Office Park Surprises

I always enjoy the delights of office park birding.  At least in my office block, one that abuts a game land / wet land associated with massive Lake Jordan.  This past Friday I was entertained by the spectacle of a Black Vulture haunting both of our office towers.  Black Vultures are reasonably common in the area but I don't often see one.  We more routinely see their cousins, the Turkey Vulture.  This one apparently had found some points of interest obscure to me: I am unaware of carrion issues even in our parking lot.  It's a good lesson for all of us: keep watch even in the most unpromising candidate locations: you never know when you might find a bird of great interest!

I Need More Grosbeak

Back on the 5th of the month I enjoyed a rare encounter with the attractive Blue Grosbeak.  Imagine my surprise at finding that one of these birds is working the edge of a second growth field at my office park.  I have managed to miss it, I suppose, by taking lunch in the diner during the recent heat wave.  The Grosbeak has a fine territory, with a number of young sweetgums serving as perches.  I have not determined if he is paired or not; hopefully the weather will be decent enough at midday for me to watch his movements over time.  But this is hardly an exceedingly rate species in our part of the country and just perhaps he's only guarding his turf and not advertising.  We shall see.

Goose Teens?

Every now and then the office park is visited, or better said, descended upon by Canada Geese.  They seem to be everywhere in the Triangle.  At present there is a mob of about 19 birds.  Oddly, none seems to be in breeding mood, and there are no young anywhere in sight.  They remind me of a group of bored teenagers cruising the mall.  They do everything as one.  I'm used to seeing this mass ensemble activity earlier and later in the season.  Perhaps their time is imminent.  Who knows?  Unfortunately, as interesting as their behavior may be, they are geese, and have annoyed building management.  I expect them to be discouraged somehow, soon.

Continued Duty at the Office Park

Back in November I reported on a Red Tailed Hawk that was seen working the parking lot of my office park in Durham, NC.  Over the winter I've occasionally seen her(?), and heard the bird a little more often.  This week afforded some time to watch the Hawk on sentry duty atop a marvelous Loblolly Pine tree that sits by itself just off the edge of an approximately seven acre field.  And yes, I've been watching that field all winter, at most every lunch hour.  This time, I was even provided a show as the hawk, after much time watching, suddenly descended at warp speed and nailed something on the field.  And off she went with her lunch.  The field is probably rotten with cotton mice and Lord knows what.  Another wonder to behold and appreciate.  I'm pleased this hawk is still very much on duty!