On Tuesday at about 8:05 AM, high drama played out before an audience of at least seven breathless birders and photographers on the Wilson Trail in Sapsucker Woods. Against a blue sky and thin clouds, an OSPREY circled close over the tallest snag in the main pond and descended, talons flashing, on the Great Blue Heron nest there. One adult heron remained seated on the nest, head up, while the other stood staunch on the highest branch. This latter heron raised its wings, cocked its neck, and issued a mighty roaring squawk. The Osprey rose again, banked, and made another perilous pass, then several more, narrowly repelled each time. For several minutes, the lives of at least four birds, including a hidden hatchling, seemed in the balance. In the end, however, the Osprey fled to the northwest, and, hearts still racing, we watchers returned our attention to the songbirds.
People have found at least 14 species of warblers around the Wilson Trail this morning, including CANADA (heard singing once between the second footbridge and the Sherwood Platform), WILSON'S, PRAIRIE (much singing and some excellent views by Sherwood Platform, then along southern edge of pond), BLACKBURNIAN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, PALM, NORTHERN PARULA (3+), and other expected species. A female RUSTY BLACKBIRD and a singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO continue where the Wilson Trail enters the woods near the West Trail. The final birding joy of the morning for me was the sight of an EASTERN BLUEBIRD along the parking lot of Northeast Elementary School. Though I've heard this bird in the neighborhood before, it was the first time I've seen one on the school grounds. Mark Chao -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
