BS: Birdwatching 2012

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 07:37 PM

so cool, Freda. Thanks!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 09:54 PM

Freda,
That video is fantastic! I can now see why they call it "laughing".

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 12 Jan 12 - 09:59 PM

Gnu,
That's interesting behaviour, maybe you'll see it again and be able to find out what is happening?

I've seen waxwings passing a berry back and forth in summer, but at -15 it's not likely it was a mating ritual.

Perhaps the jay was choking on the peanut, but the other bird wasn't able to apply a Heimlich Maneuver? ;-)

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: maeve
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 12:04 AM

Jay head bobbing is usually associated with mating behavior. I've seen it even in winter.

Here's a link to interesting historical notes on jay observations for your reading pleasure.http://birdsbybent.com/ch21-30/bluejay.html

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 04:15 PM

Yeah... that was my first question. Males of all (most) species will do anything to get laid. Even when it's minus BRRRRRR degrees. Worth a shot eh? But, just ONE peanut? and in the shell? Not much of a committment eh? Where's the ring, sailor?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: maeve
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 07:24 PM

He's learning technique, g. Give him time!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 07:38 PM

Well, his nuts will be stale by spring. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: maeve
Date: 13 Jan 12 - 07:43 PM

He'll keep 'em on ice until spring.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 06:44 PM

A flock of Bohemian Waxwings landed in the big Larch across the street yesterday. This is part of the flock. I couldn't get all of them into one shot without being so far away they wouldn't look like birds. The waxwings stayed for over an hour, picking berries from the Mountain Ash (Rowan), below the Larch and eating snow from the house roof.

A lone European Starling was feeding there today. It flew away before I could photograph it.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: EBarnacle
Date: 20 Jan 12 - 07:50 PM

A female cardinal has joined the juncos on the porch.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 04:44 PM

rags... stunning pics... yet again. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 04:47 PM

Ahhhh... what's the diff between a Bohemian Waxwing and a Cedar Waxwing?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: maeve
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 04:53 PM

gnu- You might enjoy this comparison between the two: http://10000birds.com/cedar-waxwing-vs-bohemian-waxwing.htm

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Raptor
Date: 21 Jan 12 - 05:57 PM

Great shots Ragdall

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: NightWing
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 12:45 AM

At home, I've seen:

Canada Goose [Branta canadensis]
Great Horned Owl [Bubo virginianus]
Northern Flicker [Colaptes auratus]
American Crow [Corvus brachyrhynchos]
American Robin [Turdus migratorius]
European Starling [Sturnus vulgaris]
Dark-eyed Junco [Junco hyemalis], Slate-colored and Gray-headed
House Finch [Carpodacus mexicanus]
House Sparrow [Passer domesticus]

Elsewhere (all in Colorado), I'm up to 74 species for the year. The exciting ones were:

There has been a female Long-tailed Duck [Clangula hyemalis] spending the winter on (appropriately enough) "Duck Pond" in Denver's City Park.

An obviously mated and courting pair of Bald Eagle [Haliaeetus leucocephalus]. I've seen them three times in the same area. Quite obvious they're setting up household. Haven't seen the spectacular mating flight though. (Has anyone seen this scene in last fall's The Big Year?)

A pair of Great Horned Owl [Bubo virginianus] have been nesting somewhere in the wood behind my apartment building for several years. I hear them dueting regularly (though only once so far this year), but have never found their nest site. (Hint: Why is my Mudcat handle "NightWing"?)

One Snowy Owl [Bubo scandiacus] on a Christmas Bird Count before the year ended and another on a different CBC after this year started. This year's irruption of Snowy Owl is very exciting. There have been something like a dozen seen in Colorado this winter. Before this winter there had been ONE seen in Colorado for the past DECADE.

