[birdky] RPT: Misc observations

I've spent a lot of time on our family farm in eastern Jefferson County 
recently. Some weeks ago I noticed a Black Vulture visiting one of our barns a 
few times during the afternoon. I thought maybe they had a nest there, but the 
bird didn't seem to enter, just disappeared on the ground for a few minutes 
each time it visited. A couple of days later I realized that it was visiting 
the watering station for the cattle and since that time I have noted it and 
perhaps others there regularly. The birds will drift in from far off, and land 
on the ground next to it; then jump up and get a good long drink before flying 
up to a pole for a brief rest before flying off a minute or two later. 
Yesterday, our farm manager and I noted that there were two Black Vultures 
standing in the small feed lot next to the waterer and they were soaking wet, 
with outstretched wings drying! The birds are not only coming to this small, 
one-foot square source of water to drink ... they are also utilizing it for 
bathing! Interesting that there is no better source for such activities within 
their home range.

On July 17th, I was mowing a field of hay and most unexpectedly flushed an 
American Bittern! Only the second time I've had one on the farm. Wouldn't have 
been surprised to kick one up in April or Sept/Oct, but what the heck is one 
doing moving around in mid-July ... little observations like that can really 
reveal a lot about movements of obscure species.

I failed to post on some early-season shorebirds in western KY July 5th while 
checking on some Least Tern sites. On the 5th, John Brunjes and I visited a 
number of sites and had a few birds in Union County including a Greater 
Yellowlegs and a Short-billed Dowitcher. A Bell's Vireo nest I had found a 
couple of weeks prior contained 3 cute little feathered young (no cowbirds in 
this one). The Camp #11 ponds had at least one family of Common Moorhen chicks 
and a full-grown brood of Blue-winged Teal.

bpb, Frankfort

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