I had several very gratifying encounters with birds in Sapsucker Woods on Sunday morning.
* TENNESSEE WARBLER wandering about the goldenrod, spruces, and hedgerow south of the feeder garden. This bird was quite yellow below, especially on the throat, with purely white undertail coverts and a distinct supercilium. Though it's a bit late, I'm sure of the ID. * BLACKPOLL WARBLER in the small island of vegetation surrounded by the drop-off circle right in front of the stone walkway leading to the building. The bird was basking in direct sunlight, all fluffed with black feather bases exposed, blissfully tolerating my approach within a few feet. Its legs and feet were yellow to the tips of the claws. * CAROLINA WREN under the power lines. I've heard Carolina Wrens only a few times ever in Sapsucker Woods; today's was the very first I've ever seen there. * FIELD SPARROW by Kip's Barn, the first I've seen in the sanctuary in more than a year. I also found EASTERN TOWHEE, some WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS, a singing SWAMP SPARROW, and some Song Sparrows at the northern edge of Sapsucker Woods. * Two BLUE-HEADED VIREOS under the power lines, one bearing much bright yellow and the other none at all. * Several GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in the same loose flock as the vireos. I find that there are a few days per year in Sapsucker Woods when Golden-crowned Kinglets come out of the hemlocks for long, easy, low-angle views along open edges. This is evidently one of those days. I also heard some RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS chattering crossly throughout. * GRAY CATBIRD along the road, close by in a fruiting bush, eyes gleaming with reflected sunlight. I tried to enjoy these fine views as if they'd be my last looks at this species for a few months. * A huge mixed flock of icterids, including about 400 COMMON GRACKLES and at least 9 RUSTY BLACKBIRDS, their riotous cacophony readily audible from a couple hundred yards away. These birds rose and swirled a few times, allowing a reasonable basis for a rough eBird count. Then the flock fled to the west, and the woods were suddenly silent except for the pathetic peeping of a lone chipmunk. Only one bird now remained in the trees -- an adult COOPER'S HAWK with empty talons. 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/ --
