American Redstart
Early in the afternoon while I was sitting outside reading after lunch, a female American Redstart – gray with yellow patches in wings and tail – flitted out of the foliage and briefly perched on a bare branch while she ate something. After that, I could hear two Redstarts singing among the leaves of the oaks nearby for an hour or more, but never could spot them. I was surprised to see and hear them, and don’t know if they are late migrants or maybe staying to nest, though usually I have not found them here during the summer months. Their cheery, high songs – sort of tsee-tsee-tsee or tseeta-tseeta-tseeta-tsee – and colorful behavior always brighten a day.