Date: 12/10/24 9:24 am From: A. Liebner <000000d98121eaef-dmarc-request...> Subject: Wayne Twp. Sch. Co - Fox Sparrow, Brown Creeper
November ~ a rare visitor to the yard, a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker gave me quite a thrill when it flew into the Dogwood tree on the 10th.Northern Flickers breed here and one repeatedly visited the yard and birdbath off and on during the month.Chipping Sparrows also lingered during November but seemed to have moved on.
I've been watching and waiting for our usual spring/fall visitor and wasn't disappointed. A FOS (first of season) Fox Sparrow showed up in the native flower bed on Monday 11/25/24. That rusty fox color blended in with the fallen leaves and if it wasn't for the movement as it jumped forward and foraged in the leaf litter, I might have missed it.
There was some excitement on Nov. 29th when an adult Sharp-shinned Hawk took out an European Starling. There was a bit of a struggle which provided many photos of hawk wings spread out and beautiful fanned tail, seeming to help with balance, front & back, both sides then finally everything settled down as the Sharpie finish the meal.
One note about Google ID: the Accipiter ID as a Cooper's Hawk was incorrect. The hawk was definitely small compared to the starling and not near the size of the local Cooper's Hawk that hunts the yard.Also Google Woodpecker ID a very large Hairy was repeatedly ID as a Downy as it clung to a hanging feeder across from a Tufted Titmouse.
December started out with a nice FOS Brown Creeper on the 3rd.I heard a Great Horne Owl last night (!2/09) when I went out for firewood.
In addition to the birds listed above are the usual yardbirds:Purple Finch, House Finch, Northern Cardinal, Blue Jay, Eastern Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, Carolina Wren, Mourning Dove, White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Juncos, Tufted Titmice, BC Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpecker, an occasional Goldfinch, starlings, grackles, and house sparrows.
One species that is missing this year - White-Crowned Sparrow.
Good birding,
Ann M. Liebner
Wayne Twp. Schuylkill County
