I had been watching a killdeer nest in the lot behind our home. But
earlier this week it went from occupied to empty; no shells either. I
would like to think they hatched left the area, but with no shells I am
suspecting otherwise. Maybe the mother eats the shells. Nothing cuter
than a plover fledgling.
While watering the tomato plants last night the martins went off. I
looked up and a Sharpie was circling high. A lone martin dispatched him.
A little later I heard martins in an uproar coming my way. I thought it
might be the evening visit from neighbors, but looked up to find a
barrel breasted cooper's hawk soaring about head height in my direction.
Without effort it rolled upward over my head into the hackberry. My 11
week old rooster that has yet to make it to the dinner table let out a
long hoarse cry/moan of a noise. All other chickens laid low until the
cooper's departed with the martin flock in tow.
We have 2 hummers in the yard. We usually have none in June.
scott marsh
lexington
