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Posted by Paul-the-other on 06:43:08 02/29/08
Several hundred tree swallows descended on Green Cay the cold morning of Thursday. They spent some time in the trees on the non-accessible west berm in the northwest corner of Green Cay. At 7:45 they broke from the trees and began the circling flight at levels from water top to 50 feet and put on a spectacular aerial display for over two hours. Several Audubon members that braved the cold with me were also in awe of the "show".
At the extreme Northwest corner a group of 20 snowy egrets were kicking up their feet and the water in a fashion that would test the auto focus tracking science of any modern camera. The wind (10-15mph) often caught them in a way that suspended them in the manner of a helicopter. Great photo op!
No ducks, except mottled and three blue wing teal.
A dove, of all things, is sitting on a nest in the Northeast corner just before the chickee. So what? Well, the nest is in the "boot" of a sable palm just above head level about 4 feet from the boardwalk. No homemaker award here.
The martins were quiet. There is no nest material gathering in progress. All the units are occupied. One of the "units" is cute. It has a small weed growing by the front entrance. Landscaping?
The wailing of the limpkins in all areas of Green Cay seemed to sound like the laments of childless mothers. There are no babies in sight this trip and word is that there could well be no babies any longer. The wood storks look strangely pleased.
Warblers are dropping by in large numbers but seem to be only palm and many yellow-rumped. Red-winged blackbirds are calling and displaying with audacity. Several walked up to me and "konk-a-reed" about three feet away. Such a show. And talk about aerial displays. The pursuit of competing males zoomed through the sky and bulrush better than any top gun in our air force.
As I left about 150+ robins dropped down from the sky and exchanged gossip and pulled worms around the pavilion entrance.
It was a good morning to feel brisk air under a blue sky and experiencing the vibrancy of life. To all of our readers up north you can be, Spring is coming.
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