A Foggy Morning – Songs Heard – And Not Heard
In deep fog early this morning, many birds were singing, including White-throated Sparrow, Louisiana Waterthrush, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Pine Warbler, Chipping Sparrow, Phoebe, Titmouse, Cardinal, Goldfinch, Chickadee, Carolina Wren, Brown Thrasher, and Eastern Towhee. Also heard were the calls of Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Crows.
And I was especially surprised to hear the call of a White-breasted Nuthatch from nearby in the misty woods – though it never came into the yard. I wonder if this will be the last time we hear it this season.
It’s notable that I have not yet seen or heard a Blue-headed Vireo, Palm Warbler, Parula Warbler, or Yellow-throated Vireo, and have only heard the song of one Black and White Warbler and one White-eyed Vireo. I’ve been gone a lot, and not outside as much as usual, so maybe I’m just missing them, but I wonder. In previous years these have always been among the earliest migrants to return or pass through.