John & I put up a new bluebird box on the clothesline arm late yesterday. This a.m. the first inspection was done by our local, prospective, bluebird couple. They only have 5 other boxes from which to choose but this is a new style & maybe the house sparrows will not like its light interior. Hopefully, the bluebirds will not have to challenge the sparrows or tree swallows.
Today we checked 14 osprey platforms or nests on power line arms from east, south & north of Union Springs to various points around refuge territory. Nothing but starlings on them. The evening flights of RWBBs, grackles, etc. to their roosts in & around the refuge were spectacular, as usual. Trees so heavily laden with feathers looked like they were already leaved out. At the visitor's center I watched a robin hawking insects just at dark! Never noticed them do that before. The male shovelers were brightly colored at Larue's. So was the magnificent sunset!!! During our ride I saw 2 turkeys, 2 redtails, a kestral, a mockingbird & lots of bulging buds on maple trees. At the refuge entrance the peepers were really loud, heard without my hearing aids! Mill pond here in the Springs still is an attraction for 8 to 12 bufflehheads & 2 ring-neck ducks. Anyone tried the new bakery in King Ferry? We have one next to the Be Happy Cafe here in Union Springs. Gas is $3.80.9 for now. Fritzie -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
