(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Daily Bucket Friday Sequence: Mock, Mock, Mockingbird [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2023-06-30 Mockingbirds reside in nearly all the lower 48 states and Mexico. They seem to have the ability to cohabit in near proximity to humans. I call them a fringe bird as they like the timber but want open space as well. I can relate, and that may be why we live in the same spot. Mockingbirds live all around my cabin. When I was building my little house in 2000 I had a phone sitting on the bar counter. It was a bag phone, precursor to the cell phones we are all so familiar with now. The ring volume was on high so as to hear it when I was outside working. One day, while working on the deck out front, the phone rang. I stepped in to catch it. As soon as I went through the door it stopped ringing. I went back out to resume work but barely got out when the phone rang again. I thought the call must be important so hurried back in, but the same thing happened. The phone quit ringing before I could get to it. This went on for awhile so I got progressively agitated to the point I sat inside by the phone. That turned out to be an educational decision as the phone rang again, but this time the sound came from outside! I looked and looked and finally found the culprit perched up in a tree right near my cabin. I bet that downward curved beak tipped upward to wear a big mocking smile at that moment! The Daily Bucket is a nature refuge. We amicably discuss animals, weather, climate, soil, plants, waters and note life’s patterns. We invite you to note what you are seeing around you in your own part of the world, and to share your observations in the comments below. Flint Hills of Kansas #1) A few days ago I was on my way back to the main barn when I first sighted what I thought was a hawkish looking bird perched on one of the corral posts. Do you see the “hawkish” resemblance? Now insert the lead pic, because this hawkish bird is in the process of securing its next meal. #3) The bird dove from its perch to go after the prey it spotted. The entire process was very remindful of a Kestrel attack. #4) Did the prey move? The Mockingbird landed on the ground, intently searching, but seemed a tad confused about there not being a meal ready and waiting. #5) I did not hear a sound even though its beak was open and it appeared to be trying to make some sort of communication...perhaps a phone call! I think it was just preparing to make the perfect strike. #6) The strike happened suddenly, like a Heron stabbing a fish. I’m not sure what type of insect it was, but he got it and ate it on the spot. #7) After swallowing the prize the Mockingbird headed back to a perch to start the process over again. #8) It seems gnats are attracted to Mockingbirds! However, our bird is not impressed by their company. #9) Our bird decides to improve on the company it is keeping. After escaping the gnats it turned toward a shaded area and disappeared into the trees behind the barn. The Mockingbird, though humbly colored, is a very attractive bird. Due to it’s subdued color it is not readily seen in its preferred wooded habitat. Invisibility is a great benefit. This sequence is one where I could have just kept my yap shut as the photos told the entire story all by themselves. The Mockingbird disappeared and I disappeared too, into my truck to go see what I could see along Wagon Trail West. I drove about nine miles up the trail and didn’t see a thing, so turned around to go back home. That’s when I noticed an extra fancy Scissor Tail Flycatcher perched high on a power line. This bird was certainly not invisible! I had already passed it but stopped and got out to walk back in an effort to get more favorable light. The bird was tolerant for a short time, enabling me to get a few perched shots. Then the bird took off. But when it took off it chose a perfectly favorable flight right across my view. Mark that down as amiable avian consideration! Scissor Tail putting it all on the line, and that’s a lot of “all”. Very considerate of him to head right across my field of view. What an amazing tail! Picking up steam. Scissor Tail can fly fast, so it didn’t take him long to get past on its way to perch high in a solitary tall tree just down the hill a ways. It surprised me that he chose such a high perch as Scissor Tail really like perching on fenceposts or on the wire stretched between them. In this instance I surmise it was looking more for privacy than scouting for a meal. On its way to the tree the bird suddenly hit the brakes to do a very stylish look around. For only the second time in my life I was blessed to see an Iron Cross Scissor Tail style. The bird goes vertical, stopping in mid air with wings wide spread. It is a moment when time stands still. A few days later I saw this bird again, and in the same place. I was on my way for another load of water. Scissor Tail caught his prize. A prize with a prize. The pic above is #61. Now I will post the very next pic taken, #62. You can see by the angle and pose that not much time elapsed between actuations, but the prize has vanished. Gulp! The bird never landed so it obviously ate it’s meal between wing flaps. I proceeded to get my load of water and on the way back I saw a FEMALE Scissor Tail in the same spot! That was telling information. Now, due to layout and available cover of the surrounding terrain, I know the whereabouts of a nest. I noticed during previous Wagon Trail photo sessions Scissor Tail young are still growing toward adulthood at the advent of fall. Early fall Scissor Tail juvie. UPDATE: 6/29/23 was a hot one here, topping out at 106. I got a wagon load of pics out by the pond, and I earned every one of them! It’s no time for YOU to let time stand still, or to swallow your prize. Be a prize and share what you have seen. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/6/30/2176005/-Daily-Bucket-Friday-Sequence-Mock-Mock-Mockingbird Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/