Ever since the cold front moved through last week, migrant birding has been
quite active in my yard. TO start at the end, this computer is in the library
which has two windows overlooking my back yard and federal wetlands. I was
just closing the window and heard two screech owls calling back and forth
several times. One is close, out the window, and the other is in the old growth
forest across the wetlands. A Great Horned Owl has been calling occasionally
for
the last couple of weeks as well and responds well to a tape from out on the
deck. In the early mornings I'm still seeing Black throated Green, Magnolia,
Palm, Pine, and Yelow-rump Warblers. A Blue headed Vireo was moving through
this
morning with both Ruby and Yellow Crowned Kinglets. Also moving together were
2 Rose Breasted Grosbeaks and 2 Scarlet Tanagers. I also saw my first Juncos
of the year this morning. A juvenile Red headed Woodpecker flew up into one of
the dead snags with a small acorn or Gum seed in its beak and tried for
literally 5 min. to find a place to put it to crack it open. An adult flew in
and
took it from the juvenile and immediately set it in a crack in the tree and
opened it and flew away. I'm still not sure if the juvenile really couldn't do
it
or if it was playing a game with the adult. It was a 7 woodpecker morning(Red
Headed, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Downy, Hairy, Pileated, Red-bellied,
Northern Flicker-the last 5 year around yard residences). Sparrows have been
Chipping, Field, Song in quantitys, and White Throated just beginning to
arrive. The
resident Red shouldered hawks call throughout the day and a Sharp-shinned Hawk
has been working the area for several days. Dave White Zion Crossroads
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