Area Birders, When I got up this morning not a bird was to be seen around the feeders in the cherry tree. Perched in the top was one of the Sharp-shins (the adult male) that has been making regular yard visits. After sunning himself for awhile the birds got less wary. An unfortunate goldfinch made the mistake of heading toward the cherry tree that held the feeders. The Sharpie met it in midair, caught it, then flew into a nearby shrub to eat. After the Sharpie left, a Pileated came from the woods to the edge of the yard to go up and down a dead tree, that I had dragged from the woods and erected just for that purpose. Too far for a good photo. After hearing a pair of Eastern Bluebirds calling from the top of an apple tree, I put out some meal worms. I had hardly walked away until they flew to the small tray and began feeding. Each time I put out the worms I give a whistle, hoping that the birds will eventually associate the sound with the worms. Later while doing yard work I heard a raven calling to the south. About an hour after that I was putting the tools away and a shadow crossed the yard. It was a Red-shouldered gliding slowly over the area. He was so low, that the white wing crescents were visible even without binoculars. This is probably the same bird that gave me great looks a few days ago. Moments after this I heard another Red-shouldered calling from out over the valley. They are probably nesting in the area, as they usually do every year. As I walked into the house for lunch the Northern Mockingbird (not a common species for our area)that has spent the winter in the shrubs along the driveway, flew under the apple tree and began feeding on one of the few apples that have remained there all winter. Three or four of the 17 Purple Finches that have been here all winter were at the feeder, and they were keeping a sharp eye on the sky and nearby trees. Not a bad birding day without having to leave home. Take the time to enjoy the birds, Roger Mayhorn Compton Mountain Buchanan County VA ************************************************* BRISTOL BIRDS NET LIST Bristol Birds Net Photo Gallery located at: http://f2.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/jwcoffeyy/album?.dir=/efd5 This is a regional birding list sponsored by the Bristol Bird Club to facilitate communications between birders and bird clubs of Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. -------------------------------------------------- You are subscribed to Bristol-Birds. To post to this mailing list, simply send an email to: bristol-birds@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx To unsubscribe, send an email to bristol-birds-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the one word 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field. -------------------------------------------------- Wallace Coffey, Moderator wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx (423)764-****