Northern Shrike [Lanius excubitor] Not terribly unusual, but for a small story. Last month I was trying very hard to break 200 species for the year. (JUUUUUUUUST made it; got my 200th species {Thayer's Gull} on 12/28.) I had figured that one of the best possibilities for those last two or three was Northern Shrike. Somehow I had not seen one all year. Couldn't find one and couldn't find one. Finally got a Shrike. It was (about) the 5th bird (not species, but individual) I saw on New Year's morning. *groan*

Walking in the hills just above Boulder, I left the trail and hiked up to the top of the ridge. Just as I reached the ridgetop, a flock of about a dozen Bushtit [Psaltriparus minimus] dropped down into a bush about a meter or so in front of me; almost within arm's reach.

Golden-crowned Sparrow [Zonotrichia atricapilla] is rare in Colorado, but two of them have wintered over at the same two spots both last winter and this. I've spotted them both, three years in a row now.

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: NightWing
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 01:07 AM

Oops! Miscounted: make that 71 as of today. ("duck sp.", "wren sp.", etc. don't count.)

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Raptor
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 03:21 AM

Nice work Night Wing but how many from your house and property alone?

The point of this thread was to familirize youself with the common birds and to be a "Home List Challenge" with other birdwatching stories as well. We've been doing this here for many years.
I'd like to hear the full list By the way. I visit Denver sometimes and have enjoyed birding there.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Raptor
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 03:32 AM

OK 3:30 am, I just reread your post, Sorry. I'll blame my brain injury. I'd still like to see the Colorado list.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 07:20 AM

gnu,
Thanks.

maeve's link about the difference between a Bohemian Waxwing and a Cedar Waxwing is very good.

The Cedars are very yellow on the underside. I look for the rusty colour on the underside of the tail in Bohemians. My ex was colour blind and couldn't see that. He looked for the small white patches on the wing of a Bohemian. Generally we get Cedars in summer, Bohemians in winter, but I have seen the odd Cedar mixed in with a winter flock.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 01:40 PM

Thanks m.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 01:53 PM

I started a thread on this above the line too but I thought the bird watchers here might enjoy it. About 1:30 into his song Josh Williams has a bird fly down and land on his guitar. But he manages to carry on.


What to do when a bird lands on your guitar during a performance.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: maeve
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 04:47 PM

I enjoyed that as much as I did rag's photos, Wesley. Thanks.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Little Hawk
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 08:41 PM

Wow! Amazing!

Well, I saw a Red Cardinal today, along with some House Finches, Chickadees, and Mourning Doves.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 09:46 PM

That is soooo coool!

I do believe that bird is a newly fledged Carolina Wren. How appropriate does it get!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 10:44 PM

Re: Carolina Wrens - bold little birds, very comfortable around humans. Leave your screen door propped open for 20 minutes in warm weather, or have a hole in the screen, and you WILL have Carolina Wrens in the house, if you happen to live in Carolina, which I do. I can't count how many times we had them in the house when I was married to a man who often propped the door open to move stuff in and and out then forgot to close it.

Several years ago I was moving stuff around and cleaning behind small appliances on the kitchen counter when I encountered what I at first thought was a speckled jelly bean that had somehow strayed from my son's Easter Basket collection of candy from a couple of months earlier. It was a Carolina Wren's egg that had been laid behind the bread machine on the countertop. I cried (silly me) when I broke it in the process of unpacking after my move.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 22 Jan 12 - 11:04 PM

Wesley,
That video is wonderful! Thanks for posting the link here.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 23 Jan 12 - 07:16 PM

Boy, was I wrong. The fledgling is a cardinal per a post on the above the line thread. When I looked at the video last night I had on old reading glasses and also didn't think to enlarge the screen. Also let some assumptions get in the way of what I was seeing, wrens, even adult wrens, not minding people much. Thought it was awfully large for a wren but attributed that to it being puffed up, and thru the old glasses thought I saw an eye-stripe and a long, curved beak - all distortion.

Looking at it tonight with proper glasses and full-screen, the wedge-shaped beak is obvious as is the little crest. I should'a known better!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Elmore
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 01:42 PM

Do crows count? I hear they're very intelligent. Perhaps they do count.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 24 Jan 12 - 01:42 PM

Cool vid and the tune was great.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 25 Jan 12 - 01:31 PM

All birds count. Crows are very cool to watch. Ravens moreso.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: bobad
Date: 28 Jan 12 - 10:52 PM

There is a rare phenomenon happening with a mass southern migration of snowy owls this winter.

