American Coot
(Via gardenauthor)
What a nice surprise awaited me tonight, as I headed down the garden steps. Frenzied activity on the hillside, just on the other side of the fence and bird feeders... a sudden whirring of wings, accompanied by a croaking call - kuk-kuk-kuk - and I watched as four American Coots flew down to Lily Pond and disappeared in the pond-side brush. The mallards sometimes land on this banking, looking for cracked corn and spilled seed, but this is the first time I've seen Coots here. They occasionally frequent a nearby fresh water pond, but not our sizable swamp.
Photo: Courtesy www.weforanimals.com
What a nice surprise awaited me tonight, as I headed down the garden steps. Frenzied activity on the hillside, just on the other side of the fence and bird feeders... a sudden whirring of wings, accompanied by a croaking call - kuk-kuk-kuk - and I watched as four American Coots flew down to Lily Pond and disappeared in the pond-side brush. The mallards sometimes land on this banking, looking for cracked corn and spilled seed, but this is the first time I've seen Coots here. They occasionally frequent a nearby fresh water pond, but not our sizable swamp.
Photo: Courtesy www.weforanimals.comFor more information on this waterbird, go to 'All About Birds' at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The flock of resident Mallards wasn't thrilled with their guests. Last I heard, they were waxing vocal, quacking loudly at these unusual visitors. I will be on the lookout for a repeat performance... maybe they'll visit again, soon. Indeed, this is what makes swatting mosquitoes from the swamp, all summer, well worthwhile.
©Deb Lambert 2008
©Deb Lambert 2008
