BS: Birdwatching 2009

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 28 Mar 09 - 09:42 PM

Walking to the station Friday morning - a beautiful crisp, rosy fingered dawn - there was a hawk hovering over the bus stop. Beautiful way to start the day.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 05:20 AM

"Very early for a Swallow in Ireland" is it ever too early for a swallow in Ireland?, sometimes the pubs stay open all night.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 07:54 AM

"Ard Macha" - can only go by this (see entry for 20th March):

http://www.clarebirdwatching.com/scarce-rare-bird-sightings/march-2009-2.html

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 02:28 PM

This morning I had to dispose of a yellow-rumped warbler killed by one of the cats and left on my carport, and kill a badly injured female cardinal that had been mauled. Since I don't know who owns any of these 5 cats, and have not met most of my nieghbors, I'm sending a letter to everyone on the street, asking that cats be kept in, and notifying them I will call animal control to trap the animals if that doesn't happen. I invited cat owners to come by or call if they want to talk face-to-face.

I am probably about to be labeled the b*tch of the neighborhood.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 03:32 PM

Not doubting your word Jim, I had to get this nonsense in before some other smart-ass, the photos were brilliant, good spotting.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Celtaddict
Date: 29 Mar 09 - 08:43 PM

Not in my yard (will update later) but during lunch at a friend's on Friday (midcoastal Maine a couple of miles inland), a barred owl flew right to the window then sat under a tree watching us; no crows mobbing at the time. Then when I left, there was a pileated woodpecker working an aging birch.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:51 AM

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 10:52 AM

Woops on the last post.

Two species to add for March.

Cowbird
Chipping Sparrow

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 01 Apr 09 - 11:11 AM

Pine siskins and purple finches visited us yesterday, and about 4o Canada geese flew over the house early this morning. The birds that are accustomed to flitting through the pine grove near the house will find homes and cover in the pines on the other side of the brook where red-eyed veeries and many kinds of warblers nest. We have gradually cleared away the nearby pines, with the notable exception of 4 huge old white pines, to increase sun exposure and make space for the young apple orchard.

My Truelove cleaned out the bird houses along the fence bordering our largest veggie garden, and added a few different houses in other locations yesterday. Bluebirds and swallows are due back anytime now. I've also been putting out orange halves for orioles & tanagers, who especially enjoy them. It's still chilly, but the feathered ones are a-moving toward us. It's nearly time to fill the hummer feeders; maybe in a couple of weeks the male Rubythroats should be here, hungry after a long migration. We try to start offering specialty food a couple of weeks before the early arrivals show up.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 06:57 PM

Add chaffinch to my list... he was going over what was once the lawn, looking for seeds and creepies that I might have undearthed when I was dibbing about with the garden fork.

And the green linnet came back earlier this week... had a lovely conversation with him whilst he showed me his lemon yellow wings.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Raptor
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 10:35 PM

I expect my hummers on may 10 same as the last 20 years I've been watchin.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Beer
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:17 PM

Picked some Pussy Willows today. Reminded me of Gordon Lightfoot's song "Pussy Willows Cattails".
Adrien

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Beer
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 11:18 PM

Nothing to do with Birds except it is part of spring I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,LTS pretending to work
Date: 08 Apr 09 - 07:48 AM

So anyone know where I can get hold of a guide book to New Zealandish birds?

Only ones I remember from last time there (23 years ago) were very English looking sparrows.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 05:12 AM

As regular as clockwork, spotted my first Swallows this morning, always between the 7th and the 12th of April, and as usual it was wet and windy. North-east Ireland.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 07:09 AM

Still waiting for mine (swallows), should be any day now here in W.Clare.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 01:50 PM

Jim being well over 200 miles south your Swallows should have arrived on that strong southern gale, I have kept a record for close on 30 years and always between the dates mentioned they always oblige, they are the super birds.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 04:39 AM

Mudcatters in West London will have been familiar with the flocks of ring-necked parakeets that have been plaguing gardens and soft- fruit growers, particularly in the Richmond on Thames area, for years. Obviously escapees from an aviary, or, local legend has it, from a Shepperton or Teddington film set after the filming of a Tarzan picture/African Queen/Sanders of the river (depending on whose urban myth you choose to believe!). When I workd in Egham, Surrey they had already spread there and into the surrounding bits of Windsor Great Park such as Virginia Water and Savill garden as well as Royal Holloway college grounds. We've always had the odd one over here (Ascot) but the last couple of weeks we've had a small flock or about half a dozen, they're certainly spreading, despite this recent cold winter.
Personally, I'm looking forwrad to the arrival or those wonderfully acrobatic Red Kites. They have been successfully spreading out from their reintroduction site in the Chilterns, are a familiar sight to travellers on the M40 round Stokenchurch, have spread north into Bucks (my late mother-in-law had seen them near Winslow)and south, certainly as far as Maidenhead and Bisham. One of our neighbours claims already to have seen one locally so we'll keep an eye out.

