VA Birders,
With overcast skies and cooler temperatures this morning the birds were more
active here on Compton Mt. in Buchanan County. Just outside the kitchen window
a bright male HOODED WARBLER appeared in the cherry tree, and was soon followed
by an adult female and a juvenile female with a bright,yellow Z-like mark on
its crown. I wasn't able to get a photo. A few moments later a male
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER flew into the same tree. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was
busy feeding in another tree nearby. The family of RED-EYED VIREOS that nested
nearby were busy gleaning the ripe blue berries from the Pagoda Dogwood.
Yesterday a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sat for awhile in a tree below the edge of the
yard, and was not bothered by our trips to the car to bring in groceries. It
finally made a dive and sent cardinals, doves, goldfinches, woodpeckers and
robins scattering in all directions. I don't think he connected.
This Sharp-shinned may be responsible for the loss of a female EASTERN BLUEBIRD
that was nesting in the nest box near the yard pond. Tuesday, when she
disappeared, the male called and called for her all day, when he wasn't feeding
the four young in the nest. She didn't return, so I have been helping him out
with a tray of mealworms, that he quickly accepts. The young should fledge
tomorrow or the next day.
Good Birding,
Roger Mayhorn
Grundy, VA
Buchanan County
