I just returned from one of my mini-vacations and wondered if any one else
had seen this bird. The first time I saw it was October 15 '03 at my
campsite. I only saw the head that time as it was scratching around under
the bayberry. At the time I thought it was a Whitethroat minus the black
head stripes. This year I encountered the bird on the 13th in plain sight
and singing, in the same 70's area of the ocean side campground. It's yer
basic, stock Song Sparrow but with a snow-white crown above the standard
eye-stripe, and white in place of dark whisker marks. It was singing a stock
Song Sparrow song and chasing a rival. A fine looking bird all in all.

The sounds of Snow Geese joined the other calls of overhead migrants and the
screaming Sika deer during the previous night and I saw a few overhead
(geese that is) the next day. Guess they were headed for the VA end since I
didn't see any on the surface until I arrived there the next day. Also on
the thirteenth hundreds of Red Breasted Nuthatches dominated the forest
trail - seemed almost more numerous than the Yellow-rumps. Lots of Kinglets
too, both kinds. I returned the next day and all had moved on or were lying
low. Someone reported a Blue-winged warbler but I didn't see it. I did count
four Merlins and a Great Cormorant though.

On the Virginia end I bumped into a White Ibis - guess I should report that
on the VA list.

fdp

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