This evening about 7 p.m. , taking advantage of the perfect weather, I had
my "sundowner" on the deck. At about 7:30 as the sun was setting, a male
scarlet tanager glowed in the mulberry tree by the barn taking advantage
of the sweet, juicy mulberries along with cardinals, blue jays, and cedar
waxwings. At 8 p.m., the wood thrush began singing his evening song, the
chimney swifts were chittering overhead and the brown thrashers with their
young were busy about the lawn. Bluebirds chased by their fledglings were
all around and the Carolina wren was sitting on the deck rail loudly
berating me. The humming birds, numbering about a half dozen right now,
were
busy at the two feeders with the alpha male positioned on the lilac hedge
so he could observe both feeders and chase everyone away. It is interesting
how he will pick the perfect place to observe the feeders and can almost
always be found in that position. The indigo bunting chimed in with his
goodnight song and finally at 8:45, the fireflies appeared. A birder's
perfect evening I say.
Peggy Lyons
Concord, VA
