I spent most of this weekend birding around home (Jug Bay area).  Yesterday 
morning I posted a few finds, and after that in the afternoon I saw 2 Least 
Bitterns (one close/in PG, and one far/AA Co), some Green-winged Teal, and 
more Bobolinks in the evening.

After 2 days of relative quiet, this morning when I left the house and found 
the weather pretty much the same as Friday and Saturday, I was not 
expecting much so my guard was down.  Oops.

I had some great finds, but not before I missed what were probably two great 
birds.  Both were alone, and close when I first saw with my eyes, but before I 
could confirm with a sharp image in my bins they each disappeared.  I think I 
saw a worm-eating warbler (I have yet to confirm one at my house), and a 
Philadelhia vireo.  But only very brief views, and the apparently shy birds dove 
for cover and did not re-appear.  However, the double dose of near misses 
woke me up.  I had a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH calling briefly before it moved 
on (first of year for me here).  Then I saw a small flycatcher that turned out 
to be a very cooperative LEAST FLYCATCHER, my first one I've ever 
confidently identified at my yard!  I had nice looks at it in several trees as it 
flew around hawking bugs, and it was calling often, a very soft (diminutive) 
but firm and clear peep type of call.  I've heard Acadians do a similar call often 
near dusk or dawn, but this was a different tone and quality, maybe less 
nasal?  My description of its call may be lame, but Acadians breed here and I 
listen to them all summer long and I recognized the Least's different call.  It 
had all the typical features otherwise, and I watched it for about 5 minutes 
reveling in the moment.

I also saw what is probably a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER.  I have never 
seen one (til today?), and I am relatively certain but would like to see another 
one for comparison.  A few years ago I thought I saw one here, but it was too 
brief and I did not look carefully enough at it.  Today's bird was cooperative.  
The yellow in the throat was softer than its belly, which was a warm shade of 
yellow.  The yellow belly and throat were convincing, but its grayish shoulder 
patches extended really far toward its chest, creating a sort of dull gray wash 
across its chest when viewed from the front.  This confused me at first, but 
when I looked at my field guides (later) and at some photos on the internet, 
this is apparent in some of them.  Its back was dull greenish gray solidly from 
the back of the head to the tail, and it had a noticeable brightness in the 
yellow of its lower bill.  It made no calls, but I had nice views!

Two new flycatchers in one day made my morning, but I still had a couple 
more good finds!  I finally saw my first migrant warblers here, mixed in with a 
small flock of chickadees and vireos.  I had my first CHESTNUT-SIDED 
WARBLER and 2 A. Redstarts.  Not news-worthy as far as warblers go, but 
they have been weirdly scarce around here so far this fall.  I talked to the 
Naturalist at Jug Bay Wetland Sanctuary and they echoed this.  She said the 
monthly walk that was held on Saturday morning (9/2) was strangely quiet, 
and absent of warblers except for local breeders.  Their best find was a Red-
breasted Nuthatch that was well seen.

Cheers-
Jeff Shenot
Croom MD