Fifth Morning

Weather - Clear, 66F, NNW winds 10mph

Sunrise - 5:46am

Another 4:00am wakeup. I get to the nest box at 5:07. The temperature is a comfortable 66 degrees and windy. I’m expecting a beautiful morning. Sunrise for today is 5:46am.

I go into the blind (in the dark) and start setting up. I open the flap for a view of the nest box and notice the wind is blowing the grasses farther over than in past days. I set my camera up to take a couple of test shots at slow shutter speed since it’s still dark. It confirms my concern - as a gust of wind comes in the grasses are blowing over, blocking my view of the nest box. Now I have a dilemma - Do I go out and bend back the stalks that are in my way and possibly make my presence known? I decide not to risk it and hope that I can get pictures between wind gusts.

I’m ready for her normal 5:30 something exit from the box….no exit. I wait, but nothing. I wait some more…it’s now 6:00am and nothing. The orchard oriole begins singing right outside the blind, as he did yesterday. Two mocking birds chase each other around me, sometimes touching the blind. No wood duck though.

Very disappointed I give up at 6:50. Again, as happened on the third morning - I have no info. Was she still in the box, had she left, not to return because the eggs are bad? Had she already called them out while I wasn’t there? I guess I try again tomorrow.

Unknown when she left or returned to the nest box.

I stayed approximately 2 hours.

Maybe it’s for the best they didn’t leave today considering this was my view every time a gust of wind came through. Just hope she is still there, the eggs are hatching and tomorrow is a perfect day for the ducklings to jump.

I did bend back most of the grasses before leaving so not to be an issue tomorrow.