In the Hughes Hollow area at the end of last week, rough-winged swallows on
the wires crossing River Road just before Hughes Road going west as Paul
Woodward noted a couple of weeks ago, They were also, however, on the
defoliated brush along the sides of the impoundments. Mixed groups of
swallows were intermittently settling on bare branches on both sides of the
road dividing the impoundments. These included juvenile and what appeared to
be adult female purple martens. Also in the groups were juvenile tree swallows
and drab adult birds. In addition quite a few barn swallows and to my surprise
some bank swallows. That is five species of swallows easily observed. Also
settling on a low branch of defoliated brush perhaps 10 feet away was a
juvenile green heron.
Watching two catbirds interacting this morning on my back patio I saw one
was slightly larger and didn’t have even a trace of the black cap. Would that
be this year’s juvenile? We do seem to raise catbirds in quantity.
Phil Brody |