July 30, 2008 [LINK / comment]
The dog days of summer aren't much good for bird watching, but some days are better than others. I went for a stroll along Bell's Lane on Monday evening, just before dusk, and was glad I did. I was surprised at the complete absence of Red-winged blackbirds, which are abundant there during breeding season. The albino Catbird was nowhere to be seen, either. I'm quite sure that Redstarts haven't been breeding in that area, so the male that I spotted would suggest that some of that warbler species have begun to migrate a bit early, perhaps because of the drought. Monday's highlights:
Hummingbirds finally started showing up at our feeder on a regular basis early in July, and this year a male has claimed it as part of his own territory, chasing other Hummers away. Until I get a picture with a better light angle, this one will have to do:
Ruby-throated Hummingbird at our back porch feeder. Only the males (like this one) have the red-colored throat, which often appears black depending on the angle of the light.