Hi Folks,

Migration has been absolutely flat in our Ferndale (AA Co.) yard this fall,
until two days ago when I reported a few nice birds dropping in
(Gray-cheeked Thrush, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Night Heron flyby).  Yesterday
Elaine spotted our first SWAINSON'S THRUSH and first YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER of the season.  Today, despite record-breaking heat, we had a lot
of nice birds showing up, including five autumn firsts.  Beginning around
noon Elaine saw the Sapsucker for the second day, heard the Golden-crowned
Kinglet, and then spotted our first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the season.  She
then watched a greenish bird with dark wings bathing in one of our bird
baths, and later asked me what I thought it was, and when I told her she
agreed that it was a winter male SCARLET TANAGER. When I got home from work
at 4 p.m. we took a walk around the periphery of our acre lot, and sitting
on the back fence was our first E. PHOEBE of the season.  Well, this was
productive, so we made another circuit of the yard, and this time in the
same general area found our first ever autumn E. TOWHEE, a female.  OK, that
was nice, could we do it a third time?  Yep, on the third go-round of the
yard we found our first of season BLUE-HEADED VIREO.  The fourth circuit
finally broke our streak.  Another nice yard first today:  TWO Red-breasted
Nuthatches, a new yard high.

Good (yard) birding,

Stan Arnold
Glen Burnie