BS: Birdwatching Challenge

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 03:04 PM

HAHAHAHAHA!

The red-bellied woodpecker is trying to beat his own brains out.

(Actually, he's trying to take bites out of the stale sourdough bread I tossed out to the feeders. But I just heard his forehead go "thunk!" again...)

Silly lug.

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 19 Feb 06 - 04:28 PM

I've had a happy weekend in Dorset and spotted:

Green finch,
Chaffinch,
Grey backed gull,
crow,
pheasant,
mallard,
Aylesbury duck,
sparrow,
robin,
great tit,
long tailed tit
pied wagtail,
magpie,
bald parrot (OK, so it was in someone's front room and neurotic),
song thrush,
black bird and
rook.

Not bad for one day!

Amazing the difference between London and Dorset!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 05:54 PM

Going off to look up all the American birds in my bird book. I met some of them on our trip last year. I often think about the sad songs of the Mourning Doves and the truly mad all-day concerts performed by Mocking Birds.
We were at a musical gathering over the weekend and we were treated to some amazing bird songs by birds that are forest dwellers. We don't hear them often out on the plains. Butcher birds - beautiful voices and killers of little birds. Like the murder ballads that sound so lovely but tell of such horror.
Wild laughter of Kookaburras. They laugh in counterpoint. True-Love never tires of hearing them. He says there's nothing on Earth that sounds like a Kookaburra. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 07:43 PM

Well my 2006 count is up to 19, I added one today, a good 'un. It was a hermit thrush. [big grin] This is only the second one I've ever seen. Both were in my back yard.

I got a few (rather fuzzy) pictures and will try to post them tomorrow. This one was smaller than the one I saw last year, it was about the size of a song sparrow, and it was farther from the house. Hard to photograph because it blended into the fallen leaves so well (guess we should have raked up that last batch of oak leaves, huh?) I didn't see the red/russet tail but it shows up in the photos.

Over the weekend we had flocks of migrants passing through, I think. I saw members of 16 of the 18 species I listed earlier, lots and lots of them. Fun.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 21 Feb 06 - 08:23 PM

Red bellied woodpecker has also made his presence known here but is pecking on an electric pole looking for bugs???

One purple finch showed today to hang with the 40 or 50 gold finches (that ain't yellow now)...

Okay, I wasn't going to bring this up but there are over 5000 chicken houses in this county and, well, once in a while while loading 'um up to be taken off to the "processing center" (don't ask...) one will escape... Yeah, we had one last week down by the road hiding in the bushes... I reckon Mr. Fox "processed" it 'cause we ain't seen it since...

BObert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 07:54 AM

Well, crap.

It's official. :/ The starlings have found the feeder.

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 22 Feb 06 - 08:15 AM

Was talking to a retired neighbor yesterday about the abundant pecan harvest this year, and a significant decrease in the still plentiful gray squirrel population. The squirrel population had gotten so large that for the last 3 or 4 years, they were eating 90% the pecans before they matured and fell. He noted that our crow population has increased over the last year and thinks the crows are going after the baby squirrels and keeping the squirrel population in check.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 07:45 AM

Well, more power to them. :/

Huh; something just upset the local squirrel colony here. You ever notice that when they set off their alarm, no matter what the danger "really" is, it's always a cat? ("CAaaat! chupchupchupchupchupchup CAaaat!")


Red bellied woodpecker has also made his presence known here but is pecking on an electric pole looking for bugs

:::snicker:::

Bobert, still remember one morning when I was wakened by a woodpecker (think it was a downy) rat-tat!-tat!-tat!-tat!-tat!ing on an aluminum ladder outside.

God knows WHAT kind of insect life he was looking for. I just hope he didn't give himself a concussion...

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 08:19 AM

Bobert, lucky you! A red headed woodpecker, and a purple finch! We just don't see either of them much, here in the city/suburbs. Only purple finch I ever saw was in West Virginia.

Woodpeckers don't just drum to get at bugs. They do it to announce their territories, too. Judy and Dennis Cook found this out the hard way. A woodpecker was rat-tat-ing on the shingles of their porch every morning, so they covered the spot where he was pecking with metal. Oh, Boy, did that woodpecker have a good time with that! It made a joyful noise unto the neighborhood. I think they covered the area with rubber or styrofoam after that.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 08:27 AM

No, Rita, sadly enough, it was a red "bellied" which actually have the yellowish belly with the red head... Yeah, I know the red heads is rare... We had a pair for a couple years up in Wes Ginny..

We are very tickled with the purplr finch, however...

