So, where to begin? Right after I wrote about the propensity for pugnacity in Kingbirds, I got a treat of seeing Tyrannus in action. There appear to be at least three separate pairs of Kingbirds nesting at opposite ends of the bog, and the first pair I came upon was noisily out gathering grass for their nest. A real treat, an answer to my prayer to see the “seen and the unseen”. They both were twittering away through all of it, the female gathering the grass, the male seeming to provide cover. Along came a Blue Jay, just passing by, and here comes the full out attack. Next a Robin dared land in the tree they had their nest in, both of them went screeching after him. Then a crow, headed for his job of sentinel for the day, clearly with nothing but getting to work on his mind, and the male flew up over him diving, again and again just like the books say he will. Very cool.
That same walk featured seeing the male Wood Duck on the pond again, as he often seems to be early in the morning. I see him fly in from the same direction each time, no doubt coming from the marshy wetland where the Mrs. and the wee ducklings are snug in a tree. Everyone likes a little alone time now and again and the Wood Duck seems no different. The male Mallard was on the slough with three other males this morning. I knew everyone couldn't have a mate. Of course, it could have been completely different Mallards, one of the problems of everyone looking alike! But I like to think my loner found some pals.
Because it has been unseasonably cold for the last three days, the bog owner had his sprinklers on, and that had driven away the lone Goose. Today, 2 pairs of geese where there, and wouldn’t I like to think the lone goose found another lonely heart out there. He was forced back into the world of dating by the fact that his haunt had turned into a Sparklett’s show. And what a show it is, when you come over the hill that the tracks are on and see the world, a fountain of glistening spray. The sun, still low in the sky, catches the water, making the jets look as though they are spraying diamonds rather than water. A glory moment.
And as though that wasn’t enough, in flies my first Spotted Sandpiper of the season. I usually see one or two at the pond but they never seem to stay long. So another treat to be there when one does show up. If you’re ever looking for a poster child for Feminism in the bird world, the Spotted Sandpiper would be a good candidate. It is the female who fights for a choice waterfront territory, the female who chooses a mate, the female who lays the eggs but then leaves the incubating to the male. Meanwhile, she goes off in search of another, who also gets suckered into sitting on this second clutch of eggs, while, you guessed it, she is off looking for greener pastures and a spottier third fellow. She can do this four or five times before she finally settles down and helps raise a few chicks herself. Amazing.
And it is easy to spot a Spotted Sandpiper, not only by their obviously spotted breast but they constantly bob and teeter as they walk. Makes you want to break into a Beach Boy “Bob-Bob-Bob bob a ran” type song if you watch them long enough. Also, this bobbing is seen in other sandpipers too, and in the Woodcock, who shazam, is in the Sandpiper family and shares the same bouncy step. I saw a lot of You Tube videos claiming this was the mating dance of the Woodcock. No, this is just the Sandpiper swagger.
See, too much! And oh the plants! I wish I could babble on about all the things coming up, practically overnight, along the bog, but it would be, too much! And the crows, the not-always-so-silent crows, now that they have a nest to defend, would also be too much to cover this time. And of course, all of you have too much to do, to even have time to read this. There you have it- the “too-muchness of May”, it effects everything!
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