Since Sep 12 we’ve had 2 Purple Finches visiting our feeders in the upper Cedar
Creek Valley of Shenandoah County. Both are females/first-year males. Most
years we have Purple Finches in the winter months, but not this early. Perhaps
this is only a fluke, but one can only hope that it promises a winter full of
these attractive and interesting birds.
Otherwise, September has started out fairly slow in terms of fall migrants, but
some are beginning to show up now with Tennessee, Nashville, Palm, and Cape May
Warblers among them. Ample rain has kept our little corner of the mountains
and valleys green and lush, which is a big draw for these species, as well as
more local species like Common Yellowthroat and Prairie Warbler. Most of them
seem to be especially fond of wing-stem (Verbesina alternifolia), which is one
of the dominant forbs in our meadow, yard, and sunnier, open parts of our
woods.
We also had a good run with nighthawks, tallying about 100 (estimate, probably
conservative) on Sep 2 and 348 (actual count) on Sep 3. We had a few on other
evenings as well.
I hope you are all having a good September, and staying safe and well.
Dave Davis
Shenandoah and ArlingtonYou are subscribed to VA-BIRD. To post to this mailing
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