I watched for hawks from the monastery yard between 10 and 11:30 this morning,
but only saw 3 small kettles of 20-30 birds each for a total of 73 Broadwings,
2 Sharp-shinned, 1 Cooper's, 1 Red-shouldered, and 4 Red-tailed Hawks. 2 Ravens
were back and forth all morning catching mice in our newly mown fields and
apparently caching the extras for a rainy day. A Ruby-thr. Hummingbird flew
past, headed south. Several small groups of Jays were migrating as well; I
counted 78 this a.m. Also, about 60 Tree Swallows were moving down the ridge.
But if the hawks were few, the warblers and other songbirds were plentiful in
the woods along our mountaintop. I counted at least 32 Tennessee Warblers, 1
Chestnut-sided, 3 Magnolia, 2 Bay-breasted, 5 Black-thr. Blue, 2 Black-thr.
Green, 2 Black&White, 4 Redstarts, 1 Worm-eating, 2 Ovenbirds, 1 Common
Yellowthroat, and 3 Hooded Warblers. 11 Scarlet Tanagers, 3 Rose-br. Grosbeaks,
and 4 Yellow-billed Cuckoos were also mixed in, as well as at least a dozen
Swainson's Thrushes, 9 Wood Thrushes, 2 Yellow-thr. Vireos, 1 Blue-headed Vireo
and 2 Red-eyed Vireos.
I thought the warbler numbers would have dropped by now, but if anything, I
have seen larger flocks this last week than I did in the first half of
September.
This evening I was walking along our little river here on the mountain top and
startled what I thought were a couple dozen Grackles bathing in the stream. But
more and more kept flying up from the water and then upstream away from me; I
counted 261 that crossed my line of sight, and I am sure I missed several
dozens, since they were all over the place. I have never seen so many Grackles
deep in our woods.
Father John
Blue Ridge Parkway
Franklin County
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