I arrived at the Refuge about 4 pm and
"No bird sang..."
Or appeared in the lagoon or the willow groves
along the boardwalk to the barns. An experience
that I have never had there before.

Along the gravel pathway to the estuary,
there were swallows--Tree and Barn, at least,
swooping and diving over and around us, and
by the time, we reached the estuary boardwalk,
there were a couple dozen gulls in the water.

And between there and the end of the walk,
we watched a kingfisher diving repeatedly
from his perch on a dead tree limb, catching fish after fish;
also an osprey that dived successfully once or twice
before traveling on his way; and later there were
six young Least Sandpipers with two adult birds that
appeared to be feeding along the edge of the water
close to the boardwalk. The latter were quite a hit
with the toddlers in the group.

Later, on the return trip, we watched six Great Blue Heron,
catching fish, relatively close to the boardwalk.
Their size alone makes them impressive,
particularly when they take flight, but it is a wonder
to me, too, how they stand there, head up and forward, never seeming
to glance at the water and then, suddenly, dip down and come up
with a fish every time.

The walk back from the estuary was without birds also. This unusual
circumstance was mentioned to me by two other birding couples that
I met along the way, also.

Darlene
Cinebar