changes in the avifauna

The changes in the local bird life in the past couple of weeks have been very striking. In its initial phases, the cool spell brought in some really notable migrants with two sighting of Western Tanagers, taking the lead. There were also a number of interesting warblers including Cape May and Orange-crowned as well as more familiar birds such as Eastern Towhee, Brown Thrasher, Swamp Sparrow and two vireos (Red-eyed and Blue-headed). The big flocks of finches, Gold and House, have dwindled down considerably at the same time as Northern Flickers and American Robins started to come through in some numbers. But the biggest surprise was the huge invasion of Blue Jays, looking for a spot with a good acorn crop -- which proved to be us. Blue Jays are expert at finding acorns but also at finding raptors which they try to mob and chase away. Here is Eileen Schwinn's shot of an Eastern Screech Owl at a day roost in her yard; I'm pretty sure that she found it courtesy of mobbing Blue Jays. Eastern Screech Owl comes in two flavors known as morphs: gray and rufous; notice that, as is the case with most Long Island Screech Owls, this one is a 'rufous morph'. Eric Salzman