Article about it here.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 12:27 AM

Have been following news accounts of their irruption. I'm too far south but can imagine the delight of birdwatchers in the central latitudes of the USA.


For the past 10-14 days a flock of black vultures has been roosting in the stand of trees that make a small wooded area across the road from my house. What a delight it is to watch them as they approach, circle, and then land in the tall trees.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 09:10 AM

Not Black Vultures. Meant to say Turkey Vultures.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 29 Jan 12 - 09:33 PM

Late this morning I was in the back of the house when my son yelled, "Mom, look out the window!" I hurried the front where the big windows are, and there were 7 or 8 of the vultures on the ground in my yard and several more in the trees. I've never had the opportunity to observe them so closely before and for such a long period of time.

They are remarkably alert birds. No surprise they have keen eye sight. The closest on the ground were probably 40 ft. from the house. When I approached the window with the camera they immediately flew up into the trees. I was still 3 or 4 feet away from the window. A little later I was in a back bedroom with big windows, but with venetian blinds that were down but with open slats, observing, but standing against the opposite wall from the window. They didn't fly up again, but everytime I moved, the two closest birds started, and shifted away a little. I was well behind them at that angle, so they apparently have amazing peripheral vision also.

I had dumped some suet nuggets out of the feeders several days ago that were all clumped together and that is what drew their interest. I noticed several crows shadowing them, drawn by their interest. I always have crows, but these crows were obviously keyed in on opportunistically following the vultures.

Yesterday evening I watched with my neighbor for about 20 minutes as the flock glided in and gathered in the trees behind his house. This morning he told me that just before full dark last night, the entire flock moved for the night to a stand of trees behind his brother's house, about 50 yards away from where they first gathered.

The Eastern Cherokee call Vultures Peace Eagles.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 11:35 PM

Yesterday I finally saw Bohemian Waxwings in my backyard.
I shot a few images through my (open) kitchen window and climbed a ladder on my deck to catch some on the roof.
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/diffuse/sets/72157629123166151/
(There are 4 images, scroll down to see all.)
rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 31 Jan 12 - 11:45 PM

Breathtaking photos, ragdall. We are so fortunate that you share these photos here.

Must have had a senior moment filling the feeders on Sunday. Wondered last night why one of the sunflower feeders was still full while the other was empty, but didn't have time to check it out until tonight. (And still don't have time to correct the problem.) When I hurriedly filled the feeders Sunday evening I not only filled the thistle feeder with nyger feed, I filled one of the sunflower feeders with nyger feed. Now I know that nyger seed appeals only to small finches.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 05:55 AM

Thanks, Janie,
I'm surprised that the nyjer seed didn't all slip out from the feeder, it's so fine. Maybe the other birds will learn to like it? (joking)

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 08:43 AM

Great photos - we don't get waxwings in the UK so never seen one before.

The other day the missus saw a sparrowhawk fly up from our garden fence, latch onto a small bird (unidentified) and fly off with it. Well, it was lunchtime...

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 01 Feb 12 - 10:20 PM

Rags, I said sunflower feeder because that is what I put in it, but it is a springed squirrel-proof feeder with a cylindrical hopper. The feeding apertures are at the base of the cylinder. It will hold any seed up to the size of sunflower seed, but peanuts are large enough to jam the divided tube.

The starlings wiped out a new suet cake in 1/2 day. The "caged" suet feeder, designed to keep out large birds and squirrels is touched only by the wrens. I thought that might be the case, but was hoping the bluebirds and nuthatches might also venture in.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 02:17 PM

The cardinals were hard at work this morning in the pine boughs, sweeping the snow out of their old nest.

My mother's squirrel-proof feeder keeps out the gray squirrels but not the fat little red squirrel that owns her front yard.

Eagles are refurbishing their nest platform on the Sasanoa River.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 02 Feb 12 - 03:03 PM

rags... always excellent pics!

Red squirrel = rat with bushy tail. Grey = bigger rat with bigger bushy tail.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 04:24 PM

Our big fat robin has arrived to get drunk in Mum's apple tree. -21C this AM. Guess he needs a bit of "warmth".

