Two young Red-bellied Woodpeckers were out and about with their father. This would explain why this species has been so relatively quiet these days; papa was busy baby-sitting! The young are slightly miniaturized versions of the adults but without the markings. Since these birds can have as many as six young, the couple probably splits up with each adult taking some of the young with them to show them the ropes -- where to find food, etc.
At least one recently fledged Baltimore Oriole was calling with its very distinctive two-note or three-note call. But where are the others? This looked to be a good year for Baltimores but few young have appeared hereabouts.
Clapper Rail continues its kek-ing though most of the morning. The only other truly persistent singer is the House Wren which appears to be having a good year.
In my post about our walk at Poxabogue Pond on Friday, I neglected to mention the three Tom Turkeys that were roosting in on a tree branch not far from the big pond. When the first one took off, I thought it was a Turkey Vulture but, no, it was Turkey not vulture (both have bare redskin heads which explains the vulture's name and my confusion). Wild Turkeys normally spend the night in trees but it is unusual to see them still treed at 9 in the morning; apparently, the rainstorms which struck at dawn kept them in the their nighttime roost until our arrival. The question is how do the chicks manage to fly up into the trees? Or do they have to spend the night on the ground until they reach a certain age?
Eric Salzman
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