Hi All,
This morning I hiked Mary Kelly Road here on Compton Mt. It's a graveled road
that runs through woodlands for a mile or so to a cemetery. There are no houses
along it. I had just started the hike when I encountered two Broad-winged
Hawks. They flew into trees near the road and we watched each other for more
than five minutes. I think they are nesting in that area. They were within a
several yards of me, but of course I didn't have my camera.
I heard several Redstarts, Ovenbirds, Hooded and Worm-eating Warblers singing.
I got very good looks at two male Hoodeds as they chased each other among the
bushes only a few feet from me. I also got good looks at a male Black-and-white
Warbler and heard one Cerulean Warbler.
A couple of Red-eyed Vireos and a couple of Wood Thrushes were singing. I
thought I would see Scarlet Tanagers, but I saw only one lone female and heard
no males.
I heard no Black-throated Greens and no Yellow-throated Warblers, both of which
were being seen and heard here before the big freeze. The next day after the
freeze one of our bird club members found two dead RT Hummingbirds, two dead
Tree Swallows and a couple of dead cowbirds in his yard. He thought they had
fallen prey to the cold weather. We also had some bluebird eggs that froze and
burst. I fear we may have lost quite a few early migrants to the cold.
Probably the most unusual bird of the day for this time of the year was a late
migrating Hermit Thrush. It flew up very near me and gave me lots of time to
look it over. It's face was so gray at first I thought it was a Gray-cheeked
Thrush, but it finally turned and I saw the distinct reddish-brown rump and
tail. It also gave the distinct Hermit Thrush "chuck" call a couple of times.
The latest date we have for Hermit Thrushes in the Buchanan County area is one
found on April 16, 2006.
Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mt
Buchanan County
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