Out On the Wing #85: Of Fall and Feathers

A Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) feeds among fading Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) and New York Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.).

A Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) plays hide and go seek while giving alarm calls all the while.

This Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) proved to be a tough cookie to ID. I thought I was looked at an inverted color jay or even a late cuckoo, but the shape didn't seem right. I've been lucky to see so many this year.

A Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) looks on as I watch it from the trail. Wary, but ubiquitous birds of the fields and meadows on the Stony Brook Millstone Watershed property.

A towhee's eye view along one of the trails at SBMWA. The ground is just littered with hickory nuts at this time of year attracting the attention of squirrels and children alike.

A recently molted American Wigeon (Anas americana) was floating around the pond. It was pointed out to me by my roommate and his girlfriend.

Plentiful Palms as far as the eye can see. Other than the butter-butt Yellow rumps, they were the only other warblers to be seen yesterday.

A female Gadwall (A. strepera) has been hanging out at the pond too making for tricky ID when compared with some visiting female Mallards (A. platyrhynchos).

A nice surprise came in the form of a Solitary Sandpiper which, according to eBird, is a rare sighting for this time of year. It pretty much lived up to its name by staying away from the waterfowl on the pond. It proved to be a toughie to ID as well.

A better angle perhaps?