Hi all,
 A quick walk around the yard with the dog yielded all 3 mimids this  
morning. A Gray Catbird sang and called from the shrubby corner next door,  rounding 
out the hat trick. A pair of Brown Thrashers has taken up residence in  the 
yard, nesting (I think) somewhere in one of our large hollies. They were  
scratching around under the feeders a short time ago, and one appeared to be  
"anting" in the garden earlier. And of course, the mockers were busily chasing  each 
other out of their respective territories all morning. They also may be  
nesting in one of the hollies.
 
Last evening I was in the vegetable  garden with my daughter Alli (hi  Alli), 
who recently subscribed to MDOsprey, and we saw and heard a male Indigo  
Bunting who was perched on top of one of my bluebird boxes next to the farm  
fields. Also heard and saw Great Crested Flycatcher, and Cedar Waxwings, who are  
coming to the yard for the ripening wild cherries. Hummers were doing their  
loopy territorial "dance" near the house feeders, and the bluebirds  survived 
the severe storms of a couple of nights ago and were going about the  business 
of feeding their young in the corner nest box.  The birds seem to  have settled 
into their summer routines nicely. We even have goldfinches and  bluebirds 
coming to the bird baths!
 
Rick Sussman
Enjoying country living in Woodbine, MD




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