From: Harry Armistead [mailto:[log in to unmask]] 
Sent: Monday, July 07, 2008 6:54 PM
To: Norman Saunders
Subject: Ferry Neck, July 4-7, 2008.

 

On the way down:  An aseasonal Sharp-shinned Hawk along Route 495 east of
Wilmington, Delaware, at 10:45 A.M., Friday, July 4.  It seems to me I am
seeing accipiters more often in the "off season" (May-August), and, see
below also, please.
 
Rigby's Folly, Armistead property near Royal Oak, Talbot County, MD, July
4-7, 2008.  Liz & Harry Armistead.  4 days of extensive house work as well
as brush work along the trails and driveway ... maintenance. 
 
In contrast to last year's drought young Fowler's Toads are widespread now. 
 
Friday, July 4.  2 P.M. - 9 P.M. only.  fair becoming overcast with light
rain, 86-90, winds variously SW5, light & variable, calm, NW5, then SW
15-35-5 during the storm.    
 
1 ad. Bald Eagle.  2 male Indigo Buntings singing.  1 Great Egret. There are
2 pretty large young Ospreys on Mike Davidson's nest platform at the head of
cove, I think the best production, if they fledge, ever for there.  House
Sparrows are also apparently nesting in the side of this Osprey nest.  
 
Chases:  see a kingbird chase a Common Grackle, an Osprey chase a Bald
Eagle.
 
Carolina Wrens at it again, this time in a big flower pot by the back steps,
where Liz finds their nest while watering the flowers.  2 eggs.  Nest is
about 1 foot off the ground on the bottom of the pot.
 
Do 2 hours of work on the Warbler Trail plus the 1st 0.3 mi. (going out,
that is) of the driveway.
 
Big thunder and lightning storm after dinner, 7-9 P.M.  I watch dusk settle
over the land from the back porch.  Some of the peals of thunder last as
long as 20-30 seconds. 
 
Saturday, July 5.  overcast or mostly cloudy, 75-82, SW5 or light & variable
or calm.  Some light rain.
 
Going out the driveway, when we often see nothing, this time, 9:45 A.M., we
see 6 large young Wild Turkeys, an imm. Bald Eagle that flies low, right in
front of us almost over the driveway, 2 deer (1 a large buck), a large but
young Red Fox, and a Gray Squirrel.   

At noon a male Cooper's Hawk opposite John Swaine's farm.
 
From 2-4 P.M. I clear the driveway's overhanging vegetation on the south
side of Field 4, a distance of 0.2+ mi.  During most of this time, as
yesterday, a Pileated Woodpecker drums continuously, and I'll hear it
tomorrow, too.  What this leads me to suspect is that he is definitely open
for business, hot to trot, and I hope he finds a trottee.  We have not had a
breeding record at Rigby.
 
From the dock we watch the fireworks displays, able to see, somewhat, the
displays at both Oxford and more distant St. Michaels.  All during this the
Green Tree Frogs keep up a big chorus over towards Tranquility Lane.  Lots
of Fireflies, which start their flight soon after 8 P.M.
 
3 bats hunting at dusk over the south edge of the lawn where I sit for an
hour and watch the darkness build.  Incredibly acroBATic, the bats often fly
very close to me, miraculous to see them flying like this.  
 
FALL MIGRATION STARTS, SORT OF.  See an adult Ring-billed Gull and 14
Laughing Gulls (the latter usually absent here in June) on Friday, July 4.
Post-breeding swallows:  3 Bank and a female or immature Tree swallow on
Saturday, July 5.  The 4th of July weekend is when I look for, but do not
always see, post-breeding swallows, including these 2 spp. and also
rough-wingeds sometimes.  
 
HERPTILES:  Liz and I see a Five-lined Skink each of these 4 days on the
front porch.  The last few years we've been seeing them more frequently.
116 Diamondback Terrapin seen from Lucy Point, Sunday, July 6, but none in
the cove.  A medium-sized, female Box Turtle on the Olszewski Trails next to
the fresh remains (everything but the head) of a Menhaden.  This is 1/3 mile
or so from the nearest open tidal water, must have been dropped by an
Osprey.  My impression is that the turtle was going to eat this, having
tired of blackberries and mushrooms? 
 
Sunday, July 6.  Mostly cloudy, 75-85, SW5.
 
Double-crested Cormorant: see 2 that have captured small eels, another 1
with a Hogchoker.
 
Also: 15 Mute Swans.  2 Gray Squirrels, both with really ratty tails = poor
summer nutrition?  An Eastern Screech-Owl responds to my calls at 1:15 P.M.
A family group of 2 ad. and 3 young robins in the yard, where there's also a
Hairy Woodpecker.  Out from Lucy Point there are 3 U. of Maryland study
sites, each with a small offshore platform, all with a "scare owl."  An
Osprey sits at length on top of one of the owls.  2 kingbirds, a calling
flicker, a singing titmouse.  An Orchard Oriole sings a few times.
 
First 2 Common Wood Nymphs of the season.  1 Monarch.  1 azure.  
 
Spend 2.25 hours working on the Irish Creek and Choptank River trails.  The
Fig Bush Jared Sparks planted last year, which he dubbed "Figby", survived
last year's drought and has one fig. 
 
Monday, July 7.  Mostly just close the house down, pack up, and leave. 
 
Best to all. - Harry Armistead, Philadelphia, PA.

  _____  

Making the world a better place one message at a time. Check out the i'm
Talkathon.
<http://www.imtalkathon.com/?source=EML_WLH_Talkathon_BetterPlace>