BS: Birdwatching Challenge

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 05 May 06 - 09:48 PM

April Home List:

EAPH-Eastern Phoebe
BHCO-Brown-Headed Cowbird
FOSP-Fox Sparrow
TUVU-Turkey Vulture
GCKI-Golden-Crowned Kinglet

BEKI-Belted Kingfisher
RUGR-Ruffed Grouse
WTSP-White Throated Sparrow
YBSS-Yellow Bellied Sapsucker
NOFL-Northern Flicker
BRTH-Brown Thrasher
TRSP- Tree Sparrow


Year To Date Total: 40 Species

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 06 May 06 - 08:33 PM

Well, well, well...

Last night the P-Vine and I went down to the pond and found a bird that, in flight. looked very much like a swift but5 had long legs and a long bill like some kinda sandpiper... So to the boohs we went and found it to be a spotted sandpiper...

24, I think...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: lamarca
Date: 08 May 06 - 12:05 PM

The warblers are passing through - I watched a Ruby-crowned Kinglet darting out from our little willow oak sapling to eat insects, and heard a Northern Parula across the street (Bzzzzwheeep!).

Our cardinal babies all went away, but there are fledgelings around the house begging for food - don't know if they're the front yard brood or from another nest...

My yard list for April - early May:
Rock Dove (AKA pigeon, "sky rat")
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift (heard only)
Downy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Blue Jay
American Crows, being irately pursued by 2 mockingbirds
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Robin
Northern Mockingbird
Gray Catbird (are there any other colors?)
European Starling (sigh - too many)
Northern Parula (heard only)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (AKA "Butter-butt")
Northern Cardinal
White-throated Sparrow (they seem to be sticking around and calling from trees - maybe nesting?)
Song Sparrow
Rufous-sided Towhee (heard only - I refuse to call them the boring official "Eastern Towhee" name)
Brown-headed Cowbird (boo. hiss.)
Common Grackle
House Sparrow - too many - they nest in my neighbor's attic...
American Goldfinch
Little Brown Bat (not a bird, but I always like seeing the First Bat of Spring. When it's warm, we sit on our deck through sunset, waiting for the First Bat of the Evening. I don't know where they roost, but I'm glad they're there to eat up the mosquitos.)

Not bad, considering I don't have any feeders out. Still haven't seen our first hummingbird, although our native honeysuckle is blooming up a storm...

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 16 May 06 - 07:03 PM

Having our yearly visit with a Boobook (Owl) He/she calls in for a few weeks in May or June. Probably lives nearby and does the rounds looking for a mate. Boobooks are happy to talk with humans. You only have to get close to their sound and they'll answer. "Boo-Book" with the second note dropped down a major third. Their call is rather like a Northern Hemispere Cuckoo. (Our Cuckoos don't sound like that.)

Magpies are starting to sing in the moonlight. They start their courting in the Winter. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Yooper
Date: 23 May 06 - 06:32 PM

Visitors to feeders in the Copper Country of
Michigan's Upper Peninsula:

Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco
White-throated Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Downy Woodpecker
Rose-breasted Grossbeak
Goldfinch
Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Starling
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Purple Finch
Humming Bird
Crow
Rock Dove
Morning Dove
Robin
Chipmunk (a most arduous and prolific gatherer!!)
Cotton-tail Rabbit (room with the chippies under the toolshed)
Neighbor's "Mutt" (digs under the toolshed for chippies & rabbits)
Neighbor's Tabby Cat (a quite serious looking yet unsuccessful hunter)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 24 May 06 - 01:57 PM

No new birds, but had a very enjoyable experience last weekend at a cabin camp near Manassas, VA. A pair of Carolina wrens built a nest on the windowsill by my bed, between the wooden shutter and the screen. The room inside was dark, so I could watch from about a foot away. They built the nest -- literally "from scratch" -- in about a day and a half. Hearing the tiny little sounds they made while they worked -- the banging and thumping as they packed stuff in, the flutter of wings and tiny scrabble of claws as one landed on the shutter, their soft chirrups when both were in the nest, a "beep beep" call from an arriving bird to the one in the nest to announce it wanted to use the "doorway," the loud cheep that sounded just like "drat!" when a twig wouldn't go where they wanted it -- was the best part of being so close to their activities.

I am still hearing a wood thrush, although I haven't seen one since May 1. I think there is at least one nesting pair on this block although not in my yard. They only call in the very early morning, about 5 am, and occasionally at twilight. I have wished for years that we had them here because I love their song.

