Ferry Neck, July 29 - August 3, 2024.

[Harry Armistead]

JULY 29, 2024, MONDAY.  mostly overcast, wind south 10-15, 87-82, sit out on the dock 6-8:30 PM.  Still very dry.  2 Deer (does) and a fawn, Muskrat 1, Eastern Cottontail 2.  complete bird list:  

Cattle Egret 41 (often an entire day will go by without even 1; groups of 4, 23, 4, 1 & 9; do doubt on their way to their breeding colony on Poplar Island), Green Heron 2, Double-crested Cormorant 5, Canada Goose 14 (5 & 9), Ring-billed Gull 2, Forster’s Tern 4, Osprey 3, Bald Eagle 1, Spotted Sandpiper 1 (a fall arrival), Mourning Dove 3, Barn Swallow 1, Carolina Chickadee 1, Eastern Bluebird 1, American Robin 2, Chipping Sparrow 1, Red-winged Blackbird 1, Northern Cardinal 2, Carolina Wren 2.  

In front of the chair I like to sit on are 30 or so fish scales the size of baby limas, and nearby on the dock rail, a detached pectoral fin, perhaps thanks to a Green Heron.  Several fish hit the surface, I suspect White Perch.  Tide changes abruptly at 7:44, starts to ebb.  Since the last visit, July 16, a 9 foot high vine has grown on the back porch screen, a Virginia Creeper.  

JULY 30, TUESDAY.  mostly overcast, low 70s - 84, south or southeast 15-20, rain c. 9 - 10 P.M., some thunder & lightning.  screech owl calls at 8:45.  4 bucks and a doe in Field 1, then a big 8-pt. buck just past the tire swing.  2 squirrels.  1 young red fox.  2 red-spotted purples.  

Not seen yesterday: 3 snow egrets. 2 great blue herons, 4 fish crows, 7 turkey & 2 black vultures, 1 kingfisher, blue jay, 2 mockingbirds chasing a crow,1 laughing gull, purple martin, crested flycatcher, hummingbird.  plus 4 chipping sparrows, 2 of them fledglings and a cowbird begging from the chippies.  2 fledgling bluebirds.  4 Forster’s terns.  5 cormorants.  nice rain after sunset, should help. 

JULY 31, WEDNESDAY.  low 70s - 90, hot, dry, winds SW 5-15. mostly overcast.  Tiny 3” skink.  pileated woodpecker working away on the big, hollow locust NE of the back porch.  Monarch 1.  1.5’ fish right under me and the dock, at low tide, water < 1 foot, a carp?  After last night’s substantial rain the Waterthrush pond went from bone dry to full, but the vernal pools are still w/o standing water.  No terrapin for several weeks.  I fool the app Merlin with my yellow-billed cuckoo imitation  Sit out by the dock in late afternoon but it’s just too hot and humid.

Bats in the corners at the end of the outside eaves on the front porch, in both corners (SE & SW).  Remind me of the creepy land crabs in Cuba.  You’d look up and they’d be there.

AUGUST 1, THURSDAY.  New thrones in the downstairs loo and the loo next to the War Room, higher & with compressors.  mostly just the usual birdees.  high 70s -  91.  phew.  bat in the west outside eaves.  

AUGUST 2, FRDAY.  High 70s - 92, SW 10-15, fair.  Hot.  2 rabbits (1 a baby), 2 squirrels, 2 Red-spotted Purples, 3 Hackberry Emperors, and, finally, a terrapin.  Mostly stayed indoors.  blue grosbeak, yellow-billed cuckoo, belted kingfisher, 2 green herons, 2 great blue herons, mourning dove, crested fly, eastern kingbird, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, Carolina wren, fish crow, 1 skink, 1 Forster’s tern, purple martin, American robin, bluebirds, blue-gray gnatcatcher (a classic August migrant).

AUGUST 3, SATURDAY.  overnight low of 80, fair, SW 15.  crested fly, bald eagle 1, osprey 1, titmouse, cardinal, Carolina Wren, Downy Woodpecker, Blue Grosbeak 1 (lot of singing), Chipping Sparrow, mockingbird, bluebird, Fish Crow, Blue Jay.  goldfinch.   2 Gray Squirrels.  Leave at 10:45.  

I know you’re not supposed to put a period after an apostrophe (I don’t think), but that’s too bad.  I’m going to keep doing it.  I also prefer to say lit instead of lighted.  After 41 on Monday ain’t seen even one (1) Cattle Egret.

Once again I fooled MERLIN with my not-so-good screech-owl imitation.  But it doesn’t take to my yellow-billed cuckoo or American bittern imitations.

THINGS I DON’T LIKE TO HEAR.  Your call is important to us (so important I’m on hold for 6 minutes).  I’ve already told you that twice.  You’re not going like THAT, are you?  Some assembly required.  …  With gusts up to …  All of our representatives/associates are busy…  The number you have called is …   

In connection with law enforcement, a so-called “baton” is not a baton, it is a CLUB.

  

Best to all. - Harry Armistead, Bellevue & Philadelphia.  [I’ll try to be more inspired next time]