This is part of my Sept. 23-Oct. 11 notes, most of the time at Kiptopeke, VA.  If anyone would like the full report, which has been posted on VA-BIRD, please contact me at:  harryarmistead at hotmail dot com             
 
SEPTEMBER 23, THURSDAY.  “On the road again.”  Motor from Philadelphia to our place, Rigby’s Folly, near Royal Oak, MD.  515 cowbirds at Middletown, DE.  Sit out on our dock where there is a huge assemblage of dragonflies over the Loblolly Pine woods at the head of the cove.  Four Merlins are hitting on them; the previous yard high count was 3 on several dates.  77 Laughing Gulls.  3 flickers.  Low tide at 4:36 P.M.  The full moon rises over the woods.  1 Osprey.  Leave an intact Orange Sulphur, plucked from the car grill, for my daughters, who are coming in for the weekend with others, to see.  4 Monarchs.  1 Gray Squirrel.  It’s extremely dry here.  Fair, calm-east 5 m.p.h., 87 falling to 80°F.  Present in afternoon only. 
            SEPTEMBER 24, FRIDAY.  “Coming into the country.”  Rigby’s Folly.  Going out the drive: a House Wren and Common Yellowthroat.  On the way to Kiptopeke 3 d.o.r. skunks, at routes 329 X 33, Route 13 Salisbury bypass, and somewhere else … I’ve forgotten.  From Route 50 over the Nanticoke River, it is alarming how much Phragmites has taken over these splendid King Rail marshes.  
            Deal Island W.M.A., 10:30-12:15, not much as the main impoundment continues to be rather sterile and with water too deep: an imm. Bald Eagle near a nest, 1 Osprey, 27 Great & 7 Snowy egrets, a House Wren, 2 Boat-tailed Grackles, 2 harriers, 5 Pied-billed Grebes, 11 Savannah Sparrows, 3 Tricolored Herons, 1 American Bittern, 5 monarchs, 3 Cloudless Sulphurs, 14 Buckeyes, and 1 Black Swallowtail.  Fair, hazy, SW 10+, and HOT.  - Best to all. - Harry Armistead, Philadelphia.