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 06:39 PM

Janie,
How many starlings are you feeding? I've had several crows empty a suet feeder in record time when I could get only small chunks of beef fat from the butcher to fill it.

gnu,
I think you must have gotten the cold that was intended for us?
It's nice when old friends return. I don't expect to see robins here for another three weeks, but with our crazy warm weather, who knows what is possible?

Red squirrels are adorable rats, when there is only one around. Ours has his own feeder. Unfortunately the crows have learned how to steal peanuts from it. Today I watched a crow taking two nuts at one time.   

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: EBarnacle
Date: 03 Feb 12 - 11:14 PM

The robins hasve returned to Basking Ridge. Does that make them Basking Robins?
The local flock of turkeys has been much in evidence. We also were in Staten Island and saw a rather large flock on the grounds of the State mental hospital. Both flocks look fat and sassy.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: NightWing
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 12:25 AM

If anyone is not a member of eBird <http://ebird.org> yet, you should check it out!!!

Up to 13 at home this year:

Canada Goose [Branta canadensis]
Red-tailed Hawk [Buteo jamaicensis]
Eurasian Collared-Dove [Streptopelia decaocto]
Great Horned Owl [Bubo virginianus]
Downy Woodpecker [Picoides pubescens]
Northern Flicker [Colaptes auratus]
Blue Jay [Cyanocitta cristata]
American Crow [Corvus brachyrhynchos]
American Robin [Turdus migratorius]
European Starling [Sturnus vulgaris]
Dark-eyed Junco [Junco hyemalis]
House Finch [Carpodacus mexicanus]
House Sparrow [Passer domesticus]

Raptor asked for my list for all of Colorado as well, now up to 87 (again, for 2012).

Snow Goose [Chen caerulescens]
Cackling Goose [Branta hutchinsii]
Canada Goose [Branta canadensis]
Trumpeter Swan [Cygnus buccinator]
Gadwall [Anas strepera]
American Wigeon [Anas americana]
Mallard [Anas platyrhynchos]
Northern Shoveler [Anas clypeata]
Northern Pintail [Anas acuta]
Green-winged Teal [Anas crecca]
Canvasback [Aythya valisineria]
Redhead [Aythya americana]
Ring-necked Duck [Aythya collaris]
Lesser Scaup [Aythya affinis]
Long-tailed Duck [Clangula hyemalis]
Bufflehead [Bucephala albeola]
Common Goldeneye [Bucephala clangula]
Hooded Merganser [Lophodytes cucullatus]
Common Merganser [Mergus merganser]
Ruddy Duck [Oxyura jamaicensis]
Pied-billed Grebe [Podilymbus podiceps]
Horned Grebe [Podiceps auritus]

Eared Grebe [Podiceps nigricollis]
Western Grebe [Aechmophorus occidentalis]
Double-crested Cormorant [Phalacrocorax auritus]
Great Blue Heron [Ardea herodias]
Bald Eagle [Haliaeetus leucocephalus]
Northern Harrier [Circus cyaneus]
Cooper's Hawk [Accipiter cooperii]
Red-tailed Hawk [Buteo jamaicensis]
Rough-legged Hawk [Buteo lagopus]
Golden Eagle [Aquila chrysaetos]
American Kestrel [Falco sparverius]
Prairie Falcon [Falco mexicanus]
American Coot [Fulica americana]
Ring-billed Gull [Larus delawarensis]
California Gull [Larus californicus]
Herring Gull [Larus argentatus]
Thayer's Gull [Larus thayeri]
Lesser Black-backed Gull [Larus fuscus]
Glaucous Gull [Larus hyperboreus]
Rock Pigeon [Columba livia]
Eurasian Collared-Dove [Streptopelia decaocto]
Mourning Dove [Zenaida macroura]

