When we heard the last of the Mississippi Kites, it was time to say migration had begun.
BirdCast from the night of 8-16-24
Sure enough, that night showed an impressive number of migrants that crossed over our area! A few were seen the next day as they stopped in to forage for insects, to drink and rest.
8-17-24 First fall female Summer Tanager
8-17-24 First fall female Summer Tanager
8-17-24 First fall female Summer Tanager
About 10:20 a.m., a first fall female Summer Tanager dropped in at the bubbler, following a few usual suspects.
Here is a composite photo showing both Tanager species with examples of females. The Summer's plumage is typically more of a mustard or ochre tone whereas the Scarlet leans toward greenish yellow. Fall birds require a careful look!
8-17-24 First Fall Northern Parula
8-17-24 First Fall Northern Parula
8-17-24 First Fall Northern Parula
8-17-24 First Fall Northern Parula
A first fall Northern Parula came several times that day to the bubbler area. There is very little chestnut on the breast of this bird so I think it's a female. Time will tell.
8-17-24 Common Gracke immature
A young Common Grackle drank heartily at the bubbler. It had been eating suet just a little while before.
8-17-24 Downy Woodpecker immature
Young woodpeckers like this Downy are learning to forage for food on their own. This bird is checking the stems of Smooth Hydrangeas (Hydrangea arborescens) for insects.
8-17-24 Northern Flicker with two immature males
8-17-24 Northern Flicker immature male
8-17-24 Northern Flicker with immature male
8-17-24 Northern Flicker with two immature males
8-17-24 Northern Flicker with immature male
8-17-24 Northern Flicker immature male
8-17-24 Northern Flicker with immature male
This is the first summer that we've put up a suet feeder and it has been popular with all the woodpeckers. This male Northern Flicker has been feeding two young of its own, both males. We've dubbed them, "the Flicker boys." We've watched them for days, they come in around lunchtime for some suet. The method seems to be that the male will show one of the young birds how to get the suet on its own. The other one waits on the railing and the adult fills up with enough for two. They take off to a nearby hickory and the young bird gets some from the adult at that point.
8-18-24 Northern Flicker with two immature males
The Flickers work closely together in the mornings on foraging lessons by probing the soil with their bills for ants and insect larvae. It's a busy time for birds teaching their young!
BirdCast from the night of 8-17-24
An even larger number of birds crossed over the next night, spurred on by the waxing Super Blue Moon of August, or the full Sturgeon Moon. An alternative August moon name is Flying Up Moon, a Cree term describing the time when young birds are finally ready to take the leap and learn to fly. How appropriate! (Information per The Famers Almanac.)
About 7:30 a.m. that morning, we saw a Black-and-white Warbler in the Rough-leaf Dogwood next to the deck. A bit later, I checked the dripper bath for activity.
8-18-24 Baltimore Oriole at dripper bath
8-18-24 Baltimore Oriole at dripper bath
8-18-24 Baltimore Oriole at dripper bath
A gorgeous Baltimore Oriole was attracted to the dripping water, taking sips before taking a plunge. This bird seemed to thoroughly enjoy its bath. About noon, a Chestnut-sided Warbler was foraging in the Arrowwood Viburnum near the pond. I got great looks, but no photos. There were also a couple flycatchers, a Least and a Yellow-bellied. On Monday, 8/19/24, a very vocal Red-eyed Vireo was heard in the woods.
Seeing the warblers reminded me to review those confusing Fall Warblers! Here is my gallery with many views of these tiny migratory birds. Enjoy the collection and may it help you identify birds in your own yards or wherever you're bird-watching. The link will open a new page.