Charlie Gant and I were delighted to have a kettle of ~100 Broad-winged
Hawks pass over Turkey Point at 11:00 this morning. We watched as the birds
formed up in a thermal and then streamed out to the south, heading across
the Elk River. I wonder how long it will take them to get down to Kiptopeke?

 

The Hawk Watch started on the slow side last week, which is normal for this
area, but numbers are picking up. Today, even with no wind to speak of, we
had 21 Sharp-shinned, 8 Cooper's, 107 Broad-winged, and 2 Osprey.

 

The walk in was wonderfully birdy! Among the first birds I spotted was a
female Red-breasted Grosbeak, who seemed as interested in me as I was in
her. I was able to identify Northern Parula, Magnolia, Tennessee, Canada,
and American Redstart among the warblers, but there were others I am
clueless about. Cedar Waxwings are abundant, and Bluejays are gathering in
large flocks. Is it too early for Winter Wren out there? I saw a wren with
almost no tail, but don't know if it was a Winter Wren or a juvenile House
Wren.

 

The most unusual thing I saw was a female Cardinal in combat with a large
praying mantis. The cardinal won, but that seems like awfully big prey for
that size bird. I also saw some kind of wasp dragging a paralyzed
caterpillar across the path. The wasp could barely lift itself and the
caterpillar, so the caterpillar's rear end was dragging in the sand.

 

Off topic: Does anyone else have one of the pink-flowering sedums that is
covered with tiny butterflies? I'd love to know what kind of butterflies
like this plant. I had two dozen of them on one sedum this morning. All are
variations of brown and gold, with speckled wings about a half-inch across.

 

Pat Valdata

Elkton, MD