#75

Cape May Warbler was #78 a couple of days ago.  Was a County and Yard Lifer!

The reason we set up the bath

Nearly had a heart attack when I noticed this Oporornis inching close to becoming my first ever warbler IN the bath just now. 

Actually, it proved not to be Oporornis, but Geothlypis (thanks AOU!), but this still reminds me of the reason for going to the trouble of maintaining this thing in the first place. What a cool bird. Note the undertail covert which is poking up between the rectrices like a little yellow dorsal fin.

 

And here are a few additioanl highlights from the past few days. Though it's been slow, there are a few new migrants around each day. Still waiting on OSFL, WIWA, CAWA, GWWA, YBFL, and ALFL. Not too much time left to get these, so here's to hoping.

NOT a Western Tanager (Scarlets can have wingbars, contrary to books and popular belief)

My first BHCO for the yard's daily checklist since probably mid June- a juv. skulking in the undergrowth in the backyard.

Getting fun now

No words are really needed on this one, other than to say I was on the roof last night at 11:20PM listening to migrants pass overhead when this passed low over the house (my mic was recording as I sat up there):

The first part is 172/173, the 2nd part my voice confirming the ID. Listen here:

http://soundcloud.com/user9140545/dickcissel-aug-17-2012-2220hrs/s-vAOw9 

or here:

Heard several other seeps too, and am working through to see if I can nail down any of the several other warblers I still need for the yard...

The cleanup begins

Goofy as it is, this bird is a yard lifer (170/171):

Was glad to get it in the chickadee lure just now. Also for the first time in a long time there was a family group of these guys around too:

Addendum: Shortly after this, I was able to rile up a flock of migrants further back near the landlord's property, and was shocked to have a bird looking a lot like this (no pics, unfortunately):

http://dantallmansbirdblog.blogspot.com/2010/09/mourning-warbler-vcfw.html

It was a MOWA (171/172) with nearly complete eyering, momentarily raising my hopes for my first ever fall CONW migrant. Went back with DSLR/telephoto rig and never saw it again (surprise). Also in the mix were 2 AMRE, 1 TEWA (juv), BGGN, fully juvenal BHCO (first in yard in many weeks) skulking around the underbrush, and 1 juv. RHWO. Fall migration is upon us, gents.

G to the R to the E to the G

169/170, and a county tick to boot... Another left fielder.

Gray, rainy skies= new yardbirds

168/169

I love birding during migration when the skies get gray, and I love my DSLR...

Better not to know

So last night at 7:45PM I arrived home to a wall of gray clouds coming in from the west, ahead of the precipitation. As I looked up to the sky, mainly out of habit, I immediately noticed a very high flock in V formation, but a shallow V not a waterfowl-like acute V. There were something like 20-30 individuals, in a very well-organized V, not disheveled. They felt small and pale but naked eye this is a tough judgment.

Anyway, I ran in and had my bins and was back out looking within 10 seconds, but failed to see them again. And now I am left with the sinking feeling that I had a flock of large shorebirds pass over my house as I watched...

Better not to know indeed.