This morning at shift change at work, which is just at sunrise, my relief operator, arrived bummed out. Because just before reaching the gate a bird had collided with his windshield in the predawn. He thought that it was a small owl. We investigated and found that it was in fact a whip-poor-will. A real shame. Why couldn't have been a grackle?
It has been a very long time since I have heard the calling of a whip-poor-will serenading through-out the night. Many years ago I recall hearing them from the property back behind my home, which has since been developed, and from the woods bordering my workplace. But I have missed them since.
Noticed a large flock of feeding pine warblers further down the road from the whip-poor-will, accompanied by a flock of American Robins and numerous tree swallows overhead. Cardinals and catbirds were active in the understory.
Headed over to Bunche Beach and found a very low tide. Numerous Black Skimmers were resting on the flats along with Brown Pelicans, Herring, Laughing and Ring-billed Gulls and Sandwich and Royal Terns. Had Sanderlings, Short-Billed Dowitchers, Piping, Wilson's, Semipalmate and Black-bellied Plovers. Also had a pair of Red-Brested Mergansers just off-shore from the parking area.
No comments:
Post a Comment