A short visit to the grasslands at EPCAL (ex-Grumman) yesterday morning (not too early) produced only a few grassland birds: Eastern Meadowlark, Grasshopper and Field Sparrows, Eastern Kingbird. Lots of unidentified dragonflies. The area turned out to be quite easily accessible and I'm only sorry I didn't get to visit earlier in the day and earlier in the season.
Following the rains: mild sunny weather with warblers -- Prairie, Black-and-white, Yellow Common Yellowthrat, Northern Waterthrush -- plus a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Greater Yellowlegs and what looked like Black Duck (a pair) on the neck of the pond. Great Crested Flycatchers working the Sandy-blasted bushes behind the bank and a male Baltimore Oriole in full breeding plumage in the tree canopy in front of the house.. Flocks of chickadees and titmice accompanied by White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpeckers. Young Cedar Waxwings suggest that this enigmatic species -- not much seen this summer -- may have in fact bred in the area. A large movement of Am Robins yesterday morning was the first robin flock that I've seen this season. Although they were moving north, the flocking up of robins is one of the better signs that fall migration is really here.
Eric Salzman
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