I've started recording the songs of "strangers" in the neighborhood. Even if I can't recognize them now, I may learn what kind of birds they are eventually.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 04:44 PM

Two more species in two days, a pair of blue jays and several brown headed cowbirds (ugh). That makes 26 species so far this year. Haven't seen a blue jay in the yard for a couple of years (since West Nile virus first hit this area). I was very happy to see them.

The wood thrushes raised at least one young 'un successfully. We've seen it in our yard a few times. The original pair moved a couple of blocks away and seem to be nesting again. That is so neat.

There are lots and lots of eastern cottontails around here this spring.   I got to watch two of them chasing each other around the yard, jumping up in the air, etc. I wonder if that's a bunny courtship.

Rita

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 03 Jul 06 - 04:51 PM

Added a long tailed tit to my list last week. Still didn't see the kingfisher I know to be living up at the Aquadrome, but I'll keep watching out for it. The magpies seem to be taking over the world... the youngsters are out and about with their parents, learning the art of sweetie wrapper chasing, sandwich stealing and crapping on cars.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 08:48 AM

May Home list:

WOTH Wood-Thrush
WCSP-White Crouned Sparrow
BAOR-Baltimore Oriole
BAWW-Black and White Warbler
NRWS-Northern Rough Winged Swallow
NAWA-Nashville Warbler
AMBI-American Bittern
OVEN-Ovenbird
BTBW-Black throated Blue Warbler
HOWR-House Wren
RBGR-Rose Breasted Grosbeak
RTHU-Ruby Throated Hummingbird
INBU-Indigo Bunting
GCFL-Great Crested Flycatcher
REVE-Red eyed Verio

June Home List:

CEWA-Ceadar Waxwing

Year to date Total: 56 Spiecies

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: LilyFestre
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 09:06 AM

I saw my first sandpiper while kayaking on a local lake last week! I had never seen one before and had to look up what it was!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 04 Jul 06 - 12:58 PM

I have enjoyed the Purple Martins soaring overhead and feeding their babies. One female has been paying special attention to me whenever I am in the yard and has been trying to knock my hat off. I guess the goldfinches are getting plenty of food as they do not come around all that often. Two house finch couples have nesten on the front porch.   One in a house and the other in a hanging fern. I have peeked at the babies in the fern on occasion.

Here is the list for June.

Blue Grosbeak
Blue Jay
Bluebird
Brown Thrasher
Cardinal
Carolina Chickadee
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle
Cowbird
Crow
Goldfinch
House Finch
killdeer
Mockingbird
Mourning Dove
Purple Martin
Red Bellied Woodpecker
Red Winged Blackbird
Robin
ruby throated hummingbird
Scissortail Flycatcher
Starling
Western Kingbird
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-Shafted Flicker

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: bfdk
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 01:34 PM

Great Spotted Woodpecker, Dendrocopos major seen right outside here just 15 minutes ago. They usually don't come all the way up here as it's too densely populated.

Best wishes,

Bente

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Rman
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 03:44 PM

Nuthatch and Treecreeper in the same tree!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 11:18 PM

Bill and I saw a female ruby throated hummingbird today. )Maryland). It looked as if it was checking out the feeders for a nectar feeder. They are pretty smart about that. I have only seen about half a dozen hummingbirds in the yard, in the 23 years we've lived in this house. It's pretty shady right around here, not too many hummingbird flowers and no hummer feeders.

It brought my year's total to 27. I keep forgetting to keep track by month....

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 03:00 AM

Well I'm thrilled to pieces. I may not have a large total, but this month I got to see my first ever Black Headed Grosbeak, in fact a pair.

When I first saw the female I initially thought it was a hermit thrush, but the light bar above the eye didn't fit. Although the above linked site says they prefer insects and fruit, they hung around for a couple of weeks pecking away with the juncos and towees at the black sunflower seeds scattered below my feeder. I haven't spotted them for a week, so maybe they got bored with the monotony of the diet.

So...new birds for June and July are:

Bald Eagle
Hairy Woodpecker
Red breasted Nuthatch
Violet Green Swallow and....
Black Headed Grosbeak

For a total of 23 to date.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 05:16 AM

I'm sad to report that I have seen no new birds this month, and very few of the originals. It's just too hot in the UK and they're all exhausted. They're doing their hunting in the cool of the day (not that there is much 'cool' at the moment) and I'm not seeing them.

