Apologies for the lateness of this Big Sit update. We are on a record-setting pace, and are currently sitting at 60 species. The record is 65.
Just after midnight last night, Jen Sauter and I spent about 40 chilly minutes in the tower, starting the Big Sit officially. Before we climbed down we had great horned owl, eastern screech-owl, and field sparrow.
This morning I spent the first two hours alone in the tower before dawn and heard an unbelievable flight of thrushes, each species giving its distinctive flight calls: Swainson's, gray-cheeked, hermit, veery, and wood thrush. At dawn I added eastern bluebird and American robin to complete our sweep of the thrushes.
The farm looks beautiful on this amazingly lovely autumn day. Flora and fauna every way you turn.
As usual, we're short on warblers, completely without vireos, and only just hitting our expected raptor numbers. We need only the red-headed to sweep the woodpeckers.
It's been a crowd in the tower, but all are enjoying themselves. I made everyone eat a Cheezy Poof so we can be assured of breaking the record. We had to hold a few folks down and force-feed them, because that's how important this record is.
I'll update you later.
More to come and pictures, too.
3 comments:
Thanks for the update for us non-sitters. Looks like there's a really good chance you'll break that record. Don't give up - ever! Even if it means turning back the clock (over and over again)!
I am not doing a big sit today. Earlier today, however, I was doing a Big Weeding of the Flower Beds with one of my girls. At one point she looked up and asked about a large bird she saw overhead. Glancing, I was about to say turkey vulture, when it angled so I could see its all white tail. Holy cow, a Bald Eagle! It was very cooperative and rode a thermal while we ran for the Binocs. Yep, a bald eagle, the first for my yard. It headed north toward Columbus, hopefully some Big Sit circle will see it. It was very exciting, I just had to share.
Sounds like y'all are on a great pace down there in Whipple. Keep the updates coming.
Kathy
Circleville, OH
That bluebird looks ready for the cover of a magazine...like BWD?
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