As my chickens and I watched the latest mobbing of local Red-tail, by more
grackles, red-wings, and blue jays than I knew were in the neighborhood, a pair
of nighthawks appeared over head and one did the diving drumming noise display
thing right above us. It scattered the chickens, and startled me. We, the flock
of hens and I, have become very aware of the alarm calls of the red wings in
the swamp behind us. They set off again this morning and it took me awhile to
spot the cooper’s only 20 foot from me in one of my dying ash trees.
Lexington cemetery Sunday morning:
The ornamental weeping cherry trees are late ripening their fruit, but
apparently the Swainson’s were willing to wait.
Plenty of Swainson’s, one probably two grey cheeked, lots of waxwings and
robins. One Tennessee, one Pine warbler, both hunted down for a look. The most
Robins I have ever seen outside winter flocks and maybe to most waxwings.
Scott Marsh
Lexington
