Mornig all,
 A nice walk around the yard on this fine morning, seeking migrants, yielded a new yard bird; a female Blackburnian Warbler which landed in our tallest cherry tree in sunlight long enough to ID it. She then flew off headed south. Other migrants included a Scarlet Tanager, a Red-eyed Vireo, E. Wood Pewee, E. Phoebe, as well as a pair of Grasshopper Sparrows (an adult and a juvenile-so cute!). Cedar Waxwings have been around the yard lately too, feasting on the abundant cherry fruits, and they were again today. Bluebirds with their young are also feeding in the cherries.Lots of hummers around now too, and feeding at our 3 feeders (between fights). The warbler was yard bird #130!!

Following the advice of Dr. Douglas Tallamy (Bringing Nature Home is his excellent book), our family has been trying to plant native species in our yard in an effort to attract native species of insects, birds, etc. Back in early summer we planted a small sweet-bay magnolia in the backyard, and yesterday I noticed it had lost several leaves to a caterpillar. I searched the tree and located the culprit, a beautiful Tiger Swallowtail larvae right at the top (very cool looking, emerald green with a swollen "head" and false eye-spots). Then while walking through the path to our yard I looked down and saw another jewel, a Black Swallowtail caterpillar (two, actually), feeding on some parsley plants which appeared in our butterfly garden. I got great photos of both.

Gotta love this time of year!

Rick Sussman
Woodbine,MD