Chester, 10/6: A life-lister for me, today: a yellow-bellied sapsucker working on the bark of our apple tree. (Also a first for our yard.) Other yard visitors included eastern phoebe, eastern towhee, our usual gang of white-throated sparrows, and flicker. During a short walk down the road, I also caught bluebird, chipping sparrow, and a dramatic flyover by a pileated woodpecker (it seemed to be attracted to a mob of crows - whether it was just the crows, or what they were mobbing, can't be sure. The pileated swooped and dove into the tree where they were kicking up a fuss, then flew back across a farmyard to a maple tree, calling the whole time). - Tammy Eustis, Chester