Killdeer Encounter

On the way to class this morning at the Clark Center on the WSUV campus, I walked right past a solitary killdeer.  He didn't move at all when I walked by, and I came within a few feet of him.  I stopped to watch his behavior for a few moments until he finally walked away and flew off.

I thought his behavior was rather strange...killdeer typically feed in fields in spaced out groups and never let anyone come close to them.  Perhaps they are going to be more friendly this year.

So, keep your eye out for our favorite plover!

Action

Two ruby-crowned kinglets poked in the rose bush at the back of my yard on Monday, and I saw a downy woodpecker in a neighborhood suet feeder Sunday. Biggest news is that my neighborhood flicker discovered my suet feeder, so I now can observe him from the sofa (feeder is on the front porch). Also, the white-crowned sparrow has claimed the little tree in front of the Clark daycare. I see him there every day.

Addition to my Life List!

I saw the most wonderful little bird today. I heard a unique, LOUD song from inside the daycare while dropping Ramona off and found the singer in a young tree just outside the fence. It let me get within six feet to check it out: a tufty head, black and white stripes around the eyes, buff breast, long, narrow tail, and chestnut wings with a lovely scallop pattern of white just edging the tips of some wing feathers. It had a short, bright orange beak, and was singing for all it was worth. Got help IDing it as a white-crowned sparrow, a native species back to breed for the summer. It's so thrilling to see a new bird.