Summer Tanager Surprise

 

Hello yellow! A fall visit by a female Summer Tanager was not on my October calendar, but it happened and I couldn’t be happier.  Let me know next time, and I’ll make sure the jelly dish is full. 

The camera on my feeder recorded video at around 7:30 in the morning on Oct. 9. When I later reviewed the day’s birds, I knew this wasn’t one of the usual suspects. The bird identification app I use called Picture Bird said Summer Tanager when I entered these two screenshots from the video. 

Here’s the read out from Picture Bird. I knew this was a female of the species because I have, on a few occasions photographed the all-red male Summer Tanager. 

Here’s a male Summer Tanager I encountered in June 2021 at the Hollings National Wildlife Refuge in the ACE Basin south of Charleston.

Here's my post from that excursion. 

Dump Scows, Hydrofoils, Pedal Kayaks, and More!

 

Well this was a first for the many, many times I’ve been to the beach at Sullivan’s Island. 

No, not her…

Him! What is he riding so ably along the shoreline? Never seen one before.

Earlier we walked past it. I stopped and went back a few steps to snap this photo. Why? Because, like I said, I had never seen one before. What is it! 

Meet the Waydoo Electric Hydrofoil Board. List price: $4,899-$6,499. Expensive toy! 

The novelty caught the eyes of many other beachgoers too. The rider can almost walk on water! 

Waydoo is the brand of the “efoil Evo.” Evo, I just learned, is short for evolution, a marketing word that suggests a brand or model is advanced, upgraded, or cutting-edge. 

I’m pretty sure he’s holding a device to stop the board should he fall off and it speeds away.  

I saw another unique watercraft that is more my speed. This pair pedaled by as we lounged in our beach chairs. 

Have to chuckle seeing this guy’s socks. Looks like he has a walkie-talkie to communicate with his partner. I like the red flags.