Today the winds of change were blowing lightly, but I noticed.  This morning I had two Myrtle Warblers (Yellow-rumps) in the yard, my first this fall.  Also had a small group of warblers pass through quickly, the first in my yard in over a week.  Before they were gone I id'ed 3 Redstarts, 1 Parula, 1 Magnolia, and the oddest of all - an adult male Yellowthroat that was gleaning in the crown of an old maple about 75 feet up.  I watched it in curiosity, it never came down out of the crown (~ 5 minutes), and it stayed there after the small flock had moved on.

Also, for the first time in several weeks I noticed a smaller number of blackbirds and grackles roosting in the marsh at night behind the house (at Jug Bay).  They have been bulking up on wild rice and whatever else they can find.  There are still quite a few Great Egrets roosting in the same spot they have been at for several weeks now, this evening there were 26 when I looked.  I have not noticed this roost in prior years, but they return to the same trees every night, usually about 15 minutes before dark.

PS = we have not seen any change in Hummer activity yet.  They are still as active as they have been ever since they fledged.  There are quite a few at the two feeder stations now, mostly they still fight a lot with each other and so far as I know all are RTHUs but I am watching!  This year I grew about 6 pineapple and 2 other sages to see if I can attract something (hummers) later this fall; they are not even blooming yet but are growing very well.  Time will tell.

Cheers!
Jeff Shenot
Croom, MD
(southern PG County)