Hi Folks,

Charlie Kucera and I covered the Swan Creek property (end of Kembo
Rd., NE AA Co.) for the Fall Count yesterday (Sat., 9/18).  The
mitigated wetlands had some nice finds, including the property's first
PIED-BILLED GREBE of the season, the continuing TRICOLORED HERON, and
three SORAs, one of which stood in an open area next to the road for
several minutes, allowing an ample number of photographs to be taken.

The powerline area was hopping, and though warblers were scarce, we
did find a CONNECTICUT WARBLER, and this is where I had always thought
I would find one.  There were several flycatchers including a TRAILL'S
(likely Alder) and a LEAST, along with a Phoebe and a Great-crested.

The numbers of shorebirds was disappointing today; there were two
GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the mitigated wetland, first of the season.  The
only shorebirds in the north dredge cell besides numerous Killdeer
were five AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERs, with one in breeding plumage, and
the other four in basic.

When I was home for a break in the middle of the day, Elaine pointed
me to a COOPER'S HAWK up in one of our oak trees eating a meal.  I
looked for the feathers falling down from the branch, but there were
none.  Then I noticed a bushy tail and hind legs hanging below the
branch.  This adult hawk was eating a squirrel.  The hawk was in the
same perch for over an hour, and I was thinking the squirrel was too
heavy for it to carry.  Eventually some crows came through and
prompted the hawk to leave, but it apparently took the squirrel with
it.  The Mourning Doves must have collectively breathed a deep sigh of
relief to see the Coop with a squirrel.  While we periodically find
piles of gray MoDo feathers in our yard, a coop with a squirrel was a
first.

Oh, and the weather yesterday...unbeatable.

Stan Arnold
Ferndale (AA Co.)
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