Thanks to Gale VerHague, I laid my eyes on my first Mourning Warbler this evening.  Doug Happ and I LISTENED to one during the BOS count earlier this spring, but until tonight, I hadn't actually seen one. Unfortunately, my camera settings had gotten changed during our hike so the photos didn't turn out very well.  Aarrghhhh!!!  So - I'm just adding one, as poor as it is...

Other highlights from this evening were: my FOY Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (FINALLY!), a beautiful Scarlet Tanager fly-over in the setting sun, a pair of Indigo Buntings, at least 2 Veerys (heard only), a very vocal male Eastern Towhee, a Brown Creeper (I haven't seen one of these guys in over a month), an Eastern Wood-Pewee (heard only), and at least 2 Common Yellowthroats.  We're quite sure we heard a few Canada Warblers, but we never could get our eyes on one.  Next time!  Apparently, both the Canada and Mourning Warbler breed in this region, so I will be sure to try again!

On my way home from an appointment this morning, I decided to stop by "the Mounds" at Tillman WMA again.  When I last saw a Grasshopper Sparrow, it was a life list addition with looks long enough to ID it, but too short for my satisfaction.  Plus I really wanted to capture a photo of it.  And so, with my little lightweight chair in tow, I hiked on up to the Mounds, taking care not to step on any nesting sparrows, and found a spot to sit and wait one out.

I heard several of the sparrows in the tall grasses surrounding me - and I had a few nice views of some Savannahs that popped-up every now and then.  I enjoyed the melodious calls of Bobolinks that sporadically interrupted the buzzing of the Savannah and Grasshopper Sparrows - and I puzzled over a couple of Eastern Meadowlarks that gave an unusually "gruff" call.  I had to look their calls up when I got home because I thought my eyes and ears were playing tricks on me.  But no, that rougher "chirp" is indeed, one of their calls!

I got some distant looks at some Grasshopper Sparrows and I even caught a couple of photos of one on one of the gas pipes.  But eventually, a little further away than I had hoped - but still relatively close - one popped up and balanced on a dead twig in the strong wind, swaying but staying long enough for me to study for a short while. He stayed for at least a couple of minutes, during which I grabbed as many photos as I could before he went on his way.  Other than a few more distant "teases", that was all I got - BUT it was a GREAT view this time!

In addition to the Savannah Sparrows, Bobolinks, and Eastern Meadowlarks seen during my short visit, I also saw:  an American Kestrel, an Eastern Kingbird, a Yellow Warbler, and a couple of fly-overs by a Great Blue Heron.

I also heard a song that sounded sweet, like some warbler songs - 3 long notes, then 3 short.  I tried finding it in my bird app after I got home, but no luck.  I wish I had been able to locate the singer!

There was a nice variety of birds at Majors Park yesterday, 24 species in all. For such a small park, I was surprised I did so well there.

My highlight was, perhaps, a Baltimore Oriole pair at their nest.  That was a treat!  A close second was some nice close up views of a pair of Field Sparrows.  I usually hear them without seeing them.  I may have even found where they are nesting too.

Just about when I reached my car to leave, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings flew up, followed by some American Goldfinches, a pair of Tree Swallows, a pair of House Finches, a Killdeer fly-by, and lastly, a solo Eastern Bluebird.  All within 2-3 minutes! Nice!