Hi Folks,

It's been a pretty slow fall migration in our suburban yard in Ferndale (AA
Co.), as we usually get several thrushes during every migration, feasting on
our multitude of pokeberries (the few that aren't devoured by robins).
Yesterday (10/19) was finally the day when a SWAINSON'S THRUSH (nice buffy
face and throat) and two HERMIT THRUSHes dropped in to eat some of the
berries, while a BLUE-HEADED VIREO zipped around our pear tree and a
juvenile E. PHOEBE caught bugs most of the afternoon.

One of the great finds in the yard this year came on Wednesday afternoon,
when I noticed a piece of thin chain or cord lying on the ground where lawn
becomes wooded habitat.  I didn't know what this piece of debris was until I
donned my glasses and discovered that it was a tiny snake!  I have lived in
this house for eleven years, and this is the first time I have seen a
reptile of ANY kind in the yard.  The only woods within a half mile of our
house is in a corner of our one-acre lot, which is otherwise surrounded by
houses, and more houses.  I have no idea how the critter got here.  Perhaps
it slithered here across roads, but I'm hoping its parent slithered here,
and that the little tyke was locally hatched.  Anyway, it was about a foot
long, with dark patches on a gray background.  I strongly suspect it was a
baby Black Rat Snake, but I didn't have my field guide with me while I was
examining it.  We have a lot of brush piles in the yard (for the wrens and
sparrows), so I'm sure we have plenty of field mice, and I know we have lots
of moles.  My hope is that this little critter, and others, will take up
residence.  Interestingly, we had our first ever yard Amphibian just two
months ago--an American Toad.

Elaine and I have been working feverishly turning our yard into a wildlife
habitat, and we even spent $15 to have the yard Certified with the National
Wildlife Federation, and posted a sign to that effect along the road to our
house.  I think Denise Ryan mentioned something about this program in a post
a month or two ago.  Anyway, the arrival of herps in our "almost urban" yard
is more than I ever expected.

Back to birds--other migrants that have visited our yard during the past
week include TREE SWALLOW (8 to 10 flew over in a southwesterly direction)
and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on Sunday, 10/15, and then on Monday 10/16 Elaine
spotted our first YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER of the season, perched on our
dead snag.  GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETs have been here since the beginning of
the month, and are expected to stay well into November.

It's time to head to the E. Shore, though the weather looks pretty iffy for
the Sat. pelagic.

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie