BS: Birdwatching 2009

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 12:13 PM

My tits are sulking and are in a foul temper with me... I trimmed all the foliage away from the back fence with a view to replacing it in a couple of weeks. Thus, in one fell swoop, I took out their favourite perches and knocked their feeder over the fence. At least now they can see the cat coming and the new fence will have a bit of trelliswork where they can perch in little squares.

Bastard birds don't know they're born!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 11:27 AM

Good timing, Raptor! I finally got around to putting up the cast iron hook and hung a full bird feeder on it earlier this week, and yesterday the "discovery" happened--lots of birds hanging around. My usual suspects, I'm afraid. Doves (mourning and white winged), cardinal, and lots of little finches and sparrow types. I'll have to get out a bird book and see what they are. (LGB and LBB are probably not what you want to hear, right?)

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Arkie
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 10:44 AM

From Mountain View, Arkansas, about 100 miles north of Little Rock and around 100 miles south of the Missouri border, small town of just less than 3000 on the southern fringe of the Ozark mountains. So far this year:

American Goldfinch
Tufted Titmouse
Chickadee
Blue Jay
Junco
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow Breasted Sapsucker

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Raptor
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 09:09 AM

I'm in Ontario 1 hour north of Toronto.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 06:29 AM

We're in Maine.

Yesterday brought in icy winds; most birds were trying to stay warm. We did see crows, blue jays, black-capped chickadees, American goldfinches, and both hairy and downy woodpeckers. I won't mention the sharpshinned hawk that visited a few days ago since that was last year. Our bantams took one look outside and refused to leave their house, cursing horribly until I finished giving them warm water and fresh food, closing the door behind me.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Cats
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 02:52 AM

I was so pleased yesteday to see the family of long tailed tits back on my bird table. They are balls of fluff on a stick!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Escapee
Date: 02 Jan 09 - 02:37 AM

Maye Liz could shift her reporting station in a nearby park?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 10:55 PM

Here in Basking Ridge, I've seen the usual sparrows and such around here. However, a family of tufted titmice and some chickadees have been hanging out earlier in the day.

On my way down from a friend's cabin in the pocono mts, the other day, I saw a flock of wild turkeys and a pileated woodpecker. There are an awful lot of birds out there if you just keep your eyes open.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Beer
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 09:44 PM

I'll play along as I am an avid watcher. However, I will report only when I have the opportunity to do so. It would also be nice so see where folks are reporting from. I for one don't know where many Catters are from and I think in a bird count it is important. I reside in Quebec and spotted 3 male Cow birds and one female today. To G.Damn cold for anything but staying inside.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Raptor
Date: 01 Jan 09 - 09:20 PM

Liz I don't think it's fair that i don't have tits at all.

In Canada we call them Chickadees.

This is more about enjoying our birds with a good excuse than a competition. You can enjoy the birds in a suburb.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: freda underhill
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 05:45 AM

On Sunday I went for a walk through the Sydney Botanic Gardens with my daughter, granddaughter and grandson. We saw dozens of flying foxes and a sulphur crested cockatoo.

freda

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 31 Dec 08 - 05:00 AM

Not really fair on us urbanites who - if we're really lucky can see an escaped canary (I assume it was an escapee - it certainly isn't native to east London) or the roaming flocks of parakeets that inhabit our larger parks, but for the most part, we get the same old LBJs every year...

Not that I don't love my tits, all three varieties, and the sparrows that have moved back are proving to be entertaining as they imitate the tits, but other than a lost wren, there's nothing exciting going on here...

Still, I'll keep my usual count.

Seen from my kitchen door or in the garden in 2008:
Great tits
Blue tits
Coal tits
Wren
Robins
Magpies
Wood pigeons
Racing pigeons (not so pink but still as stupid)
Canary (the all 'egg yolk yellow' variety, male - well it was singing)
Green finch (or green linnet)
Blackbirds (male and female, unfortunately the nest was robbed out by the magpies)
Black headed gull (in winter and summer plummage)
Assorted BBJ's (Big Black Jobs) that were probably crow, rook and cat.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Escapee
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 03:41 PM

I'll play from northwest Ohio.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:43 AM

I'll flutter along. Thanks, Raptor.

maeve

Subject: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Raptor
Date: 30 Dec 08 - 08:37 AM

Start Jan 1 , Count Speices that you see at your house or yard. See how many you get in 2009. Only from your house or a 100 foot radius from your property. In 2003 I got 49, in 2004 I got 60, and last year I got 63. We can check in once a month to see how we're doing.
Who's in?

A lot of us had fun with this and it helps with your birding skills.
If you hear a bird and you know what it is that counts too.

Raptor