End of September Wrap Up

 For the past six days I've had at least six woodpecker species in my yard each day.  On five of those days no Pileateds were seen, but on Sunday one flew by and gave me seven woodpecker species for the day.

Adult Red-headed Woodpecker earlier this month

Flicker

   On Friday the first Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers of the fall showed up

Red-bellied Woodpecker and immature Red-headed Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Hairy Woodpecker

   When a Blue Jay started scooping up ten peanuts at a time, a Red-bellied took a stand.

   As September came to a close I still had one Ruby-throated Hummingbird but earlier in the month a lot of energy was wasted as multiple hummingbirds spent more time fighting than feeding.

Warblers and More 9/14/2020

 

  Favorable conditions overnight brought a few migrating birds to the yard on Monday.  I had 7 species of warblers. I was able to get photos of the Magnolia above, along with

Yellow Warbler

WIlson's Warbler

And Blackpoll Warbler.  

  Other warblers that I saw but couldn't get photos of were Ovenbird, American Redstart and Black and White. 

   Lincoln's Sparrows also showed up today.

    Lingering summer residents included 

    Brown Thrasher

     Red-eyed Vireo

 Among raptors a few Broadwings passed over in the mid-afternoon. 

  Also saw a couple Merlins.

    At one point a Merlin took aim at a Broadwing that violated its airspace. 

It's Broadwing Season 9/13/2020

 

  Friday I had a front row seat for a respectable flight of Broad-winged Hawks passing over my yard.  In just under 3 hours I counted 227 Broadwings. 

  I also counted 24 Red-tails.

  Lately Ruby-throated Hummingbirds have fueling up on the sugar water from the feeders that I have provided.  There had been more sparring than feeding as a fierce competition developed over the rightful ownership of the three feeders that I had in the backyard.  But by moving two other feeders from the front yard to the back, tensions lessened to the point where five could feed together in fragile harmony. 

   Other birds of interest so far this month.....

                                           Purple Finch

                                            Baltimore Oriole

                                           Scarlet Tanager

   There have been a few species of warblers (Magnolia, American Redstart and Black-throated Green) also but I have yet to get any blogworthy photos of them.