Fionn,

Ahhhh, yer woodpecker wasn't lookin' for bugs in the aluminim ladder. He was lookin' fir love... They pound on resonate stuff with a definate rythunm to it to make it known that they are "available"... Sometimes they will do it on the gable of a bouse becuase it resonates nicely...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 01:33 PM

Ever since I colored pictures of red headed woodpeckers in elementary school, I have hoped to see one live.   Last year one visited the feeders in my yard for two days. I have not seen it since.   A neighbor whose house adjoins a relatively large wooded area hosted the bird more frequently.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Little Hawk
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 01:38 PM

No sign of that Perspicacious Twaddler today. Too bad. I was hoping to get a good picture of it this time. A flock of Russel's Pileated Ptarmigan came by, though. That was pretty neat. You don't see them every day.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: wordfella
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 02:32 PM

Since our recent move to a lake house, we've been amazed at the bird count

But today tops it! A bald eagle sat on the ice just off our boat dock and stared at two starlings. I'm 61, and have just seen my first eagle.

We got photos. I'll figure out how to post one if you want.

Chris

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 03:22 PM

I'm off for a drive tomorrow.. hopefully I'll get to see one of those purple headed thingies.... or a red kite.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 23 Feb 06 - 05:04 PM

yer woodpecker wasn't lookin' for bugs in the aluminim ladder. He was lookin' fir love...

I thought he was auditioning for "Stomp"...

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 06:48 AM

Chris--Please! definitely pictures!

The goldfinches are mad at me. Ran out of paycheck and then out of thistle seed. But come tommorrow morning I suspect all will be forgiven.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 03:23 AM

I've just dug out our response to the 2006 UK Big Birdwatch:
5 blackbirds,3 blue tits,10 chaffinches,1 coal tit,2 collared doves, 1 dunnock,1 goldfinch, 1 great tit, 6 greenfinches, 2 long tail tits, 3 magpies, 3 robins, 8 starlings, 2 wood pigeons, 1 Gt Spotted woodpecker, 2 siskins, 1 songthrush, 1 brambling, 1 nuthatch,1 pied wagtail,3 redpolls.
All in the hour.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 08:56 AM

Didn't go for a drive, went for a walk instead. Too bloody cold out for anything much except gulls and pigeons.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Donuel
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 12:06 PM

http://www.bobrivers.com/audiovault/downloads/cheneyvid.asp

flash animation of bird watching in TX

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 08:40 PM

I just got another Lifer today but it wasn't my backyard it was a friend's.

European Goldfinch

In the middle of North America!

Its a big deal.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 09:42 PM

Donuel,

Sick...

...but not so funny...

Tell ya' what... If Dick "Rambo" Cheney shows up on my property with his "gun" he's gonna get a serious butt whup put on him...

I thought is was disgusting to read where this guy had shot some 80 domestically raised birds with his bud, Scalia, last year...

Grrrrr.....

Now back to bird "watching"...

Nothing new at the feeders today but the gold finches have the "numbers" going for them at present... Oughtta be a ral show come summer...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 09:44 PM

Raptor, it is a big deal.   I would like to add one to my list.   Maybe it will visit your backyard before it goes wherever it was headed.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 09:53 PM

Whoa Raptor--that is something else! Let us know if it hangs around.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Feb 06 - 11:31 PM

The only thing I don't like about this thread is that my eyes are turning green. So many birds ... and most of them aren't in my yard.... RtS, there are lots of us over here who would love to see any one of the birds you listed. Chris, yes, please, pictures. Raptor, you lucky dog! I have read about European Goldfinches reaching the U.S. but it's a big deal when it happens.

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:57 AM

ACK! Good lord.

Right now, as I type, the feeding stations are abandoned.

That's probably because there's a raptor calmly perched about ten feet away from the window.

I am guessing it might be an immature redtail. He just turned around and has some "baby fluff" on his back that hasn't been shed yet.

(Hated to do it, but I went out and shooed him away; 'cause when I looked down, there was one tiny sparrow on the balcony, literally frozen with terror that the hawk might see her and decide she was breakfast. She managed to fly away shortly after he did.)

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:27 AM

It works both ways, Rita...

Remember when you and Bill came over to visit when Greg and Kate were here from the UK?

Well, their first day was maveling at the vaious birds *we* almost take for granted... Even the dreaded blue jays were of major interest to them.. And for the entire week they never got over seeing the cardinals...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Donuel
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:34 AM

We have a predator bird with about a 6 ft wingspan here all year long. Once I saw him fly off with a snake in its talons. It is a huge bird but I don't know what kind it is.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 08:52 AM

The American Goldfinches here (Piedmont area of North Carolina) are beginning to molt.

On my front porch is a plant stand that sits in front of the window where I work at the computer. I didn't clean up the pots in it after the coleus was frost-killed late last fall. A Carolina Wren has taken up residence. It appears to like to watch the computer screen through the glass.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 11:39 AM

Well. I'm a bit green too. The new squirrel buster has been up and full for over a month now and still no birds have discovered it. The only good thing is the rats haven't visited it either.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Boris and Edith Jay
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 01:30 PM

We've been watching Raptor for months now. He's boring and predictable, but he does put out free food! Not bad. We keep hoping he'll do something original or entertaining. That and the food is what keeps us coming back.

