Hi birding friends,
I have not been able to get out birding much, but this last week has been
quite exciting just at home. On Saturday (April 21st), my wife and I both
got to see a male Calliope Hummingbird feeding at our front hummingbird
feeder. I hadn't even seen a male rufuous yet, so that was a fun
surprise. This was our third record of a Calliope here. I wonder if it is
the same one that keeps coming back? They have all been within a 9 day
period in April.
Yesterday I was working in my greenhouse out in my field, and glanced
outside to see a flock of shorebirds wizz by! I ran as fast as I could to
the house to grab binoculars, and then ran back. I have a big black tarp
covering some soil (to keep weeds down), and it had some large pools of
water on it, and, most importantly, the shorebirds had landed there! I
snuck up as close as I could to see what they were. I hid behind a row of
broccoli and peered thru. All I could find for sure was Least Sandpipers
(yellow legs). There may have been a Western in there, but we have a pair
of Killdeer with three babies who roam this spot, and the adults kept
chasing the shorebirds around. They took off and flew several times, but
kept coming back. I got within about 20ft or so. Quite an enjoyable
experience.
Then today, working in the greenhouse again, I stepped outside for some
cooler air, and spotted a flock of American White Pelicans! 36 of them.
They glided by fairly close, then turned and flew back over again. I
counted them several times, and was able to watch them for several
minutes. Those are some big, beautiful birds.
What is next? That is three days in a row of fairly unusual birds. Maybe
I'll have a Solitary Sandpiper stop by my mudflats tomorrow?!
PS: Did you know that Killdeer share the parenting responsibilities? As I
was weeding some garlic late last night, I startled the Killdeer. One
adult had one young one under wing, and the other adult had two babies
tucked under wing. That was fun to see. The babies hatched among my
over-wintering onions on about April 9th. They are taking good care of
their babies, despite my persistent presence.
Cheers!
Brandon Wagner
Independence
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