I arrived at Sapsucker Woods in a pretty heavy fog at 7am. Hanging out in the conifers by the front entrance of the lab was a PHILADELPHIA VIREO (aka, the cute vireo) who was very obliging. Things were a little quiet but as I got near the end of the boardwalk on that side I picked up a GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH song once from across the road. I stopped to listen and, as I did, Sapsucker Woods Road decided to become a highway as a couple trucks and a school bus passed by. Then silence, so I moved on. Then quiet for a bit. Some VEERY. Then a SWAINSON'S THRUSH meandered by and did some calls from somewhere I couldn't see it. A highlight came when along the trail at eye level a male and female SCARLET TANAGER were hanging out just feet in front of me. Still one of the best birds for my money.
I don't know if it was time or just where I was but at 7:45am I felt like all of a sudden I started hearing a lot more. BLACK-THROATED GREEN, BLACK-THROATED BLUE, CANADA, CHESTNUT-SIDED, BLACKPOLL, BLACKBURNIAN, WILSON'S, MAGNOLIA, and YELLOW-RUMPED all made themselves known, and I even saw a couple. I think I'm the only person who still hasn't had the Mourning Warbler that's been hanging out. And I don't recall hearing an Ovenbird... impossible. I must have ignored it. I've learned to start and end with those conifers in front of the lab. I got back to them and the same Philly V. was hanging out. I walked near the bench by the water and flushed a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Some things were flitting around in the trees but silent and couldn't see in the fog. However, no sooner did I turn my back to head into the lab, a YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER began a chorus of turee calls. It flew out close and in the open for some good looks. Only other empid i noted was LEAST FLY. yours, Kevin Ripka www.nepabirdproject.org www.tekbirdr.com leaflittercritters.blogspot.com Ithaca, NY Tompkins Co. Dallas, PA Luzerne Co. -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