There has been a bat sighting though. I have a white buddliea (butterfly bush) that attracts moths and this in turn attracts the local bats. Their building has been renovated this year so I wasn't sure if they were still around. Looks like there is still one hanging on, even if he's moved to a different roof.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 07:48 AM

Since me last post in April:

Bluebirds
Hummingbirds
Indigo Buntings
Blue Heron
White Egret
Barn Swallows

I think that's got me up to 30...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 12:21 AM

Metchosin, where do you live? Wonderful birds! Bobert, I know where you live (more or less), but ditto on the birds.

Liz, maybe you can put out a pan of water? I use a glazed terra cotta flowerpot saucer. You have to clean it regularly and disinfect it with chlorine bleach once in a while, then rinse & let it dry out. A bit of bother, but it is so valuable to the birds in hot weather. You still may not see them but if you fill it they will come.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 30 Jul 06 - 06:58 AM

I have a pond and several pots of water in the garden... it's so hot the cats have been out there a lot so I think that's made them wary.

There's plenty of food in the way of insects and bugs, but it's a bit short on berries and seeds at the moment. I've left my buddliea seed heads from last year and there's a sunflower seed feeder in the garden.. they're just not visiting.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 31 Jul 06 - 12:51 AM

Ferrara, I'm on southern Vancouver Island. And I just realized that I forgot to add Turkey Vulture, so my updated total is 24 species.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Jeri
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 05:01 PM

Every year, I think, "boy, it would be nice to have a real back yard instead of this swampy-in-the-Spring, weed-filled mess." Then, every August, the ragweed (which I'm not allergic to), the Joe Pie weed, the daisies and Black-eyed Susan, the Queen Anne's Lace, and the Jewel Weed bloom, and they're thick with butterflies. The whole place is a wonderland, and my only contribution is to leave it alone.

I've been wondering about the little squeaky-toy bird calls for a while, and finally caught the culprit in the act. The wee female was sitting on a dead raspberry cane, just resting and squeaking occasionally. I KNEW the hummingbirds (ruby throated, except the females aren't) were there, because in past years, they've buzzed me. First time that happened, I thought it was bee-zilla, but bees aren't green and don't hover. I wonder where their nest is.

Regarding nesting, my bird book says: "2 white eggs the size of large peas in a woven nest of plant down held together with spider silk." Tell me that doesn't sound like the stuff of fairy tale and song!

I've seen a few more species, and the eagle one more time. I've put up two more feeders and fashioned a utilitarian bird bath. The more I watch these winged jewels, the more I love them.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 18 Aug 06 - 10:57 PM

Other than hummingbirds, owls, Purple Martins, Eastern Bluebirds, and robins, we see the same birds here year round, we just see more of particular species seasonally. We are just far enough south that many species that migrate in the northern part of their range stay here all year. It is not unusual for the occasional robin to stick around all winter either. The major flyways are up the coast or up the mountains, so we don't see a lot of birds in transit either.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 11:31 AM

Jeri your weed-filled mess does sound like an August wonderland.

We spot about 1 hummingbird a year here, it's always a big event. But last week I visited friends in West Virginia and their two hummer feeders were busy most of the day. I never knew how they tweetle before! Yes, tiny little twitters and cheepings. Also never knew they really do sound like bee-zilla (or a bee-29) when they zoom past your ear. Very startling. Even worse when they fly under a corrugated metal shed roof. I also noticed that the chittering got loudest just before one or more of them made a feeder run. It was useful because I could get my camera ready (for one more set of fuzzy pictures....).

I started with the camera at 1/160 of a second and changed it to 1/320 of a second. Mistake. The ones with the fast shutter speed did not show any wings on the birds at all! The whirring wings were too translucent, I think. At least with the slower shutter speed there was a nice blur that suggested wing feathers. I might be able to get the actual wing at 1/1000 of a second but the light was too dim for that while I was there.

My main reason for taking photos is to get detailed information for my woodburning, so I don't worry if I don't have fancy, publishable photos. I am pretty thrilled to have these. If I'm not too lazy I'm going to put some of them up online, will post here if I do.

Rita F

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ron Davies
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:16 PM

Hi Rita and everybody-

Since I live close to you, Rita, I thought I might pass this on. You might be able to try something similar.

