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High Drama in Morris Creek




Like most rural areas, we don't get a lot of excitement. We like it that
way.  But we did have a bit of excitement this afternoon.

While standing out beside the pond, binoculars in hand, I saw then heard the
Belted Kingfisher flying toward his favorite perch, the power lines that
cross the dam.  I noticed he had a minnow.  Unfortunately, he gulped it down
too quickly for me to really marvel at it.  I looked away for a second, only
to hear the kingfisher again begin to rattle very loudly as he flew quickly
down the opposite shore.  I wondered what could be causing the kingfisher to
rattle that loudly when I spotted a bird flying behind the Kingfisher.
Flap-flap-flap-sail.  Flap-flap-flap-sail.  Accipiter, Sharp-shinned Hawk
from the size of it, immature from the color.  The Sharp-shinned wasn't
really moving fast enough to overtake the kingfisher and presently landed in
a tree on the opposite bank.  The Kingfisher continued on, quickly.

For once I was glad the Sharp-shinned missed, if indeed he was cruising for
a meal.  The kingfisher surely outweighed the small sharpie by more than a
few grams!

Donna Bailey
Winnsboro, SC
e-mail: dsbailey@conterra.com
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey
     "Where are the Birds?  Migration across South Carolina"
URL: http://www.conterra.com/dsbailey/audubon	
    "Columbia Audubon Society"