5th March 2022
The patch approves each day that I just duno which way to turn and today the highlight was this awesome Striped Owl at the east side
The rain finally gave way just before 09.00 and when I got out, I was rewarded with 2 lifers! Wood Stork and the star of the show, Striped Owl! Two species I never thought I would see on the patch but you just don’t know with this place. Anythin can turn up. Also there was a slight increase in all three common species of yank warbler, Chestnut-sided, Yellow and Tennessee Warbler.
Just before 09.00, I was drinking my black coffee when the sun hit my face after heavy overnight rain. Ten minutes later I was standing at the entrance of the patch where I had a clear view looking from the south to the north. I had only been there for a very short time when it started to happen. Small kettles of Black and Turkey Vultures popped up all over the shop and for the next hour I had a total of seven species of raptor including, 3 King Vulture, 3 Great Black and 3 Grey Hawk and 2 Crested Carica and 4 White-collared Swift. There were also a few distance hawks too far away for identification. However, the highlight was not a raptor but a Wood Stork! From the south, I picked the stork up flying NW. It started rising with the thermals and continued to drift off NW onwards with it’s migration. I would never predicted that one turning up. Dark were looming but it never came to anythin and headed deeper into the patch. At the west pond there was no sign of the Purple Gallinule but there were now 3 Northern Jacana. Under the tall mallows at the west side, of note, there was a male Painted Bunting, first one for over a month and the Olivacious Piculet was showing well.
Scanning for raptors, I couldn’t believe my luck when I latched onto this Wood Stork coming in from the south before it continued it’s migration NW Surely a pretty rare species in the area?
This Golden-Olive Woodpecker was the first bird to welcome me as I entered the patch
At the North Pond, I thought I might try my luck with the River Otter from yesterday. Ten minutes of waiting and there was a loud splash! I stood pationally on the bank at the waters edge and it appeared from nowhere. So close that I couldn’t focus on the bloody thing! Fortunately, it popped up again to show it’s head further away and I managed to fire off a single shot before it disappeared under the water to not be seen again. As soon as the otter had vanished, I switched my attention to the pair of Russet-napped Wood Rail that were directly in front of me on the path. The 2 Green Ibis were still present and 2 Green Heron dropped in. Very quiet by the river, except for the Louisiana Waterthrush that was very vocal and up at the edge of the primary forest, the male Golden-winged Warbler was at eye level while deeper in the small pocket of the forest, I could hear a male White-collared Manakin. I headed into the centre of the patch where I could hear the 2 Orange-billed Sparrow but it was yet another Empidonax flycatcher that got me running around. It was pretty vocal and made identification a lot easier and when it finally came down to lower branches, I ended up taking pics of the second site record of a Acadian Flycatcher. It was close to 16.00 and I was now tired and needed to get somethin down my neck.
High water levels from almost three days of non-stop rain might have been to the River Otter advantage. as before the ponds were probably too low for it to hunt. I hope it sticks around for a while.
I discovered that Russet-napped Wood Rail are not shy at all, as I tripped over the curb bordering the path, it just stayed put.
The 2 Green Ibis were still present in the area
Yet another Empidonax flycatcher that turned out to be a good on and only the second patch record of Acadian Flycatcher
However, at the entrance by the side of the road, I found two birders from York, I forgot their names I’m afraid, and I began chatting to them. Elle, the owners wife of the patch, came out and asked me to take them around the site. You know if you return your gona see somethin else but I never thought it would be somethin very special. We set off clockwise, with the grandson in tow who showed them the Three-toed Sloth that’s been in the same tree for well over a month now. I showed them the Boat-billed Heron and then walked on. Then I heard what sounded like ‘owl’ I turned back around ‘Did you say owl?’ I dashed back to see a cat, sat almost out in the open in a small tree only a few meters off the path at head hight. The look like cat was in fact a Striped Owl!!! No way!! I really couldn’t believe that at last an owl had been found after me spending hours upon hours searching in vein for one. The grandson knew that it was there after seeing it before and pointed it out. As the heron is roosting on the opposite side to where the owl was, I was always looking out for it and never turned to see what was behind me. Big mistake and I must of passed it three times today and how many times before in the last few days? It didn’t matter, there was a Striped Owl observing us and just as I said we should move on, as were almost on top of it, it made a short flight into a nearby tree. I shock the kids hand and then I told them all to be quiet as we might have a chance with the River Otter just around the corner but there was no sign of it. The gentleman was eager to see the Acadian Flycatcher and after him ticking off the new in Northern Jacana, we tried our luck as the light was fading. I was very pleased when I put them both on to it and this was followed by a now a pair of White-lined Tanager. We returned to the entrance and finished the day off with a Bare-throated Tiger Heron that flew up from the field close by and some 40 Cattle Egret flew north to roost. What a cracking day from this amazing patch! What’s it goin to be tomorrow is anyone’s guess?
Wow! What a day! The first owl for the patch turns out to be a stunning Striped Owl I just hope it sticks around if I can find it that is
Black-cheeked Woodpecker
Slightly higher numbers of Yellow Warbler with 10-15 birds
I thought this was tiny hummingbird as it passed me but when it landed I could see that it was one of those large wasp in search of spiders
However, this bee was the size of a small hummingbird
While this cicada sp came buzzing through, clattering into everything in it’s path before settling on a branch
Irish MP Richard Boyd Barrett calls out the double standards on Ukraine and Palestine
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Mar 5, 2022
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“It took five days for sanctions against Putin and his thugs but imposing sanctions for 70 years of oppression of the Palestinians would not be ‘helpful’.” Irish lawmaker Richard Boyd Barrett on Wednesday called out the Irish government’s double standards when dealing with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine vs Israel’s occupation of Palestine. #Palestine#Ukraine#Russia#Israel#RichardBoydBarett Subscribe to our channel: http://ow.ly/AVlW30n1OWH Middle East Eye Website: https://middleeasteye.net Like us on Facebook: https://facebook.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiddleEastEye Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/MiddleEastEyeSHOW LESS
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