RtS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,Jim Martin
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 06:15 AM

I've seen red kites in Leighton Buzzard, Beds - and that was over 8 years ago!

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Raptor
Date: 13 Apr 09 - 02:31 PM

Liz when I want a bird guide from another country I go to amazon.com or to chapters.ca to order the book to be shipped to my local store.

Click here

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: GUEST,LTS in New Zealand
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 04:41 PM

Been here less than 24 hours and so far notched up sparrows, blackbird and starling. The native birds I've seen so far are a pukeko (long legged moorhen type bird), black swan, a Welcome swallow and a Tui! There was a brown thing that looked like it might have been a barwit, but it's in the field behind the house so probably something else... There was a glimpse of oyster catchers (bit different to the English ones) but only fleeting, there's a possible sighting of a fantail - a bit like a long tailed tit - yet to confirm.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:04 PM

As today is Tax Day, the vultures and buzzards were out in force in this area.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 15 Apr 09 - 11:34 PM

I am pulling the birdfeeders until the cat issue is dealt with. 5 neighborhood cats, all with collars on, are killing or maiming an average of three birds per day now.   They have gotten more savy and skillful. One result is the goldfinches and house finches are starting to avoid the feeders.

This would be easier if I disliked cats. I don't. I think cats are one of the neatest, best, sort-of domesticated animals on earth. However, I also love the birds.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 04:41 AM

Confirmed the fantail sighting with a better one this lunchtime> Also saw the local falcon< many magpies (Australian import)< a pair of silvereyes and a kingfisher>

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 16 Apr 09 - 09:38 PM

Legall, cats are not domesticated animals. They may be our pets but they live with us by choice and are rarely trained beyond using the litter box and tolerating others. [That does not mean I do not like them, it means that I understand the limits of the relationship.]

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 06:16 AM

Some photos on Flick now, look for Liz the Squeak.

Sighted today - the barwit may be a bittern... got another book with better pictures to confirm.

Had a moment this morning with the tui and some fantails. The fantails fly like a paper bag in a wind tunnel. Mynas are suicidal and will sit in the road until the last second as a vehicle approaches. Australasian harriers eat roadkill possum in the same fashion, we almost took one off the road today. Pukeko are even more stupid than pigeons, we slowed for one to cross the road, only to have it dither around in front of us, cross to one side then immediately turn around and cross back!

The duck I identified as the shelduck, beautiful striking white head on a boring brown body.

I'm getting to like this birdwatching lark. My sister isn't too happy though, there was a fantail in the house this morning which apparently is a terrible omen foretelling a death, so she's a bit twitchy.

Now I know it's not a bird, but there's a pair of mantids living under the porch. I've named the fatter one Pearl (after Les Barker's poem) so of course, the thinner one, is Tony - after the Admiral, who is of course, married to Pearl. They're fascinating to watch.

More later.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 17 Apr 09 - 04:00 PM

The barwit/bittern is actually an Australian spur winged plover. I watched them mob an Australasian harrier. I was doing some yoga this morning at the back of the house which overlooks the paddock, from where I could see myna, sparrows, a fan tailed dove (former occupant of dovecote in house across the paddock that couldn't be found when the previous owners moved), the plover, the harrier, blackbirds, starling and a gull. I could hear parakeets and a tui cackling away somewhere behind me... a bit different from my usual yoga accompaniments!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: bobad
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 10:00 AM

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2009/apr/19/canada-geese-put-one-over-on-american-eagle/

Canada geese put one over on American eagle
By Bryan Brasher (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal
Sunday, April 19, 2009

BEAVER DAM, Miss. -- With mating season in full swing for Canada geese, people have no doubt seen the tall, majestic-looking birds nesting on the ground all over the Mid-South.

But Mike Boyd can show you something you probably haven't seen when it comes to geese.

Canada geese have claimed squatters' rights to this eagle's nest at Beaver Dam Lake near Tunica, Miss.

On the edge of his property at historic Beaver Dam Lake, just outside of Tunica, Boyd can point to a pair of Canada geese sitting in an eagle's nest more than 80 feet off the ground.

The geese didn't wait for the eagles to leave and then claim an abandoned nest. They actually fought off the eagles and have forcefully occupied their home for two weeks despite their constant protests.

"At certain times, you can go out there and see the eagle sitting on the limb above the nest looking down at the geese," Boyd said. "Believe me, that eagle is not happy."

Susan Winston of Helena, Ark., also noticed the home-wrecking Canada geese, along with her friends, Jane Woodie and Patty Smith.

The trio is passionate about photographing nature and wildlife -- and Winston said this scene is one of the most fascinating things they've ever captured on film.

"We visit this eagle's nest frequently this time of year in hopes of seeing the birds and their growing family," Winston said. "We have photographed the eagles mating, bringing food to the nest, feeding their young, and we've watched as the eaglets prepared for their first flight."

But this nesting season, the show has been different.

"This year has really yielded disappointment," Winston said. "But then, we've also been amazed at the bizarre events we have documented each visit. We never expected to see geese just take over the nest."

