BS: Birdwatching Challenge

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: lady penelope
Date: 22 Mar 06 - 12:47 PM

Well, had a bit of a first for us here in down town beautiful Walthamstow (London - UK) today.

Sitting on the window ledge on the house opposite us was a game pheasant. Seemed perfectly ok and flew off about 20 minutes later. I have no idea where the heck it came from or, indeed, where it went............

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Cats
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 10:30 AM

Apart from the birds that regularly visit our garden, including pheasants who came face to face with one of my cats yesterday [Pheasant 1 cat 0], we have a yellowhammer visiting at the moment. Beautiful markings.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Jeri
Date: 23 Mar 06 - 12:10 PM

I'm up to 14.
I should mention that the red-tailed hawk was perched on top of my bird feeder. Last year one (maybe the same one) was on my porch railing.

Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
House Sparrow
Dark Eyed Junco
Black Capped Chickadee
Cardinal
White Breaseted Nuthatch
Red Tailed Hawk
Robin
Crow
Mourning Dove
Turkey
Goldfinch
Grackle

16, if you count tentatives:

Purple finch (or house finch? Might have been the light hitting something else )
Baltimore Oriole (It was orange, it had a lovely song, and it flew very fast.)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 04:37 PM

I've had another first today!   I saw a green woodpecker - a mile from Heathrow Airport on the M4!! It was live, pecking about the verge and quite perky.... rather than dead, immobile and squished to the thickness of a CD case, as was the pigeon a bit further down the road.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Mandoleer
Date: 26 Mar 06 - 05:30 PM

Only just caught up with this thread. List for this year so far from Sunny Southport suburb:
Robin
Wren (noisy little sod)
Greenfinch
Thrush
Blackbird
Long-tailed Tit
Coal Tit
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Starling (one only - flocks of thousands a couple of roads away)
Herring Gull
Black-headed gull
Woodpigeon
Collared Dove
Magpie
Hedge Sparrow (OK, you may call it a dunnock. I don't.)
Tawny owl (heard)
Pinkfooted Goose (seasonal visitor - should be going soon)
Oystercatcher
The last two are a bit unusual for a suburban semi-detached, but I'm under the commuter route for the geese and the oystercatchers. Haven't had a house sparrow for years, but they're in the next road. Goldfinches are found over the road, but not in my place.
As to squirrels, I had a red in the spring and a grey late summer. I got a live trap from the Red Alert people but couldn't get the beggar. Wrecked one of my feeders. (I'm in a Red Squirrel area so trapping and removing is a local activity where greys are concerned.)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 04:04 AM

3 Bluetits simultaneously sitting in a tree in the back garden this morning.
First time that's happened in several years.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 04:38 AM

Ah, Purple, you should visit my garden... I recently had at least 8 tits of varying descriptions sitting in my service tree. It's a bit windy at the moment, so they're hiding in a bush somewhere.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Purple Foxx
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 04:41 AM

Liz I have 2 Cats with a morbid interest in all things ornithological.
I suspect that's why birds stay away from our garden.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 08:29 AM

In my block there are at least 10 cats in, at the most 4 houses. I am presently owned by 3 and landlady to 2 others. One of mine (the year old Raven cat) is very interested in ornithology and is at this very moment, engaged upon said activity, from the comfort of the windowsill. He was eyeing up a gull the other week which was perched on a nearby house - as I caught him on the OUTSIDE of this windowsill (2nd floor) not so long ago, it's only a matter of time and energy before he drags in a crow he's immobilised on our chimney pot.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Windsinger
Date: 27 Mar 06 - 03:56 PM

:::snicker:::

At an event this weekend, found out that at least I'm not the only one who's enchanted by Nuthatches. No, they're not the flashiest birds at the feeder...not by far. But DAMN are they amusing to watch.

For some reason, the fact that they feed head-downwards never ceases to seem funny. And that call of theirs ("Heh!") just sounds so much like maniacal laughter, they're always good for a giggle.

