C.S.A. week 10

Last Friday I snuck out for an evening walk. Upon my return I looked up to see probably 200-300 birds circling over our house and field. I called for Kyle and the kids to come out, and we watched them and took some poor-quality video. The birds were about 3 times the size of a swallow and had a distinctive white stripe on the underside of each wing near the tip. We watched them circling for about 30 minutes or so until their numbers started to dwindle. Joni and Ryah both enjoyed watching them, Joni asking questions as usual about the birds’ behaviors.

The woman who volunteers with us is a Maine master naturalist and has a special interest in birds. She had mentioned to me last week in the garden that it was about the right time to keep an eye out for Nighthawks, as their migration south was around now. She said they would be best seen in the evening hours. I didn’t think I would see the Nighthawks or more specifically, know if I saw them. But here they were above our house in such numbers I have never seen in any other bird before here or anywhere. A quick internet search showed their distinctive shape and wing stripes and talked about them congregating in large numbers over a particularly good feeding area usually near water. I sent the poor video to a few other friends with bird interests to share my excitement, and did see a few more Nighthawks the next evening at a friend’s place but not in impressive numbers. The evening walk return timing must have been just perfect and I had I not gone perhaps we would have missed seeing them.

In the share:

Please take 8 items, and as many as you can eat or can red tomatoes, and PYO basil. This is likely the last good week for basil, its going to seed.

• Chinese cabbage

• Butter lettuce

• Sungolds

• Sweet peppers

• Jalepenos

• Beets

• Carrots

• Summer Squash

• Potatoes

• Red Onions

• Leeks

• Green Beans

• Lacinato Kale

• Parsley