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September 2024

October 2024

A Better View of Lake Appert

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A big shout-out to Carl Krag, Doug Morel, and the other volunteers who pitched in to clear all the phragmites in front of the Pirie-Mayhood Tower in time for the annual Big Sit, which takes place this year on Sunday, Oct. 13.IMG_3287

A before shot of the view is above; the new view is below. That white, upside-down, L-shaped PVC pipe in the shot below is a nest site for tree swallows, who have headed south by now.

(There's also a lot of green aquatic plant life growing in the shallows of late -- just couldn't see it from the tower.)

On the right is a photo of Carl Krag cutting through the morass. I call it  "Krag 'n' Phrags."

Regarding the Big Sit, Carol Flanagan writes:

The Big Sit! is an annual, international, noncompetitive birding event. For 24 hours, we sit in a circle 17 feet in diameter, counting all the bird species we see or hear. The center of our circle is the Pirie-Mayhood Tower.

Observations can only be made within the 17-foot circle. If a bird is seen or heard from within the circle but is too distant to identify, you may leave the circle to get a closer look.

Any new bird species seen or heard while out of the circle cannot be counted unless it is seen or heard by someone in the circle, or you see it again when you return to the circle. (Got it?)

Sign up for our team, "The Celery Stalkers,"! Available times are 6-8, 10-12 noon, 12 noon-2, 2-4, and 4-6.

To sign up, contact Carol Flanagan, [email protected].

Or stop by, say hi and enjoy the new view on Oct. 13.

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Pied-billed Grebe at the CF

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This little guy is one of my favorite "now-you-see-it" birds. I saw him around 8:30 this a.m.

Not sure if it's still around. Its bill is pied, and its toes are lobed. How cool is that?

I am writing about it for next Thursday's "Bird-watcher"  column for The Record.

I promise I'll use a better photo.