I don't know if the 'hatches at anyone else's feeder have the habit of flinging seed around madly when they eat. We initially thought that they were just trying to bypass the filler and get to the "yummybits". (After a couple rounds of filling the feeder EXCLUSIVELY with "yummybits", we're pretty sure it's just the equivalent of a little kid playing in the toilet.)

Mad little things. Very aptly named.

Slán,

~Fionn

www.geocities.com/children_of_lir

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: BobtheBirder
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:34 AM

Hey Raptor - what a great joy to see so many other twitchers! Thought I was a dying breed! I'm in Coventry - my back studio window looks out on to the new Ricoh Stadium - sadly!

Have 25 on the list so far - star bird being a Yellow-legged Gull.

It would be nice to get a visit from that Spannish Sparrow that's in the city - that no one can find!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:47 AM

March Home list:

NOCA-Northern Cardinal
CAGO-Canada Goose
KILL-Killdeer
Mala-Malard
WITU-Wild Turkey
RWBL-Red-winged Blackbird
HOFI-House Finch
CORE-Common Redpol
AMRO-American Robin
SOSP-Song Sparrow
AMWO-American Woodcock


Total Year to date 28 Species

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 08:52 AM

Bob Good to see you.

Good luck with the Spanish Sparrow, You might have to take a trip to Turkey to see one.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 10:07 AM

Nuttin' new here. Just larger numbers of the same species. All the twitterin' and courtin' going on sure is a pleasure to watch and to hear.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 10:24 AM

So far our cat Tilahun has brought in two dark grey small birds. The first one did not survive the experience. The second one we managed to rescue when we heard general excitment coming from the bathroom early Sunday morning. The bird had been released and was trying to escape out the upper window and I was able to capture it. Other than the loss of some feathers, it seemed to be reasonably healthy and I was able to release it safely out the front door where it flew off to a nearby pine tree to meditate.

Tilahun was impressed with my ability to catch the bird but fails to understand why I didn't bite its head off.

Sigh, spring is here!

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 10:53 AM

Only two new for the month of March that I can positively identify, a pileated woodpecker and a pair of mallards. There are lots of others I suspect, but my ability to identify by song only is still a bit limited and the buggers still haven't found the birdfeeder.

I thought I heard the swallows about, one sunny day last week, but couldn't confirm. Very early if it was, I noted them last year on the 18th of April.

So total for the month of March = 2, total so far this year = 14.

Oh, and another acquisition. I managed to pick up Richard Cannings' Birds of Southwestern British Columbia. A beautiful little field guide. So even if I can't see the ones I supect are out there, the ones that should have located my feeder by now, I can at least stare longingly at their pictures.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: maeve
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 12:46 PM

March 2006 list from Whitefield, Maine
21 species, total in 2006 so far.

Black-capped chickadee
American robin
Crow
Raven
American goldfinch
Downy woodpecker
Hairy woodpecker
Piliated woodpecker
Great horned owl
Brown creepers
Redpolls
Turkeys
Herring gulls
Red breasted nuthatches
Common nuthatch

Plus:
Bluebird
Tufted titmouse
Dark-eyed juncos
White-throated sparrows
Mourning doves
Barred owl

Two miles down the road toward the village last week I saw five male wild turkeys fighting. The two larger males held each other beak to beak and pushed chest to chest. When they drifted into a group of three younger males similarly engaged, the five males converged into a group of five, all facing inwards and holding onto beaks, heads, necks with their beaks, chests together, in an eerie, almost elegant, dance that lasted nearly ten minutes. A delivery truck finally drove by, startling them, whereupon the turkeys scattered into the brushline. A lovely way to start the early morning!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: dozy rozy
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 06:03 PM

I'm a bird and I'm sick of being stared at.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 06:25 PM

'Nother little piece of thread drift--Wisteria grows everywhere here. It is blooming now and the 2nd growth trees and scrub bush along the access road to the grocery store are heavily draped with pendulous clusters of its lavender blooms. I glanced up walking out of the store, and saw one bright red cardinal perched among the blooms.   Its bright feathers seemed to absolutely glow against the lavender backdrop.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 06:27 PM

20 species spotted in March. 29 for the year to date here in north Arkansas. The highlight of the month was the arrival of the Purple Martins. The first arrived on March 29. Females arrived March 31. The cowbirds have almost taken over the feeders.   Male goldfinches are beginning to get their caps and I seen one that has turned gold completely.

