This morning, between 0850 & 1115, was spent at the North Fork Preserve, Jamesport, where the birding was slow, although I did see and hear a FOS Great-crested Flycatcher, plus 4 Red-tailed Hawks. One was perched, while the 3 others were soaring, in "laddered fashion", all positioned in almost a straight line, as they made fairly tight circles.
The highlight of the day however, was not a bird, but finding an adult Red Fox, 3 of it's Kits, and their den ! As they say, "it happened in a flash". Without any prior inkling, I became aware of "orange" movement - the parent flew in one direction, 2 of the young went in another, with the 3rd racing back into the den. The most amazing part of this encounter for me, was the short, repeated "squawk" by the mother (?), which I took to be, her keeping her young abreast of my continued presence. This was the first time I had ever heard this Red Fox vocalization, which reminded me of a louder, Ring-necked Pheasant call...but be advised, I wear 2 hearing aids ! I never saw the kits again, but the parent did show itself two more times, as it kept up sounding the alert !. Cheers, Bob -- NYSbirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/NYSbirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/nysbirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/NYSBirds-L 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/NYSB.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
