Folks

Signs of fall from Waldorf.  Last evening I watched crows flocking and flying north to a roost.  They do this in the fall and winter were they roost colonially.

This morning several Wood Thrush landed around the property and gave their terrestrial and nocturnal call notes.  Shortly after that I flushed a Bald Eagle that was roosting just across the roads in one of the larger wood plots remaining in the area.  Next a basic plumage Chestnut-sided Warbler was foraging in the White Oaks in the back yard. I am amazed at the differences in plumages of this species from breeding to winter.  Then two Red-headed Woodpeckers (RHWP) flew from the east to west over the property.  This species generally does not show near the house until October.  This may be a sign of a good RHWP winter season in southern MD.  The warbler was species #100 and the woodpecker was species #101 for 2008 on the yard list.

Gwen and I still have at least two hatch year Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (RTHU) feeding.  One is a male and I did not see the other to determine gender.  This note reminds me to tell all that they should leave out your hummingbird feeders until January 1, 2009.  Most of you know that leaving out your feeders will not delay this species from migrating, and will provide additional fuel to any migrants that pass by on their way south.  Leaving out your feeder until migration is complete could provide just that additional needed energy for the bird to make it to it's wintering lands.  

Also, this is the time of year to seriously start looking for out-of-season, out-of-range hummingbirds.  The state list of hummingbird species is four.  RTHU, Rufous, Calliope, and Anna's.  We also had Black-chinned in DC.  October and November are the best times to expect the non-RTHU to show up, but the records of non-RTHU increased when people starting leaving out their feeders. 

Please make sure your feeder is clean, the food is fresh, and put the feeder in a location that you can see easily and on a daily basis.  This way you will know when you have a potential non-RTHU.  If you get one contact either Bruce Peterjohn or David Holmes.  These are the two hummingbird banders in our region I know, and they will get back with you.  Also contact me so I can get pictures.  If you lose the banders contact information, contact me and I will arrange the rest.

Go birding.

George