Summer, 2006

Ted's Observations...

 

Summer's Over

July 21: The heat is still here, the thunderstorms are still booming around and it is still July, but the signs of summer ending are in the air (literally). On July 21, while censusing coastal birds south of Marco Island, we recorded a Belted Kingfisher flying by; the first one of the winter season to be observed. I am always intrigued by how early some of the birds start coming back for the winter.

Kingfishers are with us for ten months of the year but are just about completely absent in May and June (it is always possible that one or two may be around to make a liar out of me).

"The Belted Kingfisher is one of the most widespread landbirds in North America. Throughout the continent, it inhabits diverse aquatic habitats where it typically perches over clear open water before plunge-diving for pray-chiefly fish, but also other aquatic animals such as crayfish." (Birds of North America; #84).

Of course, even one Kingfisher can make an author wrong, like the Kingfisher that winters around our house and perches over our muddy mangrove pond and snatches fish from the surface. I always wonder when I hear the rattling call of our winter guest, where it spent the summer in its burrow in a bank next to the water. A fun bird to have spending the winter outside your living room.

Ted Below