FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Recent Warren County Observations

[David Roemer <dlroemer@xxxxxxxxx>]

On September 26, a temporary pond in a field along
South McElwain Road hosted a small flock of
shorebirds, all gorgeous juveniles.  The flock
consisted of 7 Greater and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, and
single Solitary and Stilt Sandpipers.  I waded into
the pond and spent over 3 hours studying and
photographing them.  They ignored me after a few
minutes, and came so close several times that I had to
back up to photograph them.  They were feeding mostly
on flooded out earthworms, but I did see a Greater
Yellowlegs catch and eat a dragonfly.  A
juvenile/female Merlin stopped by for a few minutes
and watched them from a nearby walnut tree, but was
frightened away by traffic before deciding on dinner.

On September 28, a Merlin and Eurasian Collared Dove
were observed along Porter Pike in Bowling Green.

On September 29, a Sora was flushed from the grassy
edge of Meng's Pond at Woodburn.  I also walked the
ditch at McElroy, where Bobolinks and Dickcissels,
along with Swamp and Savannah Sparrows were present.

Birding the weedy fields near Chaney Lake at Woodburn
today, September 30, yielded observations of Merlin
and Sedge Wren.  I also watched a Great Blue Heron
thermal soar to an astonishing height.  It eventually
topped out at Black Vulture altitude and drifted off
to the south.  I've seen this a number of times and it
always amazes me.  

Back yard warblers the past few days include Canada,
Magnolia, Blue-winged, Nashville, Parula, Ovenbird,
Tennessee, Chestnut-sided, Black and White, Redstart,
Northern Waterthrush, and Common Yellowthroat.  A
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher was present this afternoon.

On another note, the tree line along the lane leading
to Chaney was swarming with Monarch Butterflies late
in the afternoon of September 26.  The strong
southerly winds had them roosting on low branches
along the leeward side of the fence row in clusters,
some of which contained well over 150 butterflies. 
These clusters were spread along the entire row of
trees, and I attempted to count them as I passed. 
There were easily 1000 butterflies present.  I've
never seen this many Monarchs "flocked up", and took
several photos. 

dave 

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search
http://shopping.yahoo.com
================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBERS==============

The BIRDKY Mailing List requires you to sign 
your messages with first & last name, city, & 
state abbreviation.
--------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, send e-mail to:
birdky@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send e-mail to:
birdky-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject line.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *  
Visit the Kentucky Ornithological Society
web site at http://www.biology.eku.edu/kos.htm
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 
BIRDKY List Manager: Gary Ritchison, Richmond, KY
E-mail: gary.ritchison@xxxxxxx