BS: Birdwatching Challenge

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 07 Jan 06 - 11:01 PM

We have a pair of hawks living behind our house....I think they are Coopers, but could be sharp-shinned, though they are kinda big for Sharp-shinned hawks. We often see red-tails hanging out near the squirrel filled pecan trees.

This spring a good friend saw a red-headed (or maybe red-bellied--I forget) woodpecker raid a birdhouse with nesting Chickadees. It killed and took all the hatchlings, making several trips. I guess it makes sense that they would eat young birds as well as insects and larva, but it really surprised both of us.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 12:44 PM

I won't be home until after dark so I got my January count. Lots of birds, but only 15 species.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 12:56 PM

I'm stuck at 13 sp so far but am missing ones that will be apparent as soon as they start singing. Such as Northern Cardnal.

I had Trumpeter Swans at work this am but they don't count for the home list.

Good luck to all.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Little Hawk
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 01:05 PM

A Pie-Eyed Peeper stopped by today. He was spying on the Grosbeaks. They drove him off after awhile.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Cats
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 05:21 PM

We took part in the RSPB bird watch this weekend and in one hour counted 16 different species actually landing in the garden. I suppose the most stately were the pheasants who came down and strutted about and the most homely was our little Jenny Wren who lives in our side hedge. We did have a sparrowhawk sitting on the front wall last week and we always get buzzards as we live on the moors surrounded by farmland.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Bert
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 09:37 PM

Canadian Geese,
Ducks,
Sparrows,
Starlings,

That's about all for now in Colorado Springs

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 10:10 PM

Birds at Minhamite. Victoria. Australia. (South-West Victoria)
Seen/heard during the month of January 2006:

Little Raven
Australian Magpie
Australian Magpie Lark (Mudlark)
Kookaburra
Jacky Winter
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
Eastern Rosella
Red-rumped Parrot
White Ibis
Straw-necked Ibis
Masked Plover
Nankeen Kestrel
Brown Falcon
Wedge-tailed eagle
Brolga
White-faced Heron
Willy Wagtail
Grey fantail
Restless Flycatcher
Silvereye
Barn Owl


Introduced birds:
Blackbird
House Sparrow
Goldfinch
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 10:17 PM

January-
house sparrow
house finch
black-capped chickadee
white-breasted nuthatch
dark-eyed junco
blue jay
common crow
downy woodpecker
hairy woodpecker
brown creeper

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 31 Jan 06 - 11:15 PM

January In the southern central Ozarks

blue heron        
blue jay        
bluebird        
cardinal        
Carolina Wren        
cedar waxwing         
chickadee        
crow        
goldfinch (green this time of year)        
grackle        
hairy woodpecker        
house sparrow        
junco        
mockingbird        
Mourning Dove        
Nashville Warbler        
nuthatch        
purple finch        
robin        
tufted titmouse        
whitethroated sparrow        

I did not get to count the snow geese or Canandian Geese flying over.   There were some large migrations to the east of town but not over town. I had to visit the flatlands to see them and countless hawks of several variety.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 01:19 AM

January 2006, deep within the dripping conifer forests of Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Raven
Oregon junco
Chestnut backed chickadee
American robin
Winter wren
Kinglets (ruby or gold crowned? couldn't determine)
Rufous-sided towhee
Varied thrush

Total 8

These are pretty much resident all year round here, so nothing new or exciting and sadly I heard no owls this month, but then again, I wasn't listening that often at night because of the constant rain.

The new squirrel buster bird feeder has been up for three weeks now and nary a squirrel, nor a bird for that matter, and while there may not be any birds at either of my feeders, the roof rats sure have been enjoying the sunflower seeds in the old one.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: ragdall
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 02:18 AM

North Central BC (53 degrees N, and a bit)
January 2006:

English (house) Sparrows
Dark-eyed Juncos      
Black Capped Chickadees
Red-breasted Nuthatch (heard)
Northern Flicker   
Downy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Bohemian Waxwings
European Starlings
American Crows   

---

10 species

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: maeve
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 07:02 AM

January 2006 bird list : Whitefield, Maine

Chickadee
Goldfinch
Hairy woodpecker
Downy woodpecker
Redbreasted nuthatch
Common nuthatch
Purple finch
Mourning dove
Sharp-shinned hawk
Piliated woodpecker
Redpoll
House finch
Junco
That makes 13 species, plus 8 bantams and their first 40 eggs!

