Except for a frosty start to the morning Sparrow Day at the home of David and Susan Raines in Breaks, VA this past Saturday was a perfect fall day for birding. Ten birders turned out for the event. The sun striking the golds of hickory and maple foliage and the reds of sumac with a background of azure blue sky made for a beautiful setting for birding. Susan got everyone started off right with hot coffee or hot cider and pumpkin muffins, and David kept everone warmed up with a fire in the fire pit that all gathered round. The group birded the morning at the Raines place, then after a filling and tasty lunch moved to a the nearby Epling property before continuing to the Breaks Park to finish the day. 39 species were counted for the day. (complete list below) Three hawk species were found - Red-shouldered, Broad-winged and Red-tailed. A single Blue-headed Vireo was found singing and three mimid species were seen - Gray Catbird, Northern Mockingbird and Brown Thrasher. There were lots of Bluebirds and Robins, but unfortunately the Gray-cheeked, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes had moved on. One Winter Wren was found and of the the 3 warbler species seen, the 44 Yellow-rumps far outnumbered the 2 Cape Mays and the single Tennessee Warbler. Including Towhees 7 sparrow species were logged - Chipping, Field, Lincoln's, Song, Swamp and White-throated. A lone Rose-breasted Grosbeak suddenly appearing in a sumac bush among a flock of sparrows was a pleasant surprise. Those attending were Don & Dawn Carrier (and dog Maddy), Tom Hunter, Roger & Lynda Mayhorn, Marie Miller, David and Susan Raines, Ed & Mary Talbott, Jerry Thornhill and Yun Chen, a Chinese student to whom Marie Miller is teaching English. Many thanks to David and Susan for hosting the day and for their hard work in preparing for it. Those who were there left with great memories of a very colorful and enjoyable day, one we can all think back to when the snow is falling this winter. Roger Mayhorn (More photos to follow soon) 39 species Black Vulture 4 Turkey Vulture 6 Red-shouldered Hawk 2 Broad-winged Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 2 (1 ad, 1 juv) Mourning Dove 6 Red-bellied Woodpecker 3 Northern Flicker 5 Pileated Woodpecker 2 Eastern Phoebe 2 Blue-headed Vireo 1 Blue Jay 7 American Crow 10 Carolina Chickadee 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 Tufted Titmouse 3 Carolina Wren 6 Winter Wren 1 Eastern Bluebird 16 American Robin 24 Gray Catbird 1 Northern Mockingbird 2 Brown Thrasher 1 European Starling 11 Cedar Waxwing 22 Tennessee Warbler 1 Cape May Warbler 2 (1m, 1f) Yellow-rumped Warbler 65 Eastern Towhee 8 Chipping Sparrow 18 Field Sparrow 1 Liincoln's Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 14 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 7 Northern Cardinal 16 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1 Red-winged Blackbird 2 House Finch 4