Blue Jay
Bluebird
Cardinal
Carolina Chickadee
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Cowbird
Downy Woodpecker
Goldfinch
House Finch
House Sparrow
Junco
Mockingbird
Mourning Dove
Purple Martin
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Robin
Starling
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow Shafted Flicker

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:31 PM

Birds at Minhamite. Victoria. Australia. (South-West Victoria)
Seen/heard during the months of Feb. & March 2006:
Little Raven
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie Lark (Mudlark)
Richard's Pipit
Yellow-rumped Thornbill
Brown Thornbill
New Holland Honeyeater
Red Wattle Bird
Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoo
Sulphur-crested Cockatoo
Galah
Little Corella
Crimson Rosella
White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Masked Plover
Nankeen Kestrel
Brown Falcon
White-faced Heron
Willy Wagtail
Grey fantail
Restless Flycatcher
Silvereye
Barn Owl
Mountain Duck
Black Swan
Welcome Swallow

Introduced birds:
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Goldfinch

Many of our birds are residents but there's a slight seasonal difference when the water birds arrive in the Autumn.
I have a beautiful Male Mountain Duck (well he's a drake of course) in my care at the moment. Big fellow, coloured rather like a Mallard. He's rather on the dim side like most ducks and someone just walked over to him and picked him up. Can't find a thing wrong and neither can the animal doctor. They do have a period of moult when they become flightless (ducks that is, not animal doctors) but that's not likely just now. Anyway he's safe with us for a bit. I'll return him to his chosen lake soon. His wife might be worried.


Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:58 PM

Heard a Barred owl this morning. Not in my yard, but the Purple Martins are back in force.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ragdall
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 06:56 PM

March list:

House Sparrows
Dark eyed Juncos
Black-Capped Chickadees
Crows
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Flicker
Bohemian Waxwing
(American) Robins

---

9 species

rags
North Central British Columbia

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Jeri
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 07:53 PM

I could have sworn I posted to this yesterday. I had a black bird in my chimney. Not a blackbird, but some bird that was a beautiful purlish-bluish on top and bit more grey on the bottom. Purple Marin. I got it out of the chimney. It's unused though, and if it gets back in, I may just leave it alone. I doubt the birdies can fly straight up to get out, but maybe there are footholds on the way up (or down).

So I'm up to 17:

Blue Jay
Tufted Titmouse
House Sparrow
Dark Eyed Junco
Black Capped Chickadee
Cardinal
White Breaseted Nuthatch
Red Tailed Hawk
American Robin
Crow
Mourning Dove
Turkey
Goldfinch
Grackle
House Finch
Starling
Purple Martin

I'll now wait for the redwinged blackbirds and fly-overs by pond-loving herons, geese and maybe ducks.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 09:09 PM

More crows today (and every day)...and some Canada Goose flew over.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Apr 06 - 07:49 PM

Saw a cormorant this morning... no mean feat for a bus stop that's a good 8 miles from the river, let alone the sea!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Apr 06 - 07:49 PM

I can claim another. It's legal if it just flew over, isn't it?

Anyway, this morning when I got up, I was in the bathroom... uh, sitting down. I looked upward at the sky out of the window. What I saw was a bloody big (nearly 3' wingspan) dark grey hawk-like bird, soaring into the bit of sky directly above my house. With a white head. I thought I knew what it was, but checked my Audobon Society Field Guide just to be sure, because I couldn't quite believe it. I still don't. It was, however, one of the first things I saw after I woke up, and really - what do all the petty aggravations really matter when you've seen a Bald Eagle!?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 07:21 PM

Nice One!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 07:38 PM

A pair of pesky starlings thought they could live where I hadn't gotten 'round to the last piece of sophet but I ran 'um off...

