Foxy fin d'annee 2008

The quick red fox jogged down the path with something big and tasty in its mouth. A rabbit? So went the end of the hike at Otto's Farm yesterday. Miss B was oblivious. Just a couple of weeks ago I spotted the fox basking in the late afternoon sun at the grasses edge. She was all blinking and tawny and content to watch me watching her. We saw kits there early this spring. The many fox -- dead and alive -- seen this past year may explain why the number of the neighbor's chickens seems to be decreasing. Or, at least it may be affecting their egg production.

Fox on Friday, Mallards on Monday

A beautiful little bushy-tailed fox skittered down the path in front of Ms. B and me. She didn't see it, but she did smell it. There have been lots of fox sightings at Otto's Farm this past year.

Today there were lots of mallards chowing down on the D&R Canal waters. It's beginning to look like the winter holdovers are in place and here to stay. It was fantastic to see a juvenile Red-Tailed hawk perched close and low to the ground on the way out and nice to see a great blue hidden around the bend of the river on the return trip. Glad I had the binocs today.

Coop at the Curve

While taking a road walk this afternoon, I spotted a Cooper's Hawk on the ground at the nasty curve in the road. She was protecting the kill, it seemed. I walked very, very close, and tried not to disturb the fate of what was going on. Very impressive LARGE eyes on that raptor. On the way back, I tried to find any remains, but couldn't. The coop was perched in a nearby tree watching me carefully.

Green-winged Teal ID'd

A couple of days ago I traipsed around the pond at Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association. The pond hardly had anything on it compared to previous weeks. I spotted two Canada geese (compared to approximately 150 the week before), five mallards, a Great Blue, and two pairs of Green-winged Teal! I think I can finally identify the male Teal. The females had the visible green wing. Amazing.

Round Valley Roundabout

Round Valley was the scene of the endless Sunfish sailing weekends. Today was a refreshing tramp along the Water and Pine trails, watching the glittering water surface glinting and whipping up with little wind gusts. A few dogs were allowed to splash and zip around. An osprey dove for fish right near the fishermen's lines along the shore. He/she came up clutching empty air. What were those ducks?? Reviewing Sibley was inconclusive, but I think they might have been a couple dozen first-year adult Lesser Scaup. They were all completely black/dark gray/brown with the head a touch darker. The bill was gray, like a Wigeon's. They did seem like they were diving to feed, so they were probably Lesser Scaup. I'm confused. Shoulda had the Canon along...