FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Not picky about where HE eats!

[Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx]

The storms this morning put down a non-bird-feeder bird on my deck to eat.   
A vesper sparrow was dining on my deck as I sat down at the dining room table 
to eat my lunch.  He stayed for about five minutes and gave me a fine view of 
his eye ring, dark cheek patch rimmed by what I call his "white handlebar 
mustache", and those fine white outer tail feathers showed vividly when he 
flew up to a nearby tree.  I've been very familiar with vespers having seen 
my first flock in 1948 and many since then.  They used to winter on our 
property in whatever section of farmland that my dad let lie fallow to "grass 
up" each year.  They also liked to feed in the grassy/weedy areas of our 
orange groves.  I have never known them to be feeder birds, but I think this 
little fellow may have gotten tumbled around in a tornadic migration this 
morning, and during a still moment, spied the birdie smorgasbord on the deck 
and decided to fill up even though my habitat does not resemble the 
grassland/prairie which he prefers.  What a nice bird to be species number 68 
on this property!

Isn't he a little late?  Of course, I still have one white-throat which seems 
to have decided to extend his normal stay.  I think my last junco finally 
left after staying and staying and ......................

I've also HEARD a couple of rose-breasted grosbeaks, and am pretty sure I 
glimpsed one flying up from the "yellow cake" bird-a-bord.  I just saw its 
back which reminds me of a "black and white checkerboard" or almost 
"houndstooth" pattern.  Other than that one, I haven't "caught" any at my 
feeder.  I've been away a lot and busy at the computer the rest of the time, 
so haven't had much time to observe what is going on at the feeder except to 
add more food three or four times a day!  From the amount of food being 
consumed, I know I have lots of birds.

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN
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