That makes 22...

The ducks stop in every evening our pond fir the tadpole buffet...

Now we did have a grouse when we moved up here but we think the mean fox got him but, hey, that does make...

23...

The humming birds should be here soon... We didn't set out a feeder last year since we were crazy thrying just to bring some order to this ol' hog farm but now that order has been restored, we definately will have one up this summer...

One bird that I'm surprised not to have is pigeons... Two barns and no pigeons??? Like what's wrong with this piccure???

Ahhhh, does hearing a bird count if we ain't actually seen it???

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 18 Apr 06 - 10:50 PM

Screech owl. Chipping sparrow. Can't locate the last post that I gave a number on. Oh well.

Saw swifts at a rest stop between Wytheville, Va and Bluefield, WV this weekend. I don't think I have seen them before.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Apr 06 - 09:17 PM

We saw a wood thrush this evening. That makes 21. Have been hearing various migrants this week but I'm too inexperienced to identify them by their calls.

Can't add these to my count, but we spent Easter with my cousin's family near Annapolis, MD. Saw a couple of chipping sparrows in her yard (saw them last year when we were there, too) but more exciting for me, I saw a pair of ravens perched in a tree by the road. A "life bird" for me.

I wasn't even sure ravens ever showed up in this area, but the Voice of the Naturalist says a pair have been spotted in the past week in Montgomery County, MD where I live. Wood thrushes, too.

Song sparrows seem to be nesting in the yew bush. I was trimming a big snowball bush and discovered a robin's nest (empty thank goodness) just about the time the robin started hollering its head off and trying to drive me off. I felt very sad to ruin all their work but by the time I can see the nest, it's too late -- all the neighborhood crows can see it too, so there's no way the birds are going to raise their young there safely.

Oh, and as usual, the Carolina wrens are raising a crop of babies in an old plastic dish drainer on the back porch. (If I've already mentioned that I apologize....) We would have thrown it away years ago if they didn't like it so much! I just clean and wash it each fall. We tried a wren house but they turn up their nose at it. One year I got to watch three fledglings leave the nest and fly away.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 07:35 PM

The wood thrush was in the yard again this morning. I looked out hoping to find it and there it was heading up the walk toward me, about 4 feet from the porch. :-) This is the first one I've seen in our yard (except for two pitiful little corpses that a neighbor's cat killed once, 7 or 8 years ago). It was very alert; almost as soon as I looked out the window it spotted me and left. Still I got a very good look at it.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 20 Apr 06 - 09:10 PM

My parents have a very large rhododendron that grows up to and covers the 2nd story bedroom window. A morning dove built a nest on the outside window ledge and was tending 3 eggs. The eggs were gone when Mom went to show me when I got there for Easter weekend. We found some broken shells and one whole but cracked egg on the ground below the window. Not at all sure what got them. Another bird, probably, as the squirrels don't seem to ever go over that way.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: bfdk
Date: 21 Apr 06 - 04:45 PM

Saw a couple of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) flying by yesterday and - yes! spring has finally arrived - a single barn swallow (Hirundo rustica), also airborne, but there's no mistaking that tail shape for anything else around here.

Which brings the total up to 20.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 25 Apr 06 - 10:31 AM

Saw a catbird this morning. They are either very late arrivals this year, or I just haven't noticed them-probably the latter. I think them most handsome birds.

Janie

Subject: Spring Birds in DC
From: lamarca
Date: 28 Apr 06 - 11:29 PM

Last year a pair of cardinals nested in the tree right next to our deck and were feeding their young when Danny Spooner was visiting us, to his great delight. This spring, they have nested in a shrub in our front yard, only three feet off the ground. Mama and Papa freak every time we go in or out of the front door.

In spite of this, there are now three ugly, half-downy hatchlings in the nest. We're thinking of starting a betting pool to pick the date when one of the neighborhood felines grabs a take-out lunch...