On to February ("Rabbit, Rabbit!)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 06:42 PM

My January home list:
HAWO-Hairy Woodpecker
RBNH-Red Breasted Nuthatch
BCCH-Blackcapped Chickadee
DOWO-Downy Woodpecker
PISI-Pine Sisken
WBNH-White Breasted Nuthatch
HORE-Horry Redpoll
AMGO-American Goldfinch
EUST-European Starling
ATSP-American Tree Sparrow
AMCR-American Crow
BLJE-Blue Jay
DEJU-Darkeyed Junco
MODO-Mourning Dove

Raptor

1 hour north of Toronto

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 06:50 PM

Arkie Which Chickadee,black-capped or Carolina?

And what type of Nuthatch
Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:00 PM

And here's my house list for January:

Northern Cardinal
Tufted Titmouse
Junco
Turtledove
Common Crow
Carolina Wren
White-throated Sparrow
Goldfinch
Purple Finch (prob. could be house finch but I don't think so.)
Black-capped Chickadee
Rufus-sided Towhee
Brown Thrasher
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Red-Bellied Woodpecker
Robin
(Not near my yard, but here and there around town...Starlings, House Sparrows and what I am pretty sure was a Peregrine Falcon.)

Northeast Piedmont, North Carolina

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:04 PM

Oh--and Canada Geese flying over in the mornings.

I don't count too well--that's 17 species.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:08 PM

Janie are you sure about the Turtledove? They are Very Rare in North America and only on Vancouver Island are they sighted.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: leftydee
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:12 PM

From Motown

cardinal
junco
house sparrow
goldfinch
chickadee
mourning dove
blue jay
assup (white-breasted nuthatch)
Cooper's hawk
redtailed hawk
Canada goose

Surprisingly, no crows or starlings

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:16 PM

Oops again--I meant Mourning Dove. Thanks for catching that.
Janie
(ain't never seed a Turtle Dove in me life!)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Little Hawk
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 08:40 PM

The thing about turtledoves is, they're quite rare. The reason for that is that male turtles find it very hard to mount doves. They just can't move fast enough. Then too, male doves seem unable to deal with the logistics of impregnating a female turtle. "She just won't come out of her shell!" is a common lament of the frustrated male dove, who can be seen jumping around desperately on the shell of a female box turtle while she placidly grazes. Nevertheless there are some turtledoves around, which proves that it is possible. No one has yet confirmed just how it is done or which way around.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 10:28 PM

LH--I love your twisted little mind:>)

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 01 Feb 06 - 11:37 PM

So that explains "The time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the Turtle is heard in our land" I love that bit. Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: maeve
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 06:40 AM

Bump! ;)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 01:13 PM

OK....we had two rufous hummingbirds at the empty hummingbird feeder yesterday. I know this has been a very weird mild winter on southern Vancouver Island, but there is still really nothing in bloom here except for a few snowdrops.

The salmonberry bushes, quite often their favourite early food are still mostly bare sticks, although the buds are starting to green up and swell. Does anyone know what are these little fellows might be surviving on?

I filled the feeder with sugar water today and put a red ribbon on it, in hopes of tempting them back, so I guess, come what may, weatherwise, I've committed to them.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 01:42 PM

When in spring to they usually arrive?

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 01:54 PM

I'm not certain Janie, I know in the milder suburban area of Victoria, they will stick around all winter, if the feeders are kept filled, but out in the forested area where I live about 20 miles out, the hummingbird feeders are probably a bit few and far between.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: gnu
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 03:21 PM

I have GOT to get a video camera or whatever they are called these days. My neighbour has a small bird feeder which cannot be perched upon and eaten from by larger birds like pigeons. As well, he hung the feeder with a foot long piece of #10 insulated copper wire so it would swing freely, thus being even more unstable. I just saw a pigeon repeatedly do the following.

It grabbed a perch with it's talons and then grabbed a corner of the "eave". It flapped it's wings vigorously, forcing the feeder to spin a half dozen revolutions. It released and went to ground under the feeder. The feeder spun wildy, spewing feed to the pigeon and it's buddies.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 03 Feb 06 - 04:46 PM

I'll bet that's one very important pigeon in the pigoen world, gnu. King or Queen or maybe God.
I have a friend with a Wildlife shelter where a pigeon took up residence by chance. (They aren't native here but we're softies all of us.) He's a bit dim. Gets very excited every Spring and makes free with my friend's boots that get left on the porch. I told her,

"Great! Hatch out the boot-eggs. Put me down for a few pair. Feathered boots! Maybe I could fly!"
Cheers, Joy

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

The Missouri Audebon siting report in January noted an immature female Rufous Hummingbird seen in Missouri.   Though I have been told that they will winter in this general area I cannot recall having seen any during winter months. I am awaiting their return along with the Purple Martins.

