First Morning
Weather - Clear, 74F, SW winds 8mph
Sunrise - 5:44am
I set the alarm for 4:00am, very quick breakfast and some coffee, make sure I have my camera (forgetting that would be very bad), and I’m off to CBEC.
I arrive at the nest box at about 5:10am. I’m wearing camouflage clothing and have set up my camera on a tripod. I make the camera adjustments and wait. I don’t move except to lightly hit the shutter to make sure the camera stays on. I have it on sport mode so I can take a series of rapid shots, my finger ready, she could exit the box at any moment - or maybe she isn’t even in there. She could have already left the box.
At 5:39am she pokes her head out, I get the picture and she takes off. It seems she is looking right at me, but with those eyes I guess it always appears that way. Still, I am concerned because if she noticed me she will not call the ducklings out.
I wait, and wait and wait…can’t move. I’m not seeing her, I’m not hearing her. I finally move slowly and check my watch, it’s 7:45am. It’s been about 2 hours since she left. At about 8:00am I hear a wood duck on the lake to my left. It is a soft call, not a call for the ducklings. This goes on for about 30 minutes and begins to get further away. The calls then stop. I give up at 8:45am. Maybe tomorrow.
She left the nest box at 5:39am, unknown when she returns.
I stayed approximately 3 1/2 hours.
