Post by Martin BerriganPost by Martin BerriganAs the crew who keep diligently feeding the Ruff continue they're journey the Spit at Virginia outflow got flooded and the Ruff went out on the ice,I heard reports as I was not around this week as I had to leave town about the loss of habitat.Well!,today he was standing in water at the Spit's highest rocky spot,there were five rocks just above the water but his Spit is slowly coming back.All one can do is throw down the seed and hope for the best,it's warm and the finish line is just around the corner ,I heard the Pine was seen today behind the Waterford,I saw the bird once and after I refilled his suet cage he loves I had the patience to observe for less then two minutes today but never saw him.Gerard
Well early a.m it appear's the Spit is well on it's way back at the Virginia outflow.This allows for a much wider space to scatter seed ,also shallow water the seed sinks and some of this feed can only be accessed by the prodding thin long bill of the Ruff so then after the lot of ducks wind down the Ruff can easily forage for a long period of time.It looks like a easy month for February,hopefully this bird can be left on it's own to fend for itself some time in March.Gerard
It's storm day and with great support from the crew supporting the Ruff I have been supplied with bags and bags of feed and since I am close and this area is always plowed I am able to get mobile.All sites been cleared of snow,Long Bill at Quidi vidi was doing great in the early a.m as the wind was straight East and the area fully protected but on the second visit at 11 a.m plus a few minutes the site was full of snow.I have done three clean-up's at Dominion site as it is getting nailed but warbler's vocalizing and appear happy to see snow removed and with mealworm supplied by the crew to me I have been able to get Dominion warbler some extra mealworm while terrible out,of course I just leave let them and hope things are good.The Spit/Virginia outflow there are still many bare spots on the Spit so not so hard to spread seed about and edges of water,the Ruff is sheltering alongside runout,it is not cold out so he's fine.The Pine warbler site is getting snowed in and he also seemed happy to be able to access his food,hit the suet as soon as I cleared snow,saw his super white belly and banged around mealworm feeder and many came out to chow down on.South-side road site getting lots of action my suet is quite filled up there but they'll tear it to pieces today,two visits.So now I have a 2:30 p.m visit for the Ruff the parking lot is now not accessible,was at first light but hazard lights and run in and hope the tow truck does not take you while you are gone for three minutes.It's gonna be sunny by 3 p.m,that's my prediction.All in all it's going good,Kelly's Brook Teal were fed also and site cleared of snow and that area was getting lots of action also.Sadly second visit never happened as no where to park car,Empire there was not plowed but first light it was fine.Onward!.Gerard