5:30-7:45 pm New birds for me were PALM WARBLER and a very cooperative, gorgeous BLUE-WINGED WARBLER in a nice little mixed flock along lower Wilson North (Darn Jay for finding it first…;-)). Flock also included BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, B&W WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and oodles of RC KINGLETS.
Near intersection of Severinghaus and West, I rounded a bend at a fast clip and stumbled upon the local RED-TAILED HAWK sitting on a low log chomping down on a small, dark gray mammal with semi-bald rounded ears (Shrew? Vole?). I was within 25 feet when I looked up and was shocked to see it right there. It seemed completely unperturbed by my presence. As he/she tore off bits, I was able to creep in closer for an attempted photo with phone. Must have gotten a bit too close because remains were swallowed in one gulp and then the hawk hopped to a slightly higher stump a little further away. That’s twice in the last week I have had a close encounter with this presumably same hawk. Last time it was drinking from one of the small trail-side puddles on the west section of Wilson Trail. BLACK-THROATED GREEN at intersection of Severinghaus and SSW Rd. Finally, an unbelievably late FOY CHIPPING SPARROW at front entrance to lab. -- 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/ --