Chaos and other appointments have limited my ability to get out during the big migration days.  Only a few of real notable #s birds the past 3 weeks.  I managed really good looks at #197 for the year Northern Waterthrush, and my first records of Common Nighthawk and Northern Harrier for September was seen a couple of times over the house.  We have been unable to go to Brooks since they did some herbicide spraying on 9/7, and just don't want to even mess with being near that stuff with Hercules.  

The downed tree limb has been fairly good for seeing some warblers at below eye level.  Plenty of Nashville, Tennessee, Cape May, Bay-breasted, Restarts and Ovenbirds.  Hoping to catch a Broad-winged while taking some walks on a nearby open air trail.  Still missing that bird this year.  I've seen that bird every year I have seriously birded.  Chances are starting to diminish quickly though.  

I did have this insanely cooperative Swainson's Thrush that flew at the window I was sitting at a couple of times.  It then stayed out in the open allowing me some of my best looks at this species.  Notice how the change in light almost had me thinking it was a Gray-cheeked Thrush with the gray back and cheeks.  Buffy eye ring doesn't lie though.  

I still think I can get to #200, just probably not with my missing warblers.  Duck Lake birds are probably what it is going to come down to.  I wouldn't say no to any winter finches though.  Maybe some Red Crossbills will push down here.  

Here are some other photos I've managed to snap in the past few weeks.  

Couple of "artsy" shots of cobwebs in the morning sun.

It sure doesn't feel like much has happened bird-wise, but looking back at the numbers it has been a decent past 2 months.  July only had 73 birds, a farily middle of the road number.  I did manage a Yellow-breasted Chat (first July record for me) calling at Brooks Nature Area to add #191 to the year.  Another 1st July record for me was a Great Horned Owl calling outside at the house.  

Thought I had a shot to break 100 in August, but stalled out at 99.  Still vary productive with 5 FOY, and whole slew of early migrants.  August 10th a Baird's Sandpiper was reported at previously undiscovered fluddle location.  I was albe to run out there on the 11th and nab it, then head to the Millpond and catch a couple of FOY Great Egrets.  On the 20th this same fluddle gave up a couple of Stilt Sandpipers for #194.  On the 25th this same little fluddle gave up waaaaay better looks at a Wilson's Phalarope than the spring view.  

For early birds I had an American Wigeon at Homer on 8/13.  This thing was about 6 weeks early for the county.  I had a branch come down, and decided to leave it as I was noticing birds going through it.  Good thing I did I had my first ever August records of Wilson's Warbler (8/25) and Mourning Warbler (8/22).  Other early records:

1. Tennessee Warbler 8/22
2. Bay-breasted Warbler 8/22
3. Blackburnian Warbler 8/22
4. Chestnut-sided Warbler 8/22
5. Magnolia Warbler 8/25
6. Ovenbird 8/25
7. Nashville Warbler 8/25
8. Cape May Warbler 8/25 (FOY #195)
9. Black-and-white Warbler 8/26 (Woodland Park)

11 early records, and most of them by several days.  Gotta love nice cool weather and norhtern winds.  I've also had some notable late records of Willow Flycatcher and Acadian Flycatcher.  The Acadian gave me really good looks and audio for a record that is over 3 weeks later than my previous.  Both empids were on the 27th as well as an early Red-shouldered Hawk and another Baird's Sandpiper at the 20.5 Mile fluddle.  August ended with some Common Terns (#196) that Dr. Kennedy had spotted earlier in the day on the 30th.  Herc and I took a walk at Brooks to check for some closer, and then headed out for some really bad looks at the Terns as tey stayed on the other side of the lake most of the time.  The weather on this wonderful 3 day weekend has been quite hampering to migration with south winds and temps and humdity well above normal, into the mid-upper 80's.