Beautiful male American Redstart spent some time gleaning in the tree in our backyard...nice way to start off the morning.  Later, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo moved quietly & stealthily through the tree, 'til it spotted something and quick as you please grabbed some sort of noisy bug.  It flew off with it in a hurry down to a bush, with the bug continuing to protest until...silence.

Always wondered why the Cuckoos are so quiet and kind of slinky.

Ruby-throated Hummingbirds still very active, with one adult male showing signs of molt.  He kept busy chasing a couple of juveniles and at least 1 adult female around the yard.  Once or twice one of the juveniles would face off with him, then land a few yards away as they both perched for a while.

Several juveniles still around:  Carolina Chickadees, Common Grackles, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatches, Blue Jays, Red-bellied Woodpeckers and 2 or 3 Downy Woodpeckers.  Gray Catbird in molt, as are the Northern Cardinals, still.  One interesting looking sparrow, with streaked breast, eye ring and strongly notched tail...could be a Song Sparrow, to go with the adult Song Sparrow hanging around...but that notched tail made me wonder.

Northern Flicker, Chimney Swift and Eastern Phoebe were seen in the distance.

What will Charley bring?

Good birding,

Frank Powers
Glen Echo, MD
SW Montgomery County