FERRY NECK/RIGBY’S FOLLY, JUNE 17-20, 2011. A busted play: violent storm, 7+ hours of consequent cleanup, car issues and, at the last, a day of rain.
QUAIL HABITAT DOCUMENT AVAILABLE. A 10-page document, “Wildlife habitat case study 1: ‘Triple Chance Farm,’ “ is available from Robert “Mac” Macdonald, at: macfly at goeaston dot net. 410-463-0031. With 10 color photographs, it describes and illustrates how agricultural and adjacent lands can be planted and managed to benefit Northern Bobwhite and other birds. Triple Chance Farm is on Ross Neck in Dorchester County. Contact Mac for details on availability.
RUDDY DUCK: a breeding plumage ♂ seen June 17-19 (also seen by Robert Macdonald on June 18). Except for occasional cripples seen nearby in the 1950s and 1960s the first summer property record, although they are notorious for summering regionally in very small numbers, usually in impounded areas.
FOX KITS seen each day. A curious one often is seen right around the yard periphery, just as frequently out on the driveway, where there are countless 100s of small grasshoppers. It investigates the insects, searching, then pouncing on them, an attractive small mammal with out-sized ears.
FRIDAY, JUNE 17. Two Horned Larks along Route 481, persisting, and apparently persisting well, in spite of the challenges of breeding in wide open areas in the face of intensive agriculture.
Present in late afternoon only. Fair, SW 5 m.p.h., 82-70°F.
Seven deer in Field 4, 2 in Field 1, and 1 in Field 2. An adult Red Fox with its 3 kits on the driveway on the S side of Field 2, their favorite haunt. A single Mute Swan in the cove, swimming warily away, as well it might in the face of agencies bent on the elimination of the species in the state.
The most violent thunderstorm I’ve ever experienced, 7:15-7:45 P.M., with trees and large branches oscillating, gyrating, and thrashing around wildly, deafening thunder and lighting directly overhead, and torrential rain. Secondhand local reports I hear claim winds to 70 m.p.h., golfball-sized hail in some parts, and a tornado in sections of the storm. Across the cove I see the neighbors have lost several trees.
In the gratifying peace following the storm (such as is so well-evoked when the lyric woodwinds cut in after the storm segments of Strauss’ Alpine Symphony, Rossini’s William Tell Overture, and Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony) the Green Tree Frogs and Fireflies seem energized. 2 Gray Squirrels, always energized.
SATURDAY, JUNE 18. Fair, up to 88°F., SW 5, hot, humid. Several Yellow-billed Cuckoos heard and seen frequently; I suspect nesting near or in the yard. When one first calls this morning I swear this acted as a catalyst setting off a Green Tree Frog in the magnolia. 40 Canada Geese incl. 6 large goslings. An imm. Bald Eagle. Butterflies: three Pearlcrescents, a Tiger Swallowtail, and 3 Red-spotted Purples. Two Green Herons hanging around the yard perching at the top of tall dead locusts and uttering their slow, deliberate, throaty “keeyoo.”
Do 3+ hours of work cleaning up the yard. A massive, dead Red Maple limb has missed hitting the car port by 6 feet. After several years of gauging its heft and angle I had predicted it would. A big relief to be right. Two Green Tree Frogs call from somewhere in the Magnolia grandiflora. Nice but I am hoping a full chorus will eventually become a regular part of our yard life, although the several distant ones we hear are appreciated.
Robert Macdonald visits from 1-4 P.M. and we exchange comments on birds, plantings, and land management. During his visit the Ruddy Duck, Canada Geese, a Red Fox kit, and several butterflies are seen to some advantage, plus the cuckoos.
SUNDAY, JUNE 19. What would have been a full day rambling around Dorchester County back roads is cut short when, on Route 50 at Peachblossom Creek, the car continues to exhibit troubling hesitation, not just during acceleration but even when simply trying to maintain cruising speed.
Return to Rigby’s Folly and spend 2 hours clearing the Lucy Point Trail and adjacent areas at Lucy Point, 2 more hours working on the Irish Creek and Choptank trails. I’ll get to the Warbler and Olszewski trails later and shudder to think what may be found. At least 8 trees have blown over.
One Common Tern. A male Surf Scoter, repeatedly diving, in the mouth of Broad Creek. An imm. Bald Eagle, looking especially immense, comes looming over from Holland Point to Lucy Point, where there are 3 Cow-nosed Rays and 4 Diamondback Terrapin. In contrast to at least the past 10 years I have not seen ANY good numbers of terrapin this year and am concerned.
From Lucy Point a lot of floating debris is visible: trees, branches, and the odd plastic chair, the latter drifting out into the Choptank River with the ebbing tide. Seven miles away “Cook’s Point island” has lost several of its few remaining trees from the great blow Friday evening.
Up to 81°F., NE5 becoming NW 5 then NE5 again, or else dead calm, overcast, relatively comfortable for the energetic sawing, clipping and limb removal.
MONDAY, JUNE 20. Nice, slow, gentle, continuous rain since the wee small hours. Much-needed precipitation. Yes! Two Bald Eagles perch on their favorite snag at Frog Hollow 200 feet from their nest, which survives the storm. Seven deer. Leave by 9:30 A.M.
In spite of the constraints this visit it is mostly a peaceful time: no newspapers, radio, TV, computer use, or playing of CDs even, the entire 4 days, and the few phone calls welcome ones. We don’t have a TV or computer hereabouts anyway. The pleasure of solitude. Much of the time there is a complete absence of human noise. In June most years I am sometimes nearly overcome with weariness and exhaustion, perhaps from the rigors of various May birding activities.
Best to all. – Harry Armistead.
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