Our three cats are indoors-only, precisely to prevent injury to themselves and other wildlife. Now that coyotes have established themselves in the DC Metro area, more folks are going to have to keep Fluffy inside, or their kitty will be take-out coyote chow...

On a real spring note, the House Wrens started singing on territory this week. I have three wren houses up, and they usually raise broods in at least two of them every year!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Mandoleer
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 09:20 AM

Nice to know I'm not the only one with birds that sort out the seed from the feeder. Damn Hedge Sparrows throw out all the wheat, flaked maize and sunflower seeds. They're supposed to be insectivores, aren't they? I'm not made of birdseed and pick it up again and put it back in. Something eventually eats it. Blackbirds doing vertical takeoffs under fatball and grabbing what they can in passing. No squirrels yet. Non-garden sighting about a mile from home: Oystercatcher - feeding at roadside! (Quiet country road - no water anywhere near, but they nest out there somewhere.) No swallows yet, but pinkfooted geese long gone.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: John Hardly
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 10:25 AM

I do all my birdwatching in the woods where I run (four miles from home) so I hope it doesn't disqualify me.

1. Cardinal
2. House Finch
3. Gold Finch
4. Golden-Crowned Kinglet
5. Mallard
6. Great Blue Heron
7. Bald Eagle
8. Belted Kingfisher
9. Ivory Billed woodpecker (just checking to see if you're reading!)
9. Pileated Woodpecker
10.Red-bellied Woodpecker
11.Downy Woodpecker
12.Starling (anyone read the recent article on bird grammar?)
13.Grackle
14.Robin
15.Whitebrested Nuthatch
16.Cedarwaxwing
17.Brown Thrasher

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ard mhacha
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 11:01 AM

Spotted a Jay being well and truly hounded by a pair of courageous Blackbirds, very typical of this member of the Crow family to raid the Blackbirds nest, but in this case he seemed to come off the worst, as the male Blackbird chased him some distance.

I spotted my first Swifts of the summer on Wedensday 29 April, the Swallows arrived two weeks ago. {In the north of Ireland], please add your location it is very helpful.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 01:36 PM

Janie, glad you reminded me to list the catbirds. I think they showed up about a week ago and are burbling merrily outside the window for hours every day. 22 species to date.

(we live in Silver Spring, a Maryland suburb of Washington, DC).

The wrens have apparently raised their first brood, the one in the dish drainer on the porch (cheeky, pushy little critters!) and are deciding where to start their second family of the summer. Usually they move to another location, I don't know where. Well, and maybe it was a different male that I saw yesterday checking out the back porch for nesting spots. LaMarca, he went in and out of the wren box you gave me, two or three times, before going over to inspect the dish drainer. We'll see. Bill and I would love for them to use the wren house.

Song sparrows seem to be nesting in our ornamental yew. The male sings near there and I heard a worried chirp from inside the yew yesterday when I went too close. I don't want to peek for fear of letting the crows knew there's something in the yew that might interest them. I think they've already had a try at it; there is a big new gap in the foliage at the top. That was what happened the year song sparrows nested in the yes and the babies disappeared before they were grown. Sigh.... Ain't nature grand?

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: akenaton
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 05:09 PM

ard mhacha....I'm in a great mood today!!

The swallows returned to Loch Fyne in Argyll this morning.
I was lying in bed about 6 o'clock when I heard them chattering on the gutters outside my window.
I ran downstairs ,opened the front door and they were inspecting the nests they had left last Autumn.

There are four nests in my front porch and the swallows have been using them for about twenty years . Whenever they return they set about cleaning out and repairing the old nests and usually manage a couple of broods per year.

Its lovely to open the front door as darkness falls in late Summer, to see half a dozen wee heads looking at you from each corner of the porch.
By Autumn there's shit everywhere,but who cares ...were only here for a blink..so live and let live I say....Ake

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 29 Apr 06 - 08:20 PM

I'm at my parent's house in West Virginia, redoing their flower gardens. Was watching and listening to the redwinged blackbirds this morning--we don't get them in my neighborhood--too dry--and I really miss them. I love their call.

