VA Birders,
The warbler numbers have bottomed out here on Compton Mountain,as they
usually do near the end of September, but the other migrants have moved in
to replace them. 31 species were busy around the yard today.
Eleven ROBINS were feeding in the yard this mornng. One YELLOW-THROATED
WARBLER and one BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER were hopping about in the apple tree
over the driveway. 10 CEDAR WAXWINGS were sitting in the tree tops, probably
trying to get the first morning sun, since the temperature here was 47
degrees.
GRAY CATBIRDS, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS and EASTERN TOWHEES were feeding on
the Dogwood berries, and just at the edge of the woods I found a
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH, moments later two VEERYS, then I heard a WOOD THRUSH
calling from deeper within the trees. The "purnt" chip note of a SWAINSON'S
THRUSH could also be heard from among the trees.
The mixed up HOUSE WREN was back in the yard investigating the bird house
again. A male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was working the edge of the field along
the small trail. Several BLUE JAYS were calling from the tree tops, and the
first of the flocks of CHIPPING SPARROWS have started to feed in the grass
in the front yard. I keep scanning them with the binos, hoping that some of
them will be Clay Colored Sparrows, but none so far.
EASTERN BLUEBIRDS called to each other as they came down from the electrical
wires to pick up insects from the grass. Two Downy Woodpeckers worked the
Pear tree, and a male RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER forced a NORTHERN FLICKER off
his perch on top of the electrical pole in the backyard.
For those interested the complete species list follows.
Enjoy the birds,
Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mountain
Buchanan County
31 species
American Crow 1
American Goldfinch 1
American Robin 11
Black-and-White Warbler 1
Blue Jay 6
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 1
Cedar Waxwing 10
Chipping Sparrow 9
Common Yellowthroat 1 (male)
Downy Woodpecker 2
Eastern Bluebird 3
Eastern Towhee 3
Gray Catbird 3
Gray-cheeked Thrush 1
House Finch 5
House Wren 1
Mourning Dove 4
Northern Cardinal 1
Northern Flicker 2
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Rose-breasted Grosbeak 3
Song Sparrow 5
Swainsons Thrush 1
Tufted Titmouse 3
Turkey Vulture 1
Veery 2
White-breasted Nuthatch 3
Wood Thrush 1
Yellow-throated Warbler 1
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