July 19, 2010

A pair of big red crayfish claws was lying in the middle of the boardwalk when I went through the covered entrance this morning. The parent bird of the chunky, juvenile Yellow-Crowned-Night Heron was standing on the floating dead tree trunk on the left side of the entrance. Both the parent birds of the juvenile Yellow-Crowned-Night Herons were hunting in their territories without their young birds. I wondered whether they left their parent as an independent bird or if they were just exploring around. I hope I will be able to see them again.

Five Snowy Egrets flew noisily into the feeding place, and joined a Great Blue Heron, three American Coots, and several Green Herons. The Gadwall was busy hunting alone beside the Cattails.

A Red-Shouldered Hawk was on the extended beam of the Aquarium located next to the Aquarena Office building. Its voice was different from the sharp, strong tone of the hawk, but more like a little child asking his or her mother for a favor. I thought that it was the young hawk in need of something. A little while later, a small bird flew near the hawk and chirped. It was the Thrusher. I was used to hearing its angry voice, so it was pleasant to hear its friendly chirping this morning.

I saw two bees at the top of the giant stalk of the Century Plant, which was once busy with several bees and a Blue-Throated Hummingbird. It now looked abandoned. The last of the pistils were still standing at the top, but all the flowers looked withered.