Today’s post starts with a guest picture. After I left for work this morning, my better half spotted this Rose-breasted Grosbeak on the window sill of our bedroom window and snapped a shot (and promptly texted it to me!):

Rose-breasted Grosbeak
I couldn’t wait to get home and spot one myself. So, a little after 5:00 p.m., I set up the camera and tripod on the deck and waited . . . and waited. The usuals appeared, including Northern Cardinals, a Gray Catbird, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Carolina Wrens, Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmice, Blue Jays, Northern Mockingbirds, and Mourning Doves. Around 6:00 p.m., a pair of Barred Owls began calling to each other in the woods behind my neighbor’s house.
Finally, around 7:00 p.m., a Black-throated Blue Warbler appeared:

Black-throated Blue Warbler
He was followed by a Northern Parula:

Northern Parula
Then a Swamp Sparrow:

Swamp Sparrow
And, finally, a male Common Yellowthroat:

Common Yellowthroat