Sitka Nature

I had a relatively busy day at school, but took some time to go spend some time looking for a longspur that’s been seen at a local feeder the last few days.

Weather: Wind seemed to be fairly calm for most of the day. Overcast with a couple of brief periods of rain and an occasional small break in the clouds. This evening a rain shower and cloud break lined up in such a way to make a pretty bright rainbow behind the house.

Birds:

I apparently just missed the longspur by a few minutes this afternoon. While I was waiting, I saw a couple of Steller’s Jays, several warblers, lots of Dark-eyed Juncos, a Song Sparrow or two, and a Varied Thrush.

I did ride by the lake, but didn’t notice anything that looked unusual (other than the now-usual Swedish Ducks) and I did not stop.

Saw quite a few warblers this morning near our house and in the trees by Yaw. I didn’t get very good looks at them, however.

The neighbor cat caught a Savannah Sparrow this afternoon.

I was holding Connor this afternoon after he got up from his nap (he was feeling a little cranky/sick). I had my back to the front window, but he could see out it. He suddenly jumped up and said he needed to go outside to get the bird from the cat. I turned to look, and sure enough, the cat was walking across the drive with a bird in its mouth.

I went out with Connor and we picked up the bird from where the cat dropped it. It was another Savannah Sparrow, the second or third one this year, I think. It was still warm, but definitely dead. I’m not really sure what kills the birds when the cat catches them. They often don’t seem to have any open wounds. Perhaps it is a broken neck or shock.