We have a hummingbird feeder on the deck in back--never had any visitors this year.   Having just got back from the UK, I was trying to do something to combat the drought we must have had for weeks. I had aimed a hose to spray through a dogwood--to try to perk up the forsythia on the other side --in the front yard this morning. While Jan and I were talking in the kitchen she noticed a humminbird (female ruby-throated) sitting on a branch of the dogwood--flexing her wings and revelling in the impromptu shower. Just glorious.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: gnu
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:33 PM

Say Ron... what a great idea. I must figure a way to run a hose to the edge of the apple tree and put a needle hole in it so that it sprays on part of an area where the hummers like to sit. Worth a shot.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:41 PM

I have never put up a hummingbird feeder because they MUST be cleaned regularly or they will cause illness ... and I know how disorganized I am.

We have other feeders though and I think the hummingbirds recognize that, because for the past 2 years we've had at least one female stop by and hover in front of our picture window, as if asking where is their feeder and when are we going to put it up?

This is not as fanciful as it sounds. At my cousin's house they knock on the windows if their feeders aren't out when the arrive in the spring. And when fall comes, the goldfinches come and twitter in the trees until we put the thistle feeder out for them.

Years ago a neighbor of my parents had a fan-style lawn sprinkler going. On each arc it sprayed through the branches of a silver maple tree. A flock of at least a dozen chickadees were having a blast playing in the water as it came by. My mom and I watched for about 10 minutes.

Rita D

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ron Davies
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 01:43 PM

You're right, Rita.   Jan and I are very aware of that. And we also took the feeder down while we were away.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 02:31 PM

Rita, I don't put up hummer feeders either, but I do plant flowers to attract them. I don't see as many of them as my friends with feeders, but I see plenty enough. Larkspur in spring, bee balm and crocosmia in summer and tall species of salvia season-long seem to be their favorites.

(As I sit here at the computer, I am watching a female feed on the impatience in one of the flower boxes on the proch rail.)

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 02:35 PM

Oh, that impatient windowbox!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Slag
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 04:19 PM

Late start but I'm in. I wished I had seen this thread earlier. I am in a great area so I think I can catch right up. I'm starting today off with the first thing I saw ( and it was also a good omen ) outside my bedroom slider; an immature Golden Eagle. Therefore, so far today I have seen:

Golden Eagle
California Jay ( Scrub Jay )
Titmouse
English Sparrow
Linnet ( House Finch )
Lincoln Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Redheaded (Acorn) Woodpecker
Redshafted Flicker
Common Crow
Raven
Towhee
Gold Crown Kinglet
Turkey
Domestic Chicken
Turkey Vulture

That's 16. Happy Hunting

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 19 Aug 06 - 04:23 PM

Hi Slag! Glad to see you here. In what part of the country (or world) is visible outside that slider window?

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Slag
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 02:45 AM

Add:

Mourning Dove
Goatsucker (Poorwill)
Osprey

That's 19

I'm located a couple of miles from Clearlake (the lake, not the city) so I kinda have a big advantage. But I will never see a Cardinal or an Indigo Bunting. Outside my slider (faces south) are the Mayacamas mountains which stretch from the Geysers near Cloverdale up to Wilits. Cow Mountain is due west a few miles. It is a low but very rugged coastal range which follows the fault by the same name. On the other side is the Russian River and the County seat of Medocino Co., Ukiah. Deer are all over the place as are turkeys and a few peacocks that travel with them. Ocassionally we see Mountain Lions, wild pig, bear, river otters, bobcat, lots of racooons, opposum, grey squirrel, I am very fortunate to get to live here.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 03:16 AM

Hints and tips from ancient Suffolk folklore, no 432:

When I put a ball of fat out for the birds, it's usually only a day or two before the local family of magpies demolish it either by hooking it up onto a branch for the whole pack to attack at their leisure, or by ripping the bag so it falls to the ground. To counter this, I now push the top of the bag through the hole in an old CD before hanging it. This sways and tilts if a magpie tries to land on it, and so far has been very effective in keeping them away. Smaller birds, which arrive from below or on a level aren't put off at all.

I favour Donovan CDs for this, as after a while they are rendered completely unplayable.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: LilyFestre
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 03:24 AM

I was out kayaking on Thursday and saw several osprey and 2 immature blue herons (Crooked Creek, Tioga, PA) who were great fun to watch! About 2 weeks earlier, on a different kayak excursion, I saw (and heard) my very first immature bald eagle (Little Pine State Park near English Center, PA).

