Date: 7/31/25 7:47 am From: Carole Winslow <cjwinslow94...> Subject: Clarion Co- first migrants, singing alder flycatchers, screech owl molting
I was out this morning walking and was noting that blackbirds, robins, swallows are all flocking up already, I had a huge grackle flock here a couple weeks ago even. But the biggest surprise was two counter singing alder flycatchers in my strip field. I was headed up to pick beans and squash and hadn't even started a checklist as I wasn't expecting much, just trying to beat the rain. I heard the flycatchers and stopped and listened for a while before I could even convince myself that I was hearing them. Willows sometimes give a beginning part of their song that can sound similar but this wasn't that. To hear two though was really surprising. I imagine they are already starting migration, as they probably nest not too much further north than here and I know they are recorded as starting to move in late July. Willows nest in this field and I hear alders in early June but cannot ever recall hearing them this time of year. They were more down in the swampier end, with one singing from a dead ash snag.
Pewees were singing and doing some chattering so while I didn't get to see them I suspect they are traveling about and feeding young. Wood thrush have been really vocal lately, chattering and calling and chasing around the yard every evening. Hooded warblers were still singing, buntings and field and swamp sparrows as previously discussed, but otherwise it is fairly quiet. I did notice more activity this morning though with some heat relief and the northern front starting to move through. The other item is that I do find it fascinating to watch the screech owl molt most every year. As is typical, the male hasn't been seen since last week or the young ones for the last week and a half or so. Last week you could see that the female who is back to roosting daily in the barn, is starting to molt and get her tatty and ragged appearance. The rest of the family is usually gone by now and I imagine her taking a well-deserved vacation for several weeks while she gets a new wardrobe. When she molts the feathers around her face she really starts to take on a bizarre appearance, and I am going to try to get some better photos of the process this year.
Enjoy the late summer birding, you never know what you might find,
