I have found the fall warbler migration at the Riverbend Park meadow less
than overwhelming this year. (For one thing, I wish they would hold off mowing
until after the fall warblers have come through.) So instead of birding
there on Sunday and Monday mornings I concentrated on my backyard pools and
leaf
mister with some good results.
GRAY-CHECKED, SWAINSON'S AND WOOD THRUSHES were attracted to the bird pools.
Most unusual for so late in the year was a very young WOOD THRUSH, still
displaying some downy-like feathers and a short tail, in the company of an
adult bird.
Warblers during the two days were N. PARULA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, MAGNOLIA, B-T
BLUE, B-T GREEN, BLACK AND WHITE, and A. REDSTART.
Other migrants included R-B GROSBEAK, SCARLET TANAGER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET,
RED-EYED VIREO, EASTERN PHOEBE, CHIPPING SPARROW, and CHIMNEY SWIFT.
Last Thursday afternoon about 3 PM, lured by a huge white cloud overhead, I
aimed my binoculars at the cloud and immediately spotted a kettle of 16
BROADWING HAWKS and an immature BALD EAGLE. Another thirty minutes produced
another migrating buteo and two OSPREY.
To paraphrase the old song: Sometimes your happiness "flies", right under
your eyes, back in your own backyard.
Ralph Wall
Great Falls, VA
