Greetings. We've spent the last 3 weekends (plus some) at our second
home in the upper valley of Cedar Creek, and the transition from fall
to winter is well underway, both in terms of fall colors and bird
arrivals and departures. Most of our summer breeders and early
migrants are gone, though a few phoebes and catbirds are hanging on.
Among the winter visitors, our FOS records are: Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker (Oct 11), Brown Creeper (Oct 10), both kinglets (both Oct
7), Myrtle Warbler (Oct 10), White-throated Sparrow (Oct 1), , Fox
Sparrow ( Oct 8 - a one-day wonder), and Dark-eyed Junco (Oct 10 - 2
days only). So far, our other regular winter visitors are still en
route (we hope); that is, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Purple
Finch, and Pine Siskin. Strangely, we've had only a handful of
goldfinches, and they have been only occasional visitors.
Among our fall migrants, most of the early-season species have
departed, but we have been treated to some nice birds lately
nonetheless--and, this past weekend, despite some pretty horrific
wind. Among them are Blue-headed Vireo, Gray-cheeked Thrush, Northern
Waterthrush (working our yard and flower beds on Oct 16), Hooded
Warbler (see below), Magnolia Warbler, Black-throated Blue Warbler,
and Palm Warbler. Sparrows have been well-represented with E.
Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's
Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow (arrived Oct 14,
with max. count of 6 first-winter and 2 adult birds).
The most unexpected bird was the very late Hooded Warbler (yesterday,
Oct 16) that spent quite a long time in our mock-orange bush (beneath
which is our main ground feeding area). The lovely little male
(probably first fall given yellow feather edges in his bib) fed in the
bush and sunned himself on the ground with spread wings and fluffed up
feathers. We got several photos which you can see at http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanburenbirds
(see set titled "Farm-16 Oct 2011"). There are also a number of
shots of the White-crowned Sparrows which are not particularly common
in our area.
For those of you with a military history bent, the most unusual flying
object for us wasn't a bird. It was a low-flying B-24 "Liberator"
bomber, complete with machine guns protruding from its bubble
turrets. It went over twice, giving us great views. According to a
bit of Google investigation, there are only 3 of this WW2 workhorse
still operating. Quite a sight!
Good birding to all,
Dave Davis
Arlington
