I forgot to mention the two best birds on yesterday's tour of the three E's (Eileen, Erin and Eric were the participants). The birds were Gray Catbird and Red-breasted Nuthatch. Gray Catbird because it seems as though all the other catbirds have left for the south and this one appears to be the last of its kind. Red-breasted Nuthatch because it is the first of its kind -- at least for me (and actually first of the year)!
Red-breasted Nuthatch is a northern species (Sitta canadensis) which does not so much migrate as 'invade'; that is, every few years, when the northern food crop (coniferous cones) fails, it comes south in large numbers. Since we had a big invasion (or irruption) of these birds a couple of years ago, I did not expect them back so soon. But, as was the case with the Pine Siskins, they came back sooner than expected -- at least in small numbers. Perhaps they are the forerunner of some other northern irruptive species; we'll see.
Eric Salzman
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