I was at the hawk watch on Friday and saw a Sharpie being mobbed by two
Pileated Woodpeckers and several Flickers. After a while another Sharpie
joined in--chasing both the other Sharpie and the Flickers--and briefly a
Merlin came in and chased everyone else. The Pileateds were very vocal and
agitated, with their crests up, although they never seriously considered
themselves potential prey. The skirmishing went on for a full 90 minutes!
Then I think one of the hawks successfully got one of the flickers.
There was early fog yesterday, so while I waited for the bird migration to
start I counted monarchs. I got 52 in an hour! I could see them streaming
by all morning, the most I've seen down there.
I had only a dozen countable migrants but it was a gorgeous morning once
the fog lifted. The only warbler I saw was a female Common Yellowthroat,
who popped out into the open and chipped at me. There was lots of
woodpecker action in addition to what I mention above, with a Pileated
drumming and then flying out right over my head, and lots of Hairy, Downy,
and Red-belly noise. No Red-headed yet, but they should be flying through
soon. Bluejays are gathering. I had a flock of 70 and a total of 135.
Cheers,
Pat Valdata
Elkton
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