News Volo Bog April 30th 2007| Volo Bog April 30th 2007 |
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| Monday, 30 April 2007 19:10 | ||||
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I was on vacation last week (I'll post more on that soon) but despite taking about 1,000 pictures I still needed to get out again this afternoon and take advantage of the warm weather and good light. Volo Bog is close so I headed there... I had barely arrived when I heard the 'sucking through a straw' sound of a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in one of the trees near the parking lot. He gave me more than a few opportunities to get some shots. This was the first Gnatcatcher I've seen this season - but I'm sure it won't be the last. While photographing the Gnatcatcher, I saw a female Brown-headed Cowbird sneaking around in the same tree. Then I realized the tree had a nest in it and the Cowbird was planning to invade! I watched her look around, drop to the nest and inspect it, then settle down for a few moments (presumably to lay her egg) then fly up higher into the tree. I'm not 100% sure what type of bird made the nest, but I suspect an American Robin based on the size and location. I found a couple of different plants while there - one was the Pitcher Plant that I've seen there before (actually there are two plants I know of and hopefully many more). I believe this is the Northern Pitcher plant but if you know otherwise, please don't hesitate to share. The other plant I found was what I believe is the Rue Anemone. There were plenty of them in the woods - another reminder Spring's here! Just before it was time to head out I walked on the boardwalk that goes over the bog itself and was a little surprised to hear both a Sora and a Virginia Rail calling. I sat on the boardwalk close to where the Sora was calling from and waited...and waited. After a good long wait I was rewarded with close views of a Sora rail that both walked and then swan in front of me. What a pleasant way to end the day!
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