A pair of Wood Ducks graced the Wetlands with their presence during the period. They were on the far side of the water near the willows. As I’ve said before, you never know what’s going to come swimming out of the willows. I’ve caught an occasional glimpse of at least one Wood Duck during the summer months, but haven’t seen a male and female together until the first week in September.

Green Herons are a daily sight in the Wetlands. There are at least two present at any given time. They’re doing well in the Wetlands, feeding on frogs, tadpoles, fish, and even dragonflies that fly too close to these stealthy and agile hunters. Another member of the heron family was also seen during the first half of September, a Great Egret. I saw one flying overhead coming from the direction of the Wetlands. I don’t know if this bird actually stopped in for a visit or was just inspecting the Wetlands from the air while en route to another location; I first caught sight of it as it headed east over the Ornithopter.

An immature female Cooper’s Hawk blasted by me at eye-level as I stood next to the Ornithopter. It was probably one of the birds that fledged here this summer.

The Museum’s Red-shouldered Hawks were out for a Sunday afternoon family soar on the 7th of September. Two adults and two immature birds were soaring over Explore the Wild and Catch the Wind, drifting off to the south while, in typical red-shoulder fashion, making as much noise as possible.

As far as migrant songbirds, I heard a White-eyed Vireo down in the Wetlands and saw a Common Yellowthroat. As of this writing there were still hummingbirds coming to the feeders in Catch the Wind, but nothing yet from the west (see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Explore the Wild Journal, August 16-31).