Re: Cardinals. I am always amazed at how low to the ground they build their nests. Cardinals build a nest almost every year on a rose trellis in my front garden. And every year, a feral neighborhood cat gets the babies. I hate that the cat does that, I also notice him watching the birdfeeders and bath on the other side of the house. But he does a great job of controling the voles, baby rabbits, and keeping the squirrels out of the pots on my front porch and steps. He has been around for several years, no one feeds him, and he is really healthy and beautiful.   

We also have black racers and black rat snakes that we leave alone to control the voles and mice. One of them lives in the basement and goes in and out through the grates for the crawlspace adjacent to the basement. I'm sure they get some bird eggs and rabbits also. We just figure that it is all part of nature and a balanced ecosystem.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 07:31 AM

Ake, Near to where I live at the gable end of a street the House Martins returned last Sunday, they were busy repairing their old nest which were neatly tucked in under the gables at opposit ends.

I would have to say the Swallows, Swifts and House Martins are my favourites, when you consider the hardships they endure on there long flight from Africa, and returning to their old nesting sites, amazing navigation skill from these heralds of summer.

I am lucky to be so close to the countryside, quite a variety of birds to be seen, but, unfortunately the match of progress is eating into the rural areas and in comparsion to my youth bird numbers have drastically reduced, the population of all of Ireland is estimated to reach 7 million in the next 20 years, that is almost double in the last 80 years, by then we may have to go to our Museums to view our feathered friends,-- in a glass case.

Thanks fot your location Ake and Ferrara.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 02:11 PM

A few minutes ago I noticed a flurry of activity in a small grove of trees about 100 yards distant. Then a crow flew out of the grove with two smaller birds in pursuit. Within a minute another crow flew off with one smaller bird in pursuit. From the distance I could not positively identify the smaller birds but from size, color, and shape they appeared to be mockingbirds.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ard mhacha
Date: 30 Apr 06 - 02:39 PM

Regarding the House Martins, that should read . - repairing their old nests, that is two nests, both secured under the eaves at opposite ends of the gable, I have to give my wee friends due credit.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 02 May 06 - 11:04 PM

Hightlights of the month were the return of the Purple Martins and a new tennant in the bluebird house I put up last week. My list for April.

bluebird
bluejay
brown thrasher
cardinal
carolina chickadee
chipping sparrow
cowbird
grackle
house finch
house sparrow
killdeer
mockingbird
mourning dove
purple martin
red bellied woodpecker
robin
ruby throated hummingbird
scissortail flycatcher
starling
tufted titmouse
white throatred sparrow

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 May 06 - 12:00 AM

Added this month, a brown creeper and the tree swallows. Total to date 15.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 03 May 06 - 03:58 PM

(Silver Spring, MD)

Forgot to list a mockingbird who was in the yard some time during April. I wish they came here more often. That made 23.

This morning I saw a female ruby throated hummingbird. That brings the year's total to 24.

Also there are two white throated sparrows in the back yard right now. Don't usually see them here in late spring.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 04 May 06 - 12:08 PM

Among the exotics we've seen in our (UK) Berkshire garden are ring-necked parakeets (common hereabouts-large flocks roost in Richmond area, allegedly originally escapees from the set of a "Tarzan" type movie now naturalised), an African Grey parrot(managed to trace the owner via the local copshop but it flew away again before they could come for it)and some small birds that taxed my brain for days and all our bird books until I looked up a caged bird book in the library an found they were several types of zebra finch, obviously aviary escapees. Never came back, probably killed by UK winter or our local sparrow hawk. Most spectacular is the heron that often lands in our fairly small garden and has difficulty getting enough room to lift off again.
RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 04 May 06 - 12:12 PM

Add common grackle to my list. We don't often have them, but looks like several have come for the summer.

Janie