Watching the Towhees!

After a night of steady (albeit light) rain, I was ready to be outside. The weather has either been too cold or too wet to do much prowling about the hillside until today. I took advantage of the sunny, 70 degree day and trekked around all the areas that I have been missing! One place in particular interested me..the Sawtooth Palmetto clump that stands near the end of the pier. I had heard something rustling there on my last visit to the pier but rain chased me inside before I could investigate! Now..I was hoping that whatever was making the noise was still there. I had a feeling that it might have been the young rabbit that grew up under the pier. Perhaps it was making a nest in the Palmetto clump.

As I edged near the large clump, I admired the large fronds. These spiky plants had fronds nearly three feet in diameter! With the sharp points on the ends of each leaf and the jagged "sawtooth" stems, this would definitely protect anything that did nest there. As a rabbit hutch, it would be ideal! A fox or bobcat would be hard-pressed to dive into that mess!

Near the clump, an old boat offered a seating area for me. I would wait here until I heard more rustling. If I was lucky, I would be able to spy what was choosing this area as a home. It did not take long before I heard a movement in the leaves. Today, it was much quieter as the recent rains had softened the dried leaves and muffled any sounds. Still..something was there..moving slowly about in the edge of the clump. To my surprise, it was not the bunny. A pair of Rufous-sided Towhees were scratching about in the mulch. These busy little birds were hunting seeds that might be left from the fall. I sat there quiet as a church mouse as these are rather shy birds. After a bit, the male bird moved on out to the feeders. Once he felt it was safe, he called to her. She joined him under a feeder closest to the Palmetto clump and there they ate their fill of seeds that the Chickadees dropped.

I sat in the shadows watching. I did not want to startle this pair as I hope they will nest in the Palmettos. They are such shy, secretive birds that it is rather unusual to know just where they do nest. Perhaps if I watch, I can find the nest and be able to observe the hatching. I do know that most of the time, Towhees will nest on the ground and that their nest is well hidden. This makes it quite the challenge to photograph the nestlings. Stay little Towhees! Stay close where I can watch you!