Terribly Neglectful

 

Cute little Magnolia Warbler
right in the backyard

Of this poor blog, and I'm sorry. It is just too easy to throw a couple of pictures on Facebook and go back outdoors or get back to taming this disaster area of a house.

Ralph seems somewhat better. Time will tell. At least he feels a little bit more like doing things, which was not the case before.

Immature Gray Catbird, already showing his sassy side

Birding has been sporadic. With the schedule he needs to follow for food and medicine it is a project to get out early in the morning, so that has not been happening much. Also it rains every day just about and sometimes a lot. I washed out the plastic tote I keep sunflower seeds in yesterday, laid it down to drain, then turned it up to the sun to dry. Hah! It had an inch and a half of water in it last time I checked.

Kid Rock (s)
I find pretty rocks and let the kids take what they want
when they are here.

We did our own little nighthawk watch last week. Common Nighthawks, which are anything but, are migrating through right now. We usually go down to the Schoharie/Schenectady County line where we join our good friend, George Steele, for a nice nighthawk watch. He is really good at predicting when they will come by and where.

Warbling Vireo

However, my deepest birding goal is to find as many birds in Montgomery County as is possible. With that in mind we ventured down to the Overlook Bridge in Amsterdam just before dusk to have a look. Becky came with us to get some steps in in a prettier place than looping through the house. 

The bridge did not disappoint. We were no more than halfway across when I heard an interesting call, looked up, and there were two nighthawks. We were less impressed by this idiot who chose to climb the sculpture in the park and to encourage the small children accompanying him to do the same. A little girl that was with them came up to where we were standing and concealed herself behind the hydrangeas, so as not to be associated with such disrespectful behavior. On the way home, Ralph suggested we take Queen Ann St. rather than the main road. We were halfway down when he pointed left and said, "What are those?"

Outlaw goats. 
They were in the road when we came upon them.
Thought they were deer at first but...

"Those" were 24 nighthawks...or maybe more...swooping and swirling through the dusky light. How cool is that!

Also in the road at dusk
Amish kids with wagons

Here at home, where I have been doing my early morning birding, I have been seeing the same eighteen or twenty species every day for weeks. Not boring or anything, as it is always fun or I wouldn't be doing it, but a bit disappointing, as I read reports of other folks finding dozens of warblers and wonders of waterfowl and shorebirds.

That kinda changed yesterday when I spotted first a Canada Warbler, and then a Nashville in the old Honey Locust tree. It was scheduled to be cut down years ago but the deal fell through. I am sorta glad it did. It is a danger to one and all, but the birds love the way it catches the early sun and warms up the bugs so that they can catch them.

Great Blue Heron, foggy morning

Anyhow, we are still here and on the right side of the dirt and I thought you should know. The fair starts this week...hoping the track dries out by tomorrow afternoon so the guys can enjoy the tractor pull

Member of Congress

I may or may not go over. I used to get really excited for the fair, entered everything from art to animals of all sorts, and went every day and night. Now I am just as contented to listen to the roar of the trucks and tractors and the distant jingle of the announcer's voice from right here in the living room or on the sitting porch, and call it close enough...it is right across the river.

Other side of the aisle

Of course most years I change my mind and at least take one walk around to say hi to all our friends and neighbors and look at all the good livestock. Mebbe I'll see you there.

Then again, mebbe not.