Twelve warbler species included what seems our first local wave of out-of-area
migrants: Bay-breasted, Cape May, Tennessee, Nashville, and Magnolia. Others
were Canada, Hooded, Blackburnian, Worm-eating, Black-and-white, Black-throated
Blue, and Chestnut-sided. We found at least three male Baltimore Oriole
travel-mates, and three Vireo species including Yellow-throated. Other area
breeders including Wood Thrush, Scarlet Tanagers and Veery.
Greg Moyers and I arrived fairly late (after 10 AM)and ran into William Leigh,
who reported lots of activity. In addition to hitting a mixed flock in two
different places, perhaps the biggest treat was that they stayed in one area at
length vs. zipping on through. And many birds came in quite low and close,
first between fire rd and the southbound Appalachian Trail then later at the
road-side run of the spring-fed creek. (Feeding, drinking, and bathing were
apparently much higher priority than avoiding two-legged creatures with
over-sized "eyes!")
Diane Lepkowski
Harrisonburg
