This morning's Murder of Crows took place in the trees facing the creek and I was able to get down there in time to see that it was really about a raptor -- to be specific, a Red-tailed Hawk that high-tailed it across the creek with the crows in hot pursuit. I still think that some of these crow brouhahas are crow society intersocial squabbles but it is possible that I am just missing the object of the vituperation.
This morning's big catch was an FOS (First of Season): a Nashville Warbler -- gray head, eye ring, yellow underneath (brightest on the throat and undertail). A few other warblers around (American Redstart, Common Yellowthroat); also an American Goldfinch family (male still in breeding plumage, female and two youngsters). A male Belted Kingfisher has been a regular visitor to the pond along with a couple of young Green Herons and at least one Great Blue Heron.
Speaking of yellow, the Seaside Goldenrod is just beginning to bloom. Another noteworthy wildflower is the plant that I have been calling Pearly Everlasting with teardrop-shaped white flowers made up of petal-like bracts with a touch of yellow at the tip. I now think this imay not be the Pearly Everlasting but a similar plant called Sweet Everlasting or Catfoot. Both are composites but they are in different genera although you would not suspect it from appearances.
Eric Salzman
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