This morning's Monday birdwalk at Huntley Meadows started a perfect, early fall day. Crisp air, a light mist on the wetland, emerging color, and spider webs beautifully decorated with the morning dew greeted the 12 Birders who spotted 56 species this morning. Migrants dominated the walk today, with an unusually large flock of Palm Warblers, with some Yellow Rumped Warblers mixed in, were the highlight in the wetland, while an almost whimsical sight of two Red-shouldered Hawks sitting side by side on a limb created the appearance of a couple of friends having a conversation while watching the world go by. Canada Goose 62 Mallard 6 Great Blue Heron 2 Great Egret 1 Turkey Vulture 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Solitary Sandpiper 1 Pectoral Sandpiper 1 Wilson's Snipe 2 Mourning Dove 9 Yellow-billed Cuckoo 1 Barred Owl 1 Chimney Swift 4 Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 Downy Woodpecker 5 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 5 Eastern Phoebe 6 Blue Jay 4 American Crow 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallow 23 Carolina Chickadee 12 Tufted Titmouse 8 White-breasted Nuthatch 3 Carolina Wren 6 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2 Eastern Bluebird 6 Gray-cheeked Thrush 1 American Robin 5 Gray Catbird 4 Northern Parula 2 Magnolia Warbler 2 Yellow-rumped Warbler 3 Black-throated Green Warbler 1 Palm Warbler 20 Blackpoll Warbler 1 Ovenbird 1 Common Yellowthroat 4 Eastern Towhee 2 Field Sparrow 3 Song Sparrow 12 Swamp Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 2 Northern Cardinal 15 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Blue Grosbeak 1 Indigo Bunting 1 Red-winged Blackbird 150+ Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 American Goldfinch 12 House Sparrow 1 The Monday Morning birdwalk has been a weekly event at Huntley Meadows since 1985. It takes place every week, rain or shine, at 7 AM, is free of charge, requires no reservation, and is open to all. Birders meet in the parking lot at the Park's entrance at 3701 Lockheed Blvd, Alexandria, VA. For more information call the Park at (703) 768-2525. Harry Glasgow Friends of Huntley Meadows Park