The march of time just never lets up, does it? And now, it’s heading into one of my favorite time/place combos on the planet: early Fall in the Great Lakes. All the usual suspects have yet again arrived on the scene: shorter days, cooler nights, Packers games, and the near constant presence of ‘migration’, whether it be Monarch butterflies, or dragonflies, including of course the arrival of certain birds – White-crowned Sparrow and Ruby-crowned Kinglet (yesterday, feeding in one of many awesome warbler flocks at Lake Park), for example – that remind me that yes, once again, we’re transitioning. I must admit, there is a cadence and rhythm to this part of the seasonal cycle that I find very calming, on these days that start with often cloudless, clear skies and much more often than not end with brilliant, golden sunsets. Sometimes for 8, 9, 10+ days in a row.
Yard Bird Summary - Our version of a bluebird trail had mixed results this year, no doubt hindered by the setting up of most posts and boxes in late May and early June, hardly ideal for optimal breeding success. A couple of boxes had Eastern Bluebirds, a couple had Tree Swallows, but the big winners were the three boxes which had House Wrens, resulting in 5 or 6 successful broods. I mean, by the end of the summer, House Wrens were everywhere! The big box, set up in June hoping to attract the Kestrel that had previously hung out for a week hunting from the telephone line that crossed through the front field, instead was the summer home for House Sparrows. Have high hopes for future years.
Over a 24 hour period last week, we had three new yard birds, now at 154: a skulking Black-billed Cuckoo in a dogwood, American Black Duck (great look at dusk of three flying over the fields) and Great Egret (again, flying over the fields, in the bright morning sky).
(Photo from Google Images)