[va-richmond-general] Y B Cuckoo and unusual mockingbird

Yesterday (8/6/03) I was hiking the trail at Dutch Gap and decided to take a 
side  trip to the first bench at the edge of the marsh that parallels the main 
James River channel. only a few steps off the main trail I saw a Yellow-billed 
Cuckoo in a tree only 15 feet or less away, and was able to get 2 photos of it 
with a 640 mm lens/extender combination. The success of those photos will be 
determined tonight. The cuckoos are fairly common at Dutch Gap in summertime, 
but are seldom seen that closely. It was making a barely heard clucking sound.
For the last 2 weeks we have had a Northern Mockingbird coming to our tray 
feeder that has white patches visible in the middle of the side. I know they 
have patches that are visible when flying, but this one has them visible when 
perching. Has anyone out there heard of this, or is it unusual? We have not 
seen it before. The very noticeable patches are about 2 inch long and maybe 1/2 
inch high and are aligned with the bird's body.

Al Warfield
Northern Chesterfield County
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