change in the weather

Big change of weather to cool and windy with gusty N/NE winds.

Red-eyed Vireo still singing away; it's been a week now -- longer than ever before).

I think there are three different Yellow Warblers on territory and an equal number of singing Common Yellowthroats.

On the marsh and/or pond edge: Lesser Yellowlegs, Spotted Sandpiper, Least Sandpiper, Willet. By the way, Eastern and Western Willets are about to be split which will add a species to my local list; I've seen the Western several times at Moriches Inlet (Cupsogue} and on Shinnecock (ocean side in fall). The Western is a noticeably bigger and paler bird.

Over the creek: a few terns including Least, Common and Forster's. Two Osprey flying together which means (!) at least one pair of locals are courting (because first attempt failed?) or (2) these are young birds looking to mate and start family life, or (3) the young are already out and both adults are feeding them, or (4) these are visitors from somewhere else, possibly even late migrants.

The big unanswered question of the morning was a warbler-size bird skulking in a thicket and uttering a brief repeated warbler-type song every few seconds. I worked hard trying to catch a glimpse of this hidden singer. I finally resorted to pishing -- the classic birder's method of coaxing out a skulker. It worked only too well; the bird flew right out and away! I tried to find where it had scooted to (there was a shadow bird moving in the underbrush opposite but it too moved away without revealing itself). My guess, based on the short song. is that it was a Magnolia Warbler which tends to hunt low and characteristically sings short songs. But I am far from 100% sure.

Eric Salzman