FreeLists / va-bird / [va-bird] Northern Harrier - New Yard Bird

["Mayhorn" <mayhorn@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

VA Birders,
Even though the warblers have moved on I am still getting some good birds
in, over and around my yard. Today was a good day with 29 species recorded.

The high point of the day was when a Northern Harrier rose up out of the
valley just after the sun broke through the overcast. I had just seen a
Red-shouldered Hawk take flight from the point below the house. At first I
thought this was the same bird, but the long wings and long tail, the slim
body and the dihedral flight pattern told me this was a Harrier. The bird
soon disappeared to the south.

5 Common Ravens made separate appearances within an hour's time flying low
against the blue sky over the fall colored ridges. Their croaking could be
heard as they stooped like falcons diving on prey then looped upward as if
they were flying for the joy of it.

I also had 12 Common Grackles visit my sunflower feeders, the first of this
species this fall. 4 immature White-crowned Sparrows were also present. They
usually stay a couple of weeks then move on. With them were some Song
Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and nearby was a feeding flock of Chipping
Sparrows and a Dark-eyed Junco.

In the woods' edge a busy Golden-crowned Kinglet was working the outer
branches of a large Hickory. A bit farther in the woods a male Pileated
could be seen flying from tree to tree. This large black and white bird
among the sun drenched golden leaves of the maples and hickories made for
good viewing.

A female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker made its way up the side of a locust tree
as two Downy Woodpeckers worked separate trees a several yards away. Shortly
a Hairy Woodpecker was seen in the same vicinity.

The high pitched calls of a small flock of Cedar Waxwings could be heard as
they flew across the field and landed in the top of an apple tree. A pair of
Eastern Bluebirds in the same field were sitting atop separate maple trees
watching for insects in the grass below them.

The complete list of the 29 species follows.

Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA

American Crow 5
American Goldfinch 5
American Robin 2
Carolina Chickadee 2
Carolina Wren 1
Cedar Waxwing 9
Chipping Sparrow 8
Common Grackle 12
Common Raven 5
Dark-eyed Junco 1
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Bluebird 2 (1 male, 1 female)
Eastern Towhee 1
European Starling 6
Golden-crowned Kinglet 1
Hairy Woodpecker 1
House Finch 8
Mourning Dove 6
Northern Cardinal 3 (2 males, 1 female)
Northern Harrier 1
Pileated Woodpecker 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 (male)
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Song Sparrow 2
Tufted Titmouse 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 2 (1 male, 1 female)
White-crowned Sparrow 4
White-throated Sparrow  4
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 (female)




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