Area Birders, I had a pretty good day here on Compton Mt yesterday (10/27/05). I started out with juvenile White-crowned Sparrows at the feeder and in the small pond stream. I saw a flock of sparrows feeding in the field just beyond the apple trees in the front yard, and after scanning bunches of Chipping Sparrows I found a Lincoln's in the flock. I also had Song Sparrows, White-throated and one Field Sparrow. Shortly after seeing the sparrows 3 Red-shouldered Hawks rose up out of the valley. I was birding on my small trail and heard them calling. I quickly got to a spot where I could see them, and they circled right over me several times.They certainly stood out against the blue of the October sky. A small bird flew into the white pine at the edge of the yard while I was watching the hawks disappear. It turned out to be a late adult male Cape May. According to Peterson's Guide to Warblers the main flock has moved through by this time, but scattered sightings have been recorded all through the east up into November. Our late date for the species here in Buchanan County before yesterday was 10/12/2004, and that bird was also found here on the mountain. I had one Raven yesterday and 3 the day before. I also had two male Red-winged Blackbirds, the first one's I've seen here since spring. In addition I had a female Junco. I was surprised to see that I had the first Purple Finch (female or juv male) of the season yesterday, and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. The early date we have for Purple Finch during fall migration is 9/29/01 when we got two at the Warbler Watch Day here at the house. Enjoy the birds, Roger Mayhorn Compton Mt (near Grundy) Buchanan County