Three things to report. This morning as Lynda and I were traveling toward Grundy on Slate Creek, Rt 83, we saw a Canada Goose in the creek just below the bridge at the mouth of Enoch's Branch. Canada Geese are uncommon finds in the county. Also this one appeared much smaller than normal so it may have been one of the subspecies. At the time I didn't have time to stop and study it. The second event took place this morning as I was in the middle of the raspberry patch picking the berries you see here. That patch of berries has bushes just behind it. I caught a glimpse of something small and dark coming very fast toward me from my left. Before I had time to react a bird, probably a catbird or a robin went whizzing past the back of my head so closely I could actually feel the air from its wings on the back of my neck. I had on a straw hat so it had to have passed under the brim of the hat. I think its intention was to pass through an opening in the bushes and didn't realize I was there until it had nearly gotten by me. It went so fast I didn't have time to turn and see for sure what it was as it streaked across the yard. I thought for a second that I was being attacked by an angry parent bird near a nest, but it didn't return so that theory was blown. Interesting event. By the way, I have already picked 2 1/2 gallons of these Black Raspberries. Delicious raspberry jam on warm biscuits when the snow flies next winter. The third item is a pair of catbirds that are nesting in the Crepe Myrtle bush to the left of the yard pond. The male often sings from the Crepe Myrtle bush or from the Birch tree over the pond. The odd thing is that the bird will often repeat a three syllable call over and over that sounds very much like it's saying "widgie poo". It also does a very good imitation of a Phoebe. Catbirds often nest here, but I've never heard one do the "widgie poo" call before. The first time I heard it I had to actually see the bird making the call before I was convinced that the catbird was the source of the sound. Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt
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