Had some good yard birds on Tuesday, 9/21, and today, Wednesday, 9/22, in our small backyard in Bethesda.  On Tuesday we had a another visit from a Red-breasted Nuthatch (possibly two since I heard one from a neighbor's yard and then saw one in our yard about an hour later) and our first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall.  A young, persistent Cooper's Hawk entertained at lunch time as it pursued the House Sparrows we keep around for it and finally caught one.  Even had four species of warblers and Red-eyed Vireo.  This came after a few quiet days.

Today, Wednesday, the real surprise bird was a Philadelphia Vireo, a new yard, county, and state bird for me, that gave good long looks.  And three species of warbler so far.

Jim Nelson
Bethesda, MD