I know how you readers rely on my observations, so you’d better sit down for this bit of news: Winter is officially on the way.
Well okay, autumn doesn’t begin until next week, but the birds are already on the move. I’ve seen them organizing themselves into small flocks all over the place lately, and the other day by the library I saw a dead warbler (a Nashville, maybe?) on the sidewalk. The poor little guy may have plowed into a window there, his migration ending just shy of Lake Street.
Today at the IBET website Mr. Anzia from Forest Park noted a couple of great days birding at Thatcher Woods this week. His observations included:
GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER
CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER
MAGNOLIA WARBLER
AMERICAN REDSTART
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
PALM WARBLER
BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER
YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER
ROSE-BREASTED GROSSBEAK
NORTHERN FLICKERS
NASHVILLE WARBLER
TENNESSEE WARBLER
CAPE MAY WARBLER
So it goes, the tropical birds are again flying south. Makes me a little jealous, they do. Soon enough they’ll be across the sea enjoying a winter break in a tropical forest. I wonder what it would be like to sprout wings and join them? Well until that unlikely day comes, I’ll keep looking up.
The passing flocks will be gone, replaced by snowflakes.
