Every year about this time we go thru that inevitable changeover from lists
of real neat migrants- our favorite northern warblers, vireos, thrushes,
trogons etc to our lists of usual winter suspects. This seems to be that
time.

This AM I wandered out to a non-descript trail in the Liberty watershed
hoping to maybe get one last interesting warbler. And what I got was flocks
of Juncos, White-throats and a few scattered kinglets. I did hear what
sounded like a Winter Wren, but he wasn't doing the usual full-blown,
rattle-on forever song.

I eventually came to one of those points where the reservoir makes a big
bend and creates a rocky little beach. Somebody had placed an old patio
table and 4 plastic chairs out there. So I took a seat waited. Nothing on
the water, so I turned the chair around and faced the woods. One of the
Ruby-crowns serenaded me with a song. Then I focused in on some drumming and
found a YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. Winter seems to be right around the
corner.

I sat there enjoying the sun and the leaves for a while, but nobody brought
me a drink, so I left. Without that last warbler. Maybe tomorrow.

Jerry Tarbell
Lost on a beach in Carroll County