This morning we found a Black-throated Blue Warbler at our house, but in 
tragic circumstances that overshadowed any possible satisfaction at 
establishing a record early fall date. He had apparently been stunned by 
a window strike and then mauled - but not consumed - by perhaps a 
pampered feline with nothing better to do.

A greenish tinge to the primary edges and a patch of green on the back 
proclaimed the bird a first-year male and so not a failed nester. I 
would like to hear from anyone who has the up-to-date early fall-date 
record for the species. Out of respect I declined to photo-document the 
specimen.

Meanwhile, early this AM I spotted a Sharp-shinned Hawk soaring along 
the Anacostia R at Kingman's I. Tho' I had just fleeting looks, and bad 
cases make bad law, the bird was simply too small to have been a 
Cooper's and must have been a male sharpie at that. (I recall that while 
atlasing near Piscatawy about this time last year we also came across an 
out-of-season Sharp-shinned). Also on the river, 2 Great Egrets 
continued the progress of post-breeding dispersal already noted by 
others. The Warbling Vireos there were still in song, but the Marsh 
Wrens had fallen silent. A remarkable FIVE Mockingbird fledglings, gapes 
still prominent, perched on a single tree, while hatch-year Robins too 
numerous to count rolled on past, tree to tree, in great waves.

-- 
Fred Fallon
Bowie MD