FreeLists / tn-bird / [TN-Bird] Female yellow-throat on deck/2nd white throated sparrow

[Dthomp2669@xxxxxxx]

Hello,

For the SECOND time ever, I had a female yellow-throat on my deck in the 
Charlotte Park section of West Nashville, Davidson County, about four blocks 
east 
of the Cumberland River at approximately 11:10 this morning.  She was 
rummaging around through the grape vine runners that line the deck where they 
grow out 
from the deck rails and along the deck floor.  I first saw her at a distance 
of about eight feet where she was picking "things" from the vine leaves.  If 
you look at the female yellow-throat photo in the online Cornell Bird Guide, 
this little lady was a perfect replica who could have posed for that picture 
herself.  Although I do have water available on the deck, she must be a migrant 
that just dropped down into the inviting vegetation to feed.  I think I am too 
far from the river to be "regular" habitat for this bird.  A birding friend 
from New York City once told me that the graying floors of my deck surrounded 
by 
the green vines may resemble water to birds as they fly from on high.  She 
often has yellow throats and water thrushes drop onto her 12th floor balcony at 
her apartment on Lexington Avenue where she has a veritable jungle growing.  
When I was teaching in Scarsdale, NY, she once brought an ailing northern water 
thrush to school where we fed it and then released it along a small creek 
that ran through the estate on which I lived at the time.  My landlady and I 
observed it for a couple of days as it fattened up before continuing its 
journey.  
The bird had landed in the "jungle" on my NYC friend's balcony apparently a 
bit emaciated from the throes of migration.  With today being so overcast here, 
perhaps my yellow-throat mistook my gray deck for a small, murky pond.  At 
any rate, it fed here for several minutes before I "lost" it into all the 
vegetation at the North side of my deck.  I watched her for several minutes 
while 
she was right in front of my French doors, but as soon as I moved ever so 
slowly 
to pick up my camera, the wary little soul began her retreat deck side.  I 
couldn't get a bead on her for a photo.  Unfortunately, I had moved the camera 
further across the dining table only moments earlier in order to make room to 
serve my lunch.  She was just sooooo perfect that I wish she'd come back and 
pose for me, but she's probably back onto her migration route by now after 
having replenished her food supply.  She really seemed to be getting quite a 
few 
goodies from the grape vine leaves.

Yesterday, around 11:30 AM, my little "scout" white-throated sparrow was 
joined by a little buddy, and they fed together all afternoon.  They were first 
"out of the bushes" this morning to feed.  They even beat the early rising 
cardinals to the "smorgabird."  They have been out there off and on all morning 
and 
taking short "breaks" in the grape vines for cover.  It IS a joy to have them 
back.

Cheers & prayers,

Dee Thompson
Nashville, TN