Gray Catbird, White-eyed Vireo and Mockingbirds Singing in the Field

On a walk through the neighborhood I passed the usual birds along the way – Chickadee, Titmouse, Cardinal, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Chipping Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Phoebe, Bluebird, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, House Finch, Blue Jay, Crow – and in all that beautiful open blue and white sky saw only two Black Vultures soaring, one very high, one very low.

In the old field by the highway, a White-eyed Vireo sang a surprisingly rich song from deep in a thicket, two Gray Catbirds mewed, and two or three young Mockingbirds were practicing their songs. The three Red-tailed Hawks that have been around almost every day for all of June, July and August weren’t there today – the last day I’ve seen them recently was August 27. I doubt they’ve gone far, and expect we’ll see them again, but I think the juvenile is on its own now and its period of screaming so often for attention has passed.

The last day I heard the Blue Grosbeak singing in the field was August 7. Though they may still be around, I haven’t heard their calls or seen them since then.