Thursday, July 15, 2010

Birds of Summer......








- Warm and sunny today on the southern Cumberland Plateau.......with a bit of breeze.....

- Had some rain earlier in the week.....amazing how a summer rain can change the floral scape....grasses and even the deciduous trees reflect the refreshing rain with more vibrant greens and a more rigid posture in the leaves and twigs.

- Saw a young whitetail buck this morning...peering from undergrowth beside the road....slowed the vehicle and watched....perhaps 100 lbs., long spikes, covered in velvet, about 10" long. Most likely in his second year. As I drove away, in the rear view mirror, I watched the young deer come down an embankment and cautiously cross the paved road (deer hooves and pavement are not a good mix).....it seemed that he was looking both ways for traffic prior to crossing the road....could it be?

- Very much enjoying Jim Quinn's periodic reports on the "Bluebird Trail". Some boxes have had a second and perhaps even third brood this growing season. Always a good sign that the local ecosystems are in harmony......

- Speaking of summer avia, the attached photos.....bottom to top......
Bottom two photos are of a male Cedar Waxwing...taken this week....enlarge the photos (click) and note the dark band through the eyes. This photo is more proof (to me at least) of the nomadic existence of these birds, which usually travel in flocks.....first time I have seen them in our area this late in summer.
Next photo is the Eastern Pewee....a sparrow-sized flycatcher that is commonly seen on fences and low hanging limbs....watching the nearby weeds and grasses for mosquitoes and small flying insects. This photo was taken recently on a split rail fence within the properties. These small inconspicuous birds are easily confused with the Eastern Phoebe, which is similarly sized and the coloration is similar as well. The Phoebe has a bit more conspicuous white wing bars and is known for the continual bobbing of it's tail.
Top photo is of a group of Purple Martins, the largest of the Tennessee swallows. The dark specimen on the top limb is a male, which is uniformly blue/black above and below. The females have a much lighter belly.
To all who enjoy the great outdoors......"Keep America beautiful and try to keep your nose into the wind..."