FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Bird Movement

["Mayhorn" <mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

VA Birders,
With overcast skies and cooler temperatures this morning the birds were more 
active here on Compton Mt. in Buchanan County. Just outside the kitchen window 
a bright male HOODED WARBLER appeared in the cherry tree, and was soon followed 
by an adult female and a juvenile female with a bright,yellow Z-like mark on 
its crown. I wasn't able to get a photo. A few moments later a male 
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER flew into the same tree. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was 
busy feeding in another tree nearby. The family of RED-EYED VIREOS that nested 
nearby were busy gleaning the ripe blue berries from the Pagoda Dogwood.

Yesterday a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sat for awhile in a tree below the edge of the 
yard, and was not bothered by our trips to the car to bring in groceries. It 
finally made a dive and sent cardinals, doves, goldfinches, woodpeckers and 
robins scattering in all directions. I don't think he connected.
This Sharp-shinned may be responsible for the loss of a female EASTERN BLUEBIRD 
that was nesting in the nest box near the yard pond. Tuesday, when she 
disappeared, the male called and called for her all day, when he wasn't feeding 
the four young in the nest. She didn't return, so I have been helping him out 
with a tray of mealworms, that he quickly accepts. The young should fledge 
tomorrow or the next day. 

Good Birding,

Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County