Hi all --

The first day of autumn and the birds seemed to know it! We arrived a bit
later than planned (about 7:20) to see a impressive flight of about 25-30
Flickers moving south through some tall oaks. Blue Jays also overhead, and
we heard but did not see, some fly-over Bluebirds. The Catbirds have
returned in force -- every bird to the north must have decided *this* was
the day! They were everywhere ...

Not a huge diversity of Warblers (the peak has passed) but fairly high
numbers of the more common species. *Another* Philly Vireo as well. This has
been a wonderful year for this species.

We also had a fly-by small parrot (!) -- we both exclaimed "what the heck
was THAT!" as it zipped past-- looked all green, large pale bill, pointed
wings, short square tail -- body size of a Conure without the long pointed
tail.

Birds of interest:

Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
Red-tailed Hawk - 1
BROAD-WINGED HAWK - 1-2
Sharpshinned Hawk - 1
YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER - 1
Northern Flicker - 40+
Eastern Wood-pewee - 3
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 1
BROWN CREEPER - 1
Gray Catbird - 75-100 (!)
Brown Thrasher - 4
Swainson's Thrush - 3
Eastern Bluebird - fly-overs heard only
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4
Scarlet Tanager - 2
House Wren - 8
Red-eyed Vireo - 10
PHILADELPHIA VIREO - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 4
Black-and-White Warbler - 6
Black-throated Green Warbler - 4
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 10 (finally here in number)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 5
Magnolia Warbler - 15
Northern Parula - 4
PRAIRIE WARBLER - 1 (first here for us, though they breed not too far away)
American Redstart - 10
TENNESSEE WARBLER - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 25 at least
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 8
Indigo Bunting - 1
Chipping Sparrow - 6

Not many Robins...

Gail Mackiernan and Barry Cooper
Colesville, MD