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ron Davies
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 06:50 AM

Slag--sounds like a wonderful place to live.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Slag
Date: 20 Aug 06 - 03:01 PM

Thank you Ron. I DO feel quite priviladged. My mom was born in these parts so I have had connections here all my life. In the early 80's I got the chance to locate here and I've never regretted it. We have a couple of bald eagles who put in ocassional appearances but I haven't seen them since early spring. Add a Stellar's Jay to my list this AM, that's 20!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 26 Aug 06 - 10:55 PM

Darn it! Just tried to post to this thread and the post disappeared. Sigh.... I'll try again, but a shorter post :-).

Looking at photos from July 26-27, I was able to identify a not-too-good shot of a teensy gray "mystery bird" as a ruby-crowned kinglet. (Should have recognized the white marks around the eye when I first took the pics.) That brings the number of species I've seen in the yard to 28 so far this year.

This had better show up....

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Slag
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 12:27 AM

add:

Valley Quail (every day of the week)
Western Blue Bird
Black Bird ( Common )
Starling

That's 24

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Ferrara
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 11:19 PM

My they are wonderful birds, Slag. Not your typical backyard birds.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Slag
Date: 27 Aug 06 - 11:36 PM

My back yard is kinda big, 10 acres. I said I have an unfair advantage but I hate to sound like I'm bragging. On the other hand the entire area really is a great birder's paradise. Across the lake is Anderson State Park, a nationally recognized sanctuary for birds and waterfowl of all sorts.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 31 Aug 06 - 02:56 PM

A quiet month at Dobro Towers.

Blackbird
Song Thrush
Blue Tit
Great Tit
Chaffinch (left it late - only showed on last day of the month)
Greenfinch
Collar Dove
Woodpigeon
House Sparrow
Robin
Rook
Magpie

but more than compensated for by seeing a Barn Owl in a lovely valley about a mile from home. I've driven that road for many years, and never seen one there before.

Incidentally, why are owls supposed to be so wise? Barn Owls never make it off the endangered list in the UK, while woodpigeons, which are stupid, fat, slow, inept at flying and to cap it all, taste really good to eat, are everywhere with numbers increasing rapidly.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 07 Sep 06 - 11:04 PM

The hummers are stoking up for their migration. I don't have a feeder but I plant for them and see them all summer. Every September their numbers increase dramatically in my garden. I'm not sure, but I may be seeing some Anna's in addition to ruby-throated. Last year, a banded Anna spent the winter in a friend's garden a few blocks from here. It caused quite a stir among the local birders. I think somewhere way earlier in this thread someone mentioned their range is expanding. We tend to think of them as West Coast hummers.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 02:11 PM

July home list:

COSN- Common Snipe
CHSP- Chipping Sparrow
SSHA- Sharp-shinned Hawk
GRCA- Gray Catbird

August Home List:

EAKI- Eastern Kingbird
YBCO- Yellow-billed Cookoo

Year to date Total: 62 Species

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 03:33 PM

Add: Bald Eagle

Total 31???...

And, yes, with the 17 acres we're living on we have lots of Janie's backyards with all kinds of butterflies...

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ard mhacha
Date: 10 Sep 06 - 10:30 AM

Seen a number of Swallows a few minutes ago soon they will be heading south for their long journey south, by the 15th of the month they will have all but gone from the north of Ireland.
A recent article in the Irish Times suggested that it is likely that only one of the brood from this years young will survive the journey to Africa, as I watch them performing their aereobatics I wish them good luck and hope the experts are wrong.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 04:52 PM

Whoopty do! I had a new bird at my feeder in the month of September! Not only new to my feeder, but also a first for me. The Golden Crowned Sparrow That brings my total to 25, I think.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Oct 06 - 06:10 PM

Metchosin, please don't give location as there is a hunting thread at present and it's shameful.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Valerie Carson
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 10:21 PM

I saw a bird at school today that looked like a small sparrow but had a very thin beak. It was clinging to the outside brick wall. I thought it was injured until it climbed, like a spider, up the wall to the top of the building. I have never seen a bird like that. Does anyone have any ideas?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: bobad
Date: 04 Oct 06 - 10:40 PM

What you saw, Valerie, may have been the brown creeper .

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Nov 06 - 02:20 PM

How are you at counting birds in flocks?

Irania bird counting game   It's a Finnish site. The first words come up in Finnish. Just wait for the "New Game" button, and press it. (It requires Java and is slow loading.)

Enjoy!

rags