Birds of 23 different species visited my yard this morning, our highest one day
total. An adult male Pileated WP and an adult female Hairy WP were each
collecting suet and feeding to one fledgling each in the surrounding trees. Our
R.-thr. Hummingbird count is up to at least five individuals, our highest total
prior to fall migration. Oddly enough, the one male we've seen has not camped
out and driven the others away from the feeders. One female is noticibly
pregnant, looking like she swallowed a grape.
One of our resident male Am. Goldfinches could almost be called a Ghost Finch.
This leukistic individual has less than half of the yellow feathers he should
have. Mostly, the yellow feathers are in patches. The remaining feathers are
white (belly), a slightly grayish white (back, sides, breast and neck) or a
light gray (nape). Even his beak is much paler than normal, being almost flesh
colored rather than orange-yellow. Earlier in the Spring, he had barely any
yellow feathers, and appeared a dingy white and black, with a faint greenish
yellow cast in some spots. The other Goldfinches definitely don't want him
around, often chasing him away if he tries to use the same feeder.
One of our resident male Cardinals is almost completely bald. He has only two
or three feathers on the top of his head, which form a little red topknot. He
does have a mate, perhaps she liked the Black Vulture look. Even more pathetic,
recently he has been bringing a fledgling Cowbird to our deck, and feeding it.
This is the first time in eight years we've seen any local breeder bring a
Cowbird fledgling to our feeders.
Scott Priebe
Springfield, VA
