Huge Flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds ~ October 3, 2026

There were 6 Green-winged Teal at the Hollo Road retention pond.

Green-winged Teal

On the way over to the Newburg Road retention pond, I came across a huge flock of European Starlings and Brown-headed Cowbirds near the corner of Northwood Avenue and Van Buren Road. I estimated that there were about 800 Brown-headed Cowbirds with around 1000 Starlings.

A tiny sample of the huge flock of European Starlings and Brown-headed Cowbirds.

I got some nice photos of the close Brown-headed Cowbirds.

Brown-headed Cowbirds

Over at the Newburg Road site, the Greater Yellowlegs continued in the pond and over 20 Savannah Sparrows were still present around it.

Greater Yellowlegs

Savannah Sparrows

The six Snow Geese continued over at Green Pond. Of the original group of around 40 birds present in late Spring, these six birds survived through the summer and are still present. Were they infected by the Avian Flu just enough that they were unable to migrate? I have seen them fly, but only for short distances. There were also 26 Mallards and a Gray Catbird there.

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The First Good Movement of Sparrows ~ October 1, 2026

I did a late morning check of the Newburg Road retention pond. The weedy edge around the pond held an amazing number of Savannah Sparrows. They were perched on the fence and in the saplings around the pond with groups of five or more flying in and out of the weedy areas.

Savannah Sparrows

The Greater Yellowlegs continued in the pond along with 7 Killdeer.

Greater Yellowlegs

The tiny wooded patch by the pond held a Gray Catbird. I walked across the street towards Koch Toyota to check the weedy field there and found even more Savannah Sparrows.

Savannah Sparrows

I took these three photos from the same spot and just adjusted the focus to show a close bird in the lower left, a middle bird in a sapling, and a far bird behind it.

A close Savannah Sparrow with two more distant birds in the upper right.

A Savannah Sparrow a little farther away in a sapling.

A more distant Savannah Sparrow just beyond that bird.

I conservatively counted at least 40 birds, but I really believe that there were more than 50 seen. It was the most Savannah Sparrows I've ever found at one site.

In the corner of the field, I noticed a Tennessee Warbler, my 118th species for the site.

Tennessee Warbler

Several Palm Warblers were also there, including one "western" bird.

A "western" Palm Warbler, which shows yellow only under the tail.

An "eastern" Palm Warbler, which is yellowish overall.

Soon after, a young White-crowned Sparrow popped up, which was my first one of the season.

A young White-crowned Sparrow.

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