Late Summer Birds
It is now the middle of September and most of our Neotropical birds (those that head to the tropics for the winter) have finished nesting and are on their way south. But a few species remain in significant numbers; nearly all are young of the year. Lots of hummingbirds are visiting feeders in the area, and here on Charter Sanctuary they are nectaring on spotted touch-me-not.
Common Yellowthroat by Dave Brunell
Catbirds are calling as they pass through our wetland, and we still see the occasional Rose-breasted Grosbeak plucking black cherries from the trees outside our living room window.
Two days ago I was out with a group on the trail and we heard a Common Yellowthroat singing. The latest we have seen yellowthroats feed young here was in early September.
Veery by Jeff Kingery
But the best sighting this month was a Veery, foraging on the ground under the large serviceberry just off the kitchen deck. We saw few of these delicately-hued thrushes here this year, and never once heard their signature song – a downward spiral of flutelike notes.