The first Yellow-bellied Sapsucker of the season -- in these parts at least -- was the star of this morning's avian arrivals. Sticking mainly to Pitch Pines (which, as their name suggests, have plenty of sap), he worked his way over to the big old Rocky Raccoon/Great Horned Owl Pitch Pine which is henceforth also to be known as the Sapsucker Pitch Pine.
There was, all in all, a fair amount of activity with a Warbling Vireo joining the Red-eyed Vireos; Common Yellowthroat, Parulas, at least one Blackpoll Warbler and a likely Yellow-rumped Warbler; Eastern Phoebe; Brown Thrasher; and lots of the regulars: Chickadees and Titmice, Blue Jays, Catbirds, Robins, Flickers, Song and Swamp Sparrows, Goldfinches and House Finches.
The creek was quiet but as the tide dropped and fish started to jump, a few Royal Terns appeared along with Great Blue and Green Herons.
At least one fish may have jumped too far. There was a striped killifish -- possibly a Mummichog -- lying on the path. Unlike the Blue Crab that was running around on our front lawn a few weeks ago, it was fairly recently departed. It was not very far from the pond but I suspect he/she/it did not get there on its own steam but was probably dropped by the Kingfisher or one of the herons.
Another notable curiosity: a fresh-looking male Downy Woodpecker doggedly excavating a hole in a dead tree stump. Was he making a hole for a winter roost? Getting an early start on attracting a mate? Downies are year-round residents and it's not unknown for resident birds to start courting in the fall. Great Horned Owls certainly do and I suspect that Carolina Wrens may also do so. Why not Downy Woodpeckers?
Eric Salzman
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