White-throated sparrows

[Marie Jordan]

Just has a fall out in my back yard in South Portland .

16,  I think - hard to count as they are moving about as they feed.  Some stunning males in the group!

Also my first catbird.

Marie

[Rob O'Connell]

My group of sparrows was mixed. Songs and chipping were in with the white-throated. Also had broad-winged hawks and a turkey vulture (not the zone-tailed, darnit) in a kettle above the house and 2-3 black and white warblers. 

The most fun though has been watching a pair of yellow-bellied sapsuckers repurposing a  summer home in a tree about 15’ from my porch that had previously been used by a pair of red-bellied woodpeckers. Looking forward to meeting the kids!

Thanks, 

Rob O'Connell

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[Rob O'Connell]

I Spoke too soon... After sending the last note I went back to my office where the window was open and I heard 2 calls, one I did not recognize but a very loud song (possible oriole) and what I believe to be the neighborhood Sharp-Shinned hawk. I grabbed the recorder and bins and went to the end of my driveway in the light rain and, although did not see those two or hear them again. The woods were alive with warblers and sparrows. Two Black-and-Whites(possibly different but I will consider them the same for now)  were joined with 5 Black-Throated Greens, and a Northern Parula. Also there were 3 Blue-Headed Vireo and one Philadelphia Vireo. In the middle of it all, a solo Chimney Swift flew up the hill, quite a bit higher than the trees though. What a cool afternoon, I did not even mind the rain!

Another update. The Sharpie just flew past the window I was leaning out intermittently while typing this. I could have slapped it had I better reflexes and malicious intent... It flew to the back side of the house and all of the birds took off and were flying high above in circles. I went on the back balcony to look and it came from the opposite edge of the back yard, again flew almost within reach to a spot about 30' into the dense growth to try and snag a robin. How it saw that robin I have no idea... 

Yesterday I had watched the sharpie dancing on this years Christmas tree which I had dragged to the edge of the yard back in January to provide some extra winter cover. It would go back and forth from one side to the other, occasionally hopping on top, stomping on the leaf litter underneath as it was hearing something moving underneath. It did that for almost 5 solid minutes. 

Just wow... 

[Rob O'Connell]

Strike the Philadelphia, I meant Warbling Vireo...

On Tuesday, May 7, 2019 at 1:44:15 PM UTC-4, Marie Jordan wrote: