A cold front arrived over our area from the NW early on Saturday morning bringing a fine drizzle and low cloud cover. I ventured out into our garden to refill the hummingbird feeders and it became very apparent that there were a lot of birds moving around in the trees and shrubs. I had an hour before going to work so made the most of it and tallied 6 species of warbler; Blackburnian, Tennessee, Hooded, Parula, Magnolia and Pine. Julie added an American Redstart and a female Common Yellowthroat to the list while I was at work. Other migrants included a young male Indigo Bunting, which I managed to get a poor picture of through the window, 2 male Baltimore Orioles, 2 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Wood-peewee and the usual assortment of backyard birds. Perhaps the most interesting (for us) sightings were two Red-headed Woodpeckers. They breed in our county and within the city limits but not in our neighborhood. The only records we have for the garden are of juveniles in October. Red-headed Woodpeckers are migratory, I once saw one fly in off the Gulf of Mexico in late fall 4 years ago. 2 Ruby-throated Hummingbirds were also present.

Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea

The next day (sunday) there was very little present and pretty much all of the migrants had bugged out the night before. After watching game 6 of the ALCS I listened at the living room window for a few minutes and heard several Swainson's Thrushes flying over as well as a couple of American Redstarts. Later in the day after I got home from work I spotted our first Hermit Thrush of the autumn dining on beauty berries in the back garden. Winter is almost here.