The storms and tornadic south winds that hit the yard early Monday morning took down some big trees, but also brought down some long overdue migrants. At 3am I awoke to the steadily rising grinding howl of what I contend was a tornado. After a quick check of weather maps & radar I headed for the basement. At that point it was 69 degrees in South Haven (15 miles south) and 45 here. The isobars were pretty tight. A walk through the yard carnage just after dawn Monday produced newly arrived YBSA, FOSP, SWSP, GCKI & EAPH. Sadly revealed as well was half of a 150+ year old sugar maple on the ground - formerly a major migrant attraction. At least four Fox Sparrow were enjoying the brushy rubble. Along the south boundary Golden-crowned Kinglet were flitting about in the remains of two freshly fallen 50ft. spruce.
Tuesday, a day off from work, allowed for a bit more extensive yard survey. The morning held more of the same as the day before, however a change in wind from the south in the pm delivered some additions for the year. TRES, BEKI, DCCO, WTSP, HETH & AMKE arrived along with a spectacular dark morph Western Red-tailed Hawk that circled directly overhead for several minutes. Of course, it was a point at which I neglected to have a camera in hand - DUH!
A BRCR greeted me this morning as I walked out of the house to bird in the rain. And at dusk tonight a pair of GBHE flew over. Stillaround are the territorial MERL and for a couple days there were not one, but two ORJU at the feeders at the same time.
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Tough break on the trees Rick... Glad you received an influx of migrants though!
ReplyDeletewhoa, gosh sorry to hear about the trees. I live in fear of those game-changing storms. Heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteI have so few trees available that I chase the PIWO out of the yard for fear of his wrath...that was until he learned to be polite and only dine on suet.