Second Morning
Weather - Clear, 75F, SW winds 8mph
Sunrise - 5:44am
New setup for today. Jim, another volunteer at CBEC set up a portable blind for me (thank you Jim). With this I am not out in the open. I can now sit down on a stool rather than stand the whole time. I still have to be very still and quiet because a large flap is open for my camera.
Set the alarm for 4:00am again (this is requiring an afternoon nap). I arrive at the nest box at 5:10am, about 30 minutes before sunrise. It’s turning into a beautiful morning. It’s 5:35am and she pokes her head out, at that very moment a mocking bird comes out from nowhere and dives at her. This encourages her to fly out quickly and I miss the shot of her leaving.
I then wait for her to return. As the time passes I expect she will not be calling the ducklings out, but I’m hoping I can at least get a picture of her returning. I wait till 9:00am, she hasn’t returned, I give up for the day.
She left the nest box at 5:35am, unknown when she returned.
I stayed approximately 4 hours.
