heard birds

Today's report is all about heard birds -- easier to hear than to see, especially at this time of year. In chronological order: the Clapper Rail calling from the far side (the Bay Avenue side) of the marsh; Orchard Oriole singing from high in the trees between the far side of the marsh and the house lots on Bay Avenue (but still invisible); Pine Warbler singing its one-note trill over and over again after a longish period of silence (are his young fledging from the nest?); Warbling Vireo singing (briefly) from the trees in front of the house but still not visible.

A mysterious gray finch-like bird with a streaky beast, feeding low right in front of our front deck, baffled me for a bit until I realized it was a young Brown-headed Cowbird.

Eric Salzman