Summer Birds Mix with Fall Migrants
At 6:30 on Wednesday morning, I grabbed a stocking cap, shoved on my shoes and headed out – still in my robe – for the morning paper. Venus was bright in the sky and the faint glow of the dawning sun spread across the eastern horizon. Although autumn’s brisk air carried the hint of cooler days to come, a couple of Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (along with waxwings and robins) continued to pluck dead ripe fruit from our black cherry trees. Although the grosbeaks are still here, at the end of the first week in October, the catbirds finally left for the year.
A thirteen acre tall-grass prairie installation borders both sides of our quarter mile long drive. Big bluestem and Indian grass, towering over me, bowed their seedheads under the weight of the night’s dew. A zillion sparrows bounced around in the prairie grasses. Since they tuck into the grass, they are impossible to ID, except for Vespers when they fly away and their white outer tail feathers are visible.
Vesper Sparrow by Robert Epstein
There was barely enough light to see the drive ahead of me, but it clearly wasn’t too early in the day for the lingering Veery calling from the woods…or the White-throated Sparrow singing somewhere behind the house.
Years ago, this time of year, with its brisk temperatures and changing leaves, was my favorite. But now spring, with the return of our migrants, is the season for me. Until that time, though, it’s wonderful to be able to watch for new arrivals, and to note which species are gone for the winter.