Eighth Morning
Weather - Clear, 75F, SW winds 9mph
Sunrise - 5:47am
Didn’t wake up before the 4:00am alarm this morning, instead it woke me up. I arrive at the entrance road to CBEC and my concern from yesterday came to pass - the road was partially flooded (high tide). At the bad areas I noticed that there were islands of gravel, so I knew it was still passable. I drove through it and arrived at the nest box at 5:10am.
It appears the birds woke up early this morning. Usually they are pretty quiet when I first arrive. This morning I hear terns and killdeer. It sounded like they were in the canal, slightly farther up from the nest box. They were not flying, and it was before sunrise - a little usual. This went on for a few minutes - then they took off. The dominant vocal was then a northern mockingbird. This is his territory; I know this from my many bird walks here, and he made it very clear this morning.
Each morning with the birds is different -
The first morning I heard two bald eagles and two osprey flying over and around the lake. I expect the eagles were trying to steal fish from the osprey. I base this assumption on their vocals (I did not have a view of them from my position in the blind except when they flew in front of me). I haven’t heard from the eagles in a few days.
Two mornings ago it was the red-winged blackbirds that were the dominant vocals all morning long.
The northern mockingbird has finally quieted down. The sun is now up and there seems to be drama with the the red-winged blackbirds. They are not just sitting in their trees singing as they were the other morning, instead they are having battles all around me. It is sometimes two and sometimes three birds at a time. They fly at each other and vocalize strongly. This is happening off and on all morning.
Then, at 5:43am I see the hen leave the nest box.
The red-winged blackbirds continue to do battle with each other.
So the waiting starts again. I’m not sure if she is just out for food or whether she will start calling them out; of course I am hoping for the latter. As more time goes by I suspect it is only for her regular morning meal.
Then at 7:21am she returns. Chased by a red-winged blackbird -
Now I wait to see if she comes back out, if today is THE DAY.
I notice a green heron lands on a nearby branch.
ID - WODU07-06-21-15
At this point (7:41am) I feel like it may be safe (I’m doubting whether the hen will be coming back out) to readjust my camera to zoom in on the heron.
This is my home away from home…at least recently.
This is my view for hours and hours.
The top of the evergreen on the left (the one closest to the nest box) is a popular place for the birds today. Yesterday it was a branch to the right. This trunk and branch are not very wide. Interestingly a red-headed woodpecker tried to land on the very small upper trunk, but the northern mockingbird came and prevented it from landing. I have never seen one of the CBEC red-headed woodpeckers at this location before.
This is the spot the song sparrow likes to come and sing.
Two female red-winged blackbirds also come to the “branch of the day”.
Looks like she is not coming back out. At 8:45am I pack it up for the day.
The tide is supposed to be 1.98 ft tomorrow morning at my arrival time. I have made arrangements for the use of another vehicle if the water is too high for my car. Hopefully it won’t be an issue. I have to try.
She left the nest box at 5:43am and returns at 7:21am.
I stayed approximately 3 1/2 hours.
