a damp day and a boo-boo

A damp, wet, misty, windless morning with Clapper Rail calling extensively from the pond but not showing himself (I assume it's the male that claps).

We are rapidly approaching the time when young birds are out of the nest. A majestic procession of Canada Geese on the creek consisted of two adults and eleven goslings. Since the maximum number of eggs is supposed to be eight or nine, this was probably the merger or two different broods, Also, House Finch feeding two fluttering fledglings.

Lorna tells me that on Sunday -- while I was on the Linnaean expedition -- Orchard Oriole was right around the house. I'll have to look for it in the coming days.

Flowers blooming on Dune Road and around this place include Blue or Oldfield Toadflax, Beach Heather, Beach Pea, Least Hop Clover, and a taller cinquefoil (possibly Shrubby Conquefoil).

As Bob Adamo points out, yesterday I inadvertendly wrote "Snowy Plover" (which would have been great) instead of Piping Plover. We saw two or three of the latter both at Shinnecock and Moriches Bay flats.-- at least one very close up. I'll post pictures by Mary Beth Cooper and Bob Gunning from that trip in the next day or so.

Eric Salzman