Chirps and Cheeps

Celeste and I birded in Allegany County again with Doug Beattie at the helm this time. Doug had a few good spots in mind to help us increase our county lists. We never got the Prairie Warbler we were hoping for, but we had nice views of a pair of Eastern Wood-Pewees and  a female Mourning Warbler - although we were camera-less at the time, wouldn't you know?!

Another great sight was of a Broad-winged Hawk that remained on its perch long enough for us to grab some nice photos.  A little later, I saw another Broad-winged high up on a branch sunning himself - or perhaps drying off after a bath.  His wings were spread out similar to how a cormorant or heron dries or cools off.  I never saw a raptor do that before.

Later in the day, I finished up on my own over at Hanging Bog and found a handsome male Scarlet Tanager who was carrying food for his young.  A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak and his young fledgling were not too far away from a family of Cedar Waxwings in the process of nest building.  There's lots of family activity everywhere these days!