cloud of sparrows feeding around the house and lawn. Responding to his non-threatening behaviour, the potential prey went about their business as if unconcerned about their lethal observer.
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