Well...the food mainly, to be perfectly blunt about it.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 01:56 PM

What the hell was that?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 02:11 PM

:::snicker:::

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: rock chick
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 03:46 PM

ok today

1 Robin, he seems to be here every year
two geen finches, the familey are normally here every year
loads of sparrows
2 magpie, oh does that mean i get a kiss!!
two blue tits...no comments please!!
Three blackbirds, one male, two females.

Then i really had to get back to some work in the office ;o(

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: rock chick
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 03:47 PM

Oh and last night i saw two barn owls
and a swan in a field!! dont expect that counts though ;o( but it was great anyway

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 04:47 PM

I'm thinking about how just a few blocks and minor habitat changes influence the birds we see. I have never seen a house sparrow, and song sparrow or a common pidgeon in or near my yard. Three blocks away, in our little downtown district, all three are common. The starling are everywhere at my office which is a short 1 1/2 blocks from home. I rarely see them in my yard.

Adding Turkey Buzzard to my species list.

Seeing wild turkeys out on some land we own in the country a few miles north of here. Once I actually saw a wild turkey near our house down along a creek that makes a little greenway for several blocks down to the river. That was several years ago and I think she hightailed it back to the river pretty quick once she realized she was in town.

I'm also seeing more rufus-sided towhees.

Janie

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 06:10 PM

Janie, I once read a report on an observation of a certain type of Australian Honey-eater. It was observed that this bird and it's mate lived their whole life near one Grevillia bush. They defended their home from other birds and were totally dependant on it. It's the same for many types of bird and also other animals and insects.
I get so sad about the destruction of habitat by humans who say "The wildlife can go somewhere else". Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:12 PM

I seen a female flip-faced flicker at the bar last night, eh?

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 27 Feb 06 - 07:50 PM

Did she just fly away at the end of the evenin', Blind???

Nevermind... How would you have known by the end of evenin'???....

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 08:57 AM

Know what you mean, Joybell. In this month's USA addition of National Geographic there is a good article on habitat 'hotspots' and their loss. This particular article focuses on California, but if I remember correctly (and I may not) it made reference to unique habitat and microclimates in Australia.

Had a down-right goofy looking goldfinch at the feeder this morning. Splotches of yellow and puffs of molting feathers. The girls don't look too impressed yet.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: wordfella
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:04 AM

Eagle pic (see 2/24 post)
here

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 10:42 AM

Wow!

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: wordfella
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 11:20 AM

We haven't seen him since; a neighbor says she's seen them in the trees a few times, but never on the ice.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 01:44 PM

Nice Photo

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: TheBigPinkLad
Date: 28 Feb 06 - 02:00 PM

The Gorge madness has begun. There's a sliver of the ocean that runs deep inland next to where I live in Canada. Some 40 - 50 pairs of merganser are taking foot-trailing flights across the water for about 30 metres at a time. Quite a sight. Oddly, they are accompanied by almost as many cormorants. Very eerie when they drop right to the waterline so just their necks are showing like dozens of snakes above the water.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 09:12 AM

My February Home List:

CORA- Common Raven
COHA- Coopers Hawk
NOSR- Northern Shrike

Total year to date 17 Spieces

It will get better when migration reaches me!

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 01 Mar 06 - 10:18 PM

Here's the list from the southern tip of the Ozarks. Not much variation from January.   I hope to add Purple Martins in March.

Blue Jay
Bluebird
Cardinal
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Common Grackle
Crow
Downy Woodpecker
Goldfinch
Hairy Woodpecker
House Sparrow
Junco
Mockingbird
Mourning Dove
Purple Finch
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Robin
Starling
Tufted Titmouse
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow Shafted Flicker

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 07:00 AM

Hmmm...have been trying to determine if the sparows coming to feed are all the same species. If not maybe I can add a couple of bullet-points to my list.

At first I thought they were house sparrows or tree sparrows, but their caps are black-striped. (Don't the first two have solid-color caps?)

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 07:40 AM

Yes youre right.
Keep studying them.

Which book do you have?

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 08:32 AM

I don't tend to use a field-guide. If I have an inkling of what species it "might" be, I do a Google image-search and usually that's enough to nail it. (If it's not, I throw it out to a forum.)

I KNOW there's House and/or Tree sparrows here, because the solid-capped birds are present. I just can't place the ones with the broad black streaks on top of their heads. Kind of looks like the markings you'd expect on a tabby cat.

(On a marginally related note....my God, I hate squirrels.)

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Mar 06 - 08:44 AM

"Tweet"   - - -   200 !!!