late summer/early fall

Our late summer collection of birds includes the woodpecker quadrifecta -- Hairy, Downy, Flicker and Red-bellied; the Hairy and the Downy travel together as if they were a pair (but when they are side-by-side, the size difference stands out). In the warbler category, Northern Waterthrush, American Redstart, Yellow and Common Yellow-throat all showed nicely; missed the Black-and-white. A flock of old and young Cedar Waxwings, perhaps a family, was working its way through the trees at the edge of the marsh and then took over over the creek. Like the American Goldfinches (also seen and heard) these are late nesters. Belted Kingfisher on the creek and Chimney Swift overhead; in the swallow category were Barn and Tree plus Purple Martin. A good-sized accipiter zipping through the trees was probably a Cooper's Hawk; with the exception of the Osprey, this is now the most common raptor in the vicinity. We're now also getting regular nocturnal visits from a Screech Owl which pauses outside our bedroom window and makes sure to alert us to its presence with its ghostly whinnies.

Some of the early fall flowers are beginning to appear: (Perennial?) Salt-marsh Aster, Sea Lavender and Bouncing Bet. And the Evening Primrose in our yard are finally beginning to put on a show.

Eric Salzman