FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] RPT: Purple Finches, Pine Siskin, et al in Jefferson Co.

["Palmer-Ball, Brainard (EPPC OOS KNPC)" <Brainard.Palmer-Ball@xxxxxx>]

Ever since I started birding in the early 1970s, one of my favorite things to 
do is to witness birds migrating. This morning from 7:45 to almost 9:00 I did 
one of my favorite fall things ... stood in one place out in the open just to 
see what songbirds were moving diurnally. Birds move all day but the early AM 
is especially active. During that 1 hour plus this morning, flock after flock 
of 25-100 blackbirds moved by to the south (Red-wings, cowbirds and grackles 
... most in relatively distinct groups by species). I also had a small group of 
3 Purple Finches going over as well as a few Horned Larks and several small 
groups of House Finches; goldfinches seemed to also be moving but the locals 
made it hard to tell for sure; about the time I quit, small flocks of Blue Jays 
had taken to the sky on their way south. Later in the morning I heard another 
Purple Finch and a single Pine Siskin calling loudly as it passed overhead; 
also had a single Red-headed Woodpecker overhead in direct southward flight. In 
the afternoon I got another glimpse of yesterday's Nelson's Sharp-tailed 
Sparrow. I also had a relatively tardy Blue Grosbeak and a female Rose-breasted 
Grosbeak in the weedy garden that I plan to leave unmowed until spring.
 
bpb, Frankfort