The first for Compton Mt took place on Saturday the 25th. A Black Vulture circled high overhead above our place for several minutes before flying off to the east. I have lived on the mountain for 41 years, and never before have I seen a Black Vulture in this eastern part of the county. Remember the recent battle in our driveway between the Rat Snake and the Brown Thrasher? Attached is a photo of two of the Brown Thrasher young that the parent bird was fighting for. These young birds taught me something that some of you may already be familiar with. For the last few days I have been hearing what I thought was the "wheeep" call of a Great Crested Flycatcher, though much lower in volume than normally heard. Today I heard it, and in trying to see the bird I saw one of the young Brown Thrashers give the call, and when it flew from one tree to another the call went with him. I was really surprised. Maybe the call is used by the young thrashers to keep in contact with their siblings among the foliage or possibly to let the parent birds know where they are. I have never heard that call from an adult thrasher. Nature can always teach us something new. Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt
Attachment:
2013_5_27_Brown Thrashers_2218.JPG
Description: JPEG image
