Hi Folks,

With no school today in observance of Rash Hashana, I spent a couple hours 
this morning at the Swan Creek Facility at the end of Kembo Rd. in northern 
AA Co.  This facility is accessible to birders during business hours 
(7-4:30), but requires visiting the office, filling out a waiver form, and 
signing in and out (like at Hart-Miller).

Sparrows are just beginning to come through, and at the wetland I had a 
handfull of Songs, one Swamp, one SAVANNAH (a tough bird in AA Co.), and a 
cooperative CLAY-COLORED SPARROW.  When first seen, this bird was perched in 
full sun, but flew as I tried to get the scope on it for some digiscopes. 
However, as I was leaving the area, the bird hopped out onto the edge of the 
path, and I was able to get several digiscopes showing the diagnostic 
features that separate it from Chipping Sparrow (distinct gray collar, buffy 
breast, pale lores, etc.).  Matt Grey refound the bird a couple hours later. 
Other birds of interest:

N. Shoveler--4
Ruddy Duck--2
GB Heron--11
Great Egret--2
Snowy Egret--1
Little Blue Heron--2 adults
Cattle Egret--1
Spotted Sandpiper--1
Greater Yellowlegs--1
peep, sp.--4 too distant to ID
Caspian Tern--26
WE Vireo--4
E. Phoebe--6
Black-throated Blue--1 m
YR Warbler--1 drab

Once back home in Ferndale, I spent much of the day planting trees, with 
frequent rests to check the skies and treetops.  It was a hopping day here, 
and Elaine and I tallied 33 species in the yard, tying our biggest all time 
September day.   Elaine had already seen a N. PARULA while I was gone, but 
shortly after my return we watched a Red-tailed Hawk circling over the back 
yard, and then were surprised when a PEREGRINE FALCON came sailing through, 
interacting briefly with the hawk, then going on its way.  This was yard 
bird #118 for the year, and the first time we've seen this bird here outside 
of November.  Our first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the season spent much of the 
afternoon flycatching and checking out most of the leaves on our mature 
apple and pear trees.  We were pleased to once again see a RT HUMMINGBIRD at 
our feeders, our latest ever.  In the late afternoon, a small yellow warbler 
flitted about the apple tree, and after multiple observations I was able to 
identify it as a young female WILSON'S WARBLER, a bird that has been 
uncommonly common this year in our neck of the woods.  Our last new bird of 
the day was a flyover OSPREY  at dusk, a bird that is becoming noticeably 
scarce with the season.

Other interesting yard birds spanning back a week or two:

9/19 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (yard bird #117 for the year)

9/23 Black-and White Warbler

9/26 Rose-breasted Grosbeak, female

9/28 (Sunday) after the rain stopped:
Chimney Swift--9 (a yard high?)
Swainson's Thrush--first of season; didn't stick around
Yellow-rumped Warbler--first of season
Bald Eagle--sub-adult circling over yard; have only had a few this year

Good Birding,

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)