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Posted by Chris on 17:40:49 09/25/08
I birded Barnes today from about 12:30-3:40pm (it was nice and shady, post-rain, ideal birding weather). The highlights were a ruby-throated hummingbird (feeding on the firebush, alongside the hammock trail), a yellow billed cuckoo that was gobbling up caterpillars and showering me with caterpillar fuzz (the cuckoo was found right next to the lake/Shelter 2 area, in one of the smaller oak trees) and a summer tanager. Also of interest, while I was viewing the cuckoo I heard a commotion and saw an osprey hanging upside down (about 10 feet from me) from a branch of an oak. The osprey hung there, in this awkward position, for about 90 seconds and then came down to the ground and sat on the sidewalk for about 5 minutes, looking confused and/or disoriented. It was being harassed the whole time by mockers and jays. It eventually took off, not appearing to be injured in any way.
Birds of interest seen:
Ovenbird (10+)
Northern waterthrush (1)
Black-throated blue warblers (5-6)
Yellow-throated warbler (1)
Northern parula (7-8)
Black and white warbler (5-6)
Am. Redstart (6-7)
Worm eating warblers (4)
Prairie warblers (3)
Pine warbler (1--probable; this is the closest match I could come up with other than immature/fall blackpoll, which seems unlikely)
Red-eyed vireos (6-7)
Ruby-throated hummingbird (1)
Summer tanager (1)
Yellow billed cuckoo (1)
Chuck-will's widow (1)
Also: I came across a new shrine that was constructed near the gate entrance to the Hammock trail. It seems that there is increasing religious activity in this area. Shortly after I arrived a gentleman pulled up and placed an animal sacrifice at the base of a Palm tree. Is this legal? Is it allowable (should we turn a blind eye) because it is part of a religious practice? I photographed the shrine, the sacrifice and the gentleman's license plate. Any info about what to do would be greatly appreciated.
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