Great Horned Owl [Bubo virginianus]
Snowy Owl [Bubo scandiacus]
Belted Kingfisher [Megaceryle alcyon]
Downy Woodpecker [Picoides pubescens]
Hairy Woodpecker [Picoides villosus]
Northern Flicker [Colaptes auratus]
Northern Shrike [Lanius excubitor]
Steller's Jay [Cyanocitta stelleri]
Blue Jay [Cyanocitta cristata]
Western Scrub-Jay [Aphelocoma californica]
Black-billed Magpie [Pica hudsonia]
American Crow [Corvus brachyrhynchos]
Common Raven [Corvus corax]
Black-capped Chickadee [Poecile atricapillus]
Mountain Chickadee [Poecile gambeli]
Bushtit [Psaltriparus minimus]
Red-breasted Nuthatch [Sitta canadensis]
White-breasted Nuthatch [Sitta carolinensis]
Pygmy Nuthatch [Sitta pygmaea]
Brown Creeper [Certhia americana]
American Dipper [Cinclus mexicanus]
Western Bluebird [Sialia mexicana]

Townsend's Solitaire [Myadestes townsendi]
American Robin [Turdus migratorius]
European Starling [Sturnus vulgaris]
Bohemian Waxwing [Bombycilla garrulus]
Yellow-rumped Warbler [Setophaga coronata]
Spotted Towhee [Pipilo maculatus]
American Tree Sparrow [Spizella arborea]
Song Sparrow [Melospiza melodia]
White-crowned Sparrow [Zonotrichia leucophrys]
Golden-crowned Sparrow [Zonotrichia atricapilla]
Dark-eyed Junco [Junco hyemalis]
Red-winged Blackbird [Agelaius phoeniceus]
Western Meadowlark [Sturnella neglecta]
Great-tailed Grackle [Quiscalus mexicanus]
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch [Leucosticte tephrocotis]
House Finch [Carpodacus mexicanus]
Pine Siskin [Spinus pinus]
Lesser Goldfinch [Spinus psaltria]
American Goldfinch [Spinus tristis]
Evening Grosbeak [Coccothraustes vespertinus]
House Sparrow [Passer domesticus]

Definite and obvious misses so far:

A Greater Roadrunner has been hanging around on a ridge west of Denver: FAAAAAR out of its normal range. I still haven't managed to see it, though dozens (hundreds?) of other Denver-area birders have.

Horned Lark, Ferruginous Hawk, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Killdeer, Ring-necked Pheasant, and Canyon Wren.

Tomorrow (2012 Feb 4): Boulder's GULLAPALOOZA - The only day in the year that we get to go into the grounds (most importantly, the cooling ponds) of the Valmont power plant. With the storm last night, all day today, and tonight, the gulls should be hanging out RIGHT THERE for us. Possibility of as many as 5 lifers for me. Wish me luck!!!

BB,
NightWing

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 06:35 AM

NightWing, Good luck!

My January tally is 9 species:
House sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
Bohemian Waxwing
Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Northern Flicker

I wonder what February will bring?

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 11:30 AM

Here in the UK, February has brought the blackbirds. There were 8 of them in our garden 20 mins ago. Where have they been?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: ragdall
Date: 04 Feb 12 - 10:50 PM

Pete,
A flock of Red-winged Blackbirds were reported here a few days ago, also a male Northern Pintail Duck. It's been suggested that because of the warmer winter they were wintering a little south of here and are moving a little northward while the thaw lasts.   

I forgot to put the redpolls on my January list:
My January tally is 10 species:

House Sparrow
House Finch
Dark-eyed Junco
Common Redpolls
European Starling
Bohemian Waxwing
American Crow
Black-capped Chickadee
Brown Creeper
Northern Flicker

February has been quiet so far:

House Sparrow
House Finch
Black-capped Chickadee
Northern Flicker
American Crow

I'm hoping for American Robins and Varied Thrush before the end of the month. We'll even have an extra day for them to arrive.

rags

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 09:52 AM

The first for me to see in my yard and also the very first thing I saw when my eyes opened this morning - a red-shouldered hawk was perched on a low branch very close to the house.

I rarely get such a good, long, close look.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2012
From: Janie
Date: 05 Feb 12 - 12:12 PM

I had not thought about keeping a bird list by month, but what a good idea - over time yields real specific information about when seasonal species arrive and depart on your exact locale.

And.....100!