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

In London - great tit, blue tit, crow, magpie, grey backed gull, sparrow, blackbird. A mere 7 different varieties. 8 if you count the unidentified remains I found under the sofa, courtesy of the kitten, although I suspect it was a tit.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 09:42 AM

The finches I am seeing ARE purple finches and not house finches.    Was watching Mom & Dad's feeder this weekend in West Virginia. They have house finches and purple finches for comparison.

Seeing their bluejays made me realize I haven't seen any this winter around our place. We don't have a lot of them, but we usually do see them year round.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Little Hawk
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 01:18 PM

Saw a flock of Speckled Glebe today, a Swainson's Steady Tippler, and a Western Pileated Nutpecker.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 01:54 PM

This AM I had a Coopers Hawk fly through my flock of Pine Siskens. Then 3 hours later A Northern Shrike flew into my window triing to get one of them.
I wrapped him in a towel, took it inside, let it warm up, waited a few minutes, brought it outside, and it was fine. It flew to a nearby tree and posed for some photos.
It then went after the Siskens when they returned.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 03:03 PM

Heres the Shrike
One of the photos I took today.
Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 03:11 PM

Thanks for photo, Raptor! We don't have the shrikes or the pine siskins here.

It's wintertime where you are, huh!

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 03:52 PM

Yep Canada

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 04:02 PM

Some of you are able to use sound to identify birds. Except for a few very common birds, I've never taken the time to do that--even tho' hubby has one of those audio fieldguides that he has found very helpful.

    A little while ago I was out filling the feeders and listening to the birdsongs. The chorus is being added to daily. I can see how knowing their calls would greatly enrich the experience of birdwatching.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Arkie
Date: 06 Feb 06 - 06:49 PM

Raptor, sorry, I missed your question earlier.   We have Carolina Chickadees and White-breasted Nuthatches. I should have noted this.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Raptor
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 06:02 PM

Arkie You could have Red-Breasted Nuthatch as well in your area.

Raptor

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 06:20 PM

Last week had Goldfinches in my garden, don't see them so often nowadys here.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: number 6
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 06:36 PM

I saw a Great Black-backed Gull here down on Water Street yesterday.

Divis ... every May a couple of Goldfinches freguent my garden ... looking forward to seeing them again this year.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: number 6
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 06:40 PM

Oooops I guess I can't count that gull ... as Water Street is about 500 feet from my house.

sIx

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Divis Sweeney
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 07:00 PM

sIx
They once were common in Ireland, sadly not so much now in the towns. The Bullfinches seemed to have left also. Isn't it great to see some normal threads on mud again without the need for a riot helmet !

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Metchosin
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 11:34 AM

Mystery regarding the hummingbirds may be solved. They were most likely not rufous, but Anna's hummingbirds. Me bad, I just assumed they were rufous hummers because that's all I've ever seen at my feeder and I didn't actually view them, my daughter did.

After further conversation, what she described fits Anna's better. Also Anna's are known to feed on small insects and also from sapsuckers drillings, as well, which may explain how they are sustaining themselves in my area this winter.

These wee fellows have expanded their resident range from California all the way up to Vancouver Island in recent years and their population in this area has exploded. Adventurous birds or global warming?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 11:47 AM

A whole herd (horde) of cowbirds descended on the feeders this morning.

I hope they don't all stick around.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Joybell
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 04:32 PM

I find identification of our birds much easier when I learn their calls. I need to see them actually calling. Of course we have a few good mimics. I often hear a bird out of season and realize it's an Australian Magpie. In forested areas the Lyrebirds are so good at mimicry that it's only when you hear something like a train, or a chainsaw, or the click and wind of a camera, that they give themselves away.
Thank you for the picture Raptor as well as for the thread.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 05:54 PM

Raptor, my birdbook indicates that the Red-Breasted Nuthatch winters in this area but it has been many years since I have actually seen one. They would be most welcome.

I have seen several hummingbird feeders in town over the past week.   They may have been there all winter and escaped my notice. I sure have not had any of the little fellers buzzing my deck.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: Janie
Date: 08 Feb 06 - 07:20 PM

I just googled to see a picture of the European Goldfinch. What colorful birds! Very different from our American Goldfinches.

There have been increasing numbers of goldfinches at my feeders the last few days. I don't know if more flocks have moved in, if they are congregating for the mating season, or if the pickings from my garden and the local fields are getting thin. (I leave seedheads standing for the birds in winter.) They are much more quarrelsome with each other than is usual. While still olive, the males are beginning to brighten and show hints of yellow. The white and black stripes on the females are showing more contrast.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Robin
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 01:48 AM

Starlings are bastards

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching Challenge
From: GUEST,Starling King
Date: 09 Feb 06 - 01:49 AM

No we're not you red chested git