Here on Flint Ridge in western Muskingum Co. it seems like the spring
season has extended well into a wet summer. It's raining again this
morning, and if the farmers get a dry week of weather to bring in the
second cutting of hay that is growing well it should be some really nice
food for the sheep and horses this coming winter. Qhite unlike last year.

Anyway, warblers continue to sing. Yesterday morning Jane and I took the
full circuit walk over the hill and into the deepest (southeasternmost)
ravine. At the entrance into the forest I heard a strange warbler song. It
had the quality of a hooded, but an unusual rising pattern, and none of the
over-the-top "tee-o" punctuation at the end. I searched around in the thick
foliage for the elusive bird, testing Jane's patience. Once found it looked
like any other garden-variety (I guess that's really forest-variety) adult
male hooded warbler. These guys have caused me some lengthy searches before
with their occasionally anomalous songs.

Three evenings ago, I guess that makes it Friday evening, I heard a
cerulean burst forth with two standard repetitions of its song. Common
yellowthroat song is persistent. And in the overgrown field thicket a
yellow-breasted chat continues to sing frequently.

I doubt if any of these birds are second-brooding, except possibly the
yellowthroats. But it does make you wonder.

I don't recall hearing a hooded as late as July 21 before.

Wood thrushes lend their voices to the chorus, as do many of our standard
residents.

Maybe life is just good, what with the rain and the resultant bugs.

Various mushrooms have been digging it as well. Fungus fruiting everywhere
in the forest.

Bob Evans
Geologist, etc.
Valhalla Acres Fiber Farm
Hopewell Township, Muskingum County

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