Canada geese usually nest on the ground in tall grass near the water's edge, often on small points or islands.

People also construct specialized nesting platforms for the geese -- but not 80 feet off the ground. The platforms are usually built out of floating logs and anchored on the water's surface in a place that will be suitable for mating pairs.

The female goose chooses the nesting location and builds the nest, lining it with her own feathers for warmth. The male goose stands guard, chasing off intruders.

In this case, the intruder has been the very eagle that constructed the nest.

"I've never seen anything like it," Boyd said. "I've talked with a lot of people, and they've never seen anything like it either."

Boyd said he has labored under the mistaken impression for years that bald eagles are the tougher of the two species.

"I thought a bald eagle would just absolutely throttle a Canada goose," Boyd said. "But that eagle has come back over and over again trying to reclaim its nest, and the geese won't give it up."

Actually, the bald eagle was denounced as a coward by Benjamin Franklin more than 200 years ago. Franklin favored the turkey over an eagle as the American symbol for that very reason.

Turns out, maybe the Canada goose deserved some consideration as our American symbol as well.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 10:01 AM

Saw my first hummer this weekend.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: EBarnacle
Date: 21 Apr 09 - 09:37 PM

When Lady Hillary and I came out of our volunteer jobs this noon at our local rummage sale, we saw a female Northern Harrier about 100 feet from our car.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 22 Apr 09 - 05:15 PM

White goose yesterday, not identified yet. Other birds seen were stuffed and in the museum...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Ferrara
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 02:18 PM

Two more birds this week:

Chipping sparrow - a flock were foraging in the front yard grass.

Female rufous-sided towhee - Bill and I watched her for a long time, but all we saw for the first 3 or 4 minutes was the dead leaves flying as she scratched fiercely for bugs under the azaleas. Very neat when she finally showed herself.

This is 29 species this year, I think. Maybe I'm paying more attention than usual?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 04:48 PM

So the white goose was just goosus domesticus, the chickens in the park are domestic chickens gone feral and the sparrows are ubiquitous.

So my tally for this trip, from this property:

Pukeko
Spur winged plover
Australasian harrier
Fan tailed dove
Sparrow
Fantail
Waxeye
Two tui
Starling
Blackbird
Welcome swallow
Indian Myna

Quite a selection from one small caravan park!

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 24 Apr 09 - 05:00 PM

Well, I finally called Animal Control and they are going to bring out box traps for me to set to catch the cats. I really hate to do this, but I still don't know to whom any of these cats belong. All but one have collars, but I don't think I see any tags on them.

The thing that bothers me, is that if the cats do not have tags with owner information on them, they are very likely to end up being put down. I really hate that.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 03:35 PM

Of course. Take a pic of each cat... it might help if the idiots do come round looking for Fluffy.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Ferrara
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 03:39 PM

Wow Janie what a dilemma. What's the legal situation? I think here, a cat can run legally loose if it has a rabies tag.

Saw the first catbirds of the season today. Doesn't mean they weren't here earlier. They usually nest pretty early. They like to decorate the nest with strips of plastic.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 25 Apr 09 - 04:28 PM

I forgot the heron that flies over most mornings.... he's little with a white face and quite cute.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 02 May 09 - 04:36 PM

Saw three common grackles in the yard three mornings ago. Haven't seen them since.

Questions re: humming birds and feeders that I wonder if some one can answer. At the old place, I had lots of hummers because I had lots of flowers that attracted them, but I've never put up a hummingbird feeder before. Here, I am just starting to garden and don't have anything planted, much less in bloom to attract them. I saw one hummer a week or so ago checking out some bright fucshia azaleas, but apparently azaleas are not big nectar plants. It zoomed in, then zoomed away and I haven't seen another hummer since. Last weekend I bought and set up a hummingbird feeder. From the level of the liquid, it does not appear it has been visited by any hummers, at least not yet.

Here are my questions: 1. Do I need to empty, clean and refill the feeder at regular intervals, since it is not being drained? If so, what interval? 2. Any advice on location to increase the chance of attracting hummers? Right now, the feeder is suspended from a pole that is shaded and immediately adjacent to the open, exterior side of my carport, on the which I use as a covered patio. This is on the north side of the house.

Continuing saga on the cat situation. I live one block from the county line in a town that is mostly in the neighboring county. An officer with Orange Co. Animal Control left me a voice mail a day or so ago saying I would have to contact the local Police Dept, which I did. They have put my name on a waiting list to have them set box traps. I did learn that people are supposed to keep their animals in their own yards, and I can trap any animal I want on my own property. I'll price Havahart traps tomorrow to see if I ought to go ahead and buy my own traps.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 02 May 09 - 05:45 PM

The grackles made liars of me. They're back. Saw my first catbird of the season at the birdbath a few minutes ago.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 02 May 09 - 07:06 PM

Janie, regarding your hummer questions:
1. Do I need to empty, clean and refill the feeder at regular intervals...?
Yes. The interval depends on how hot the syrup gets; I'd say every three or so days you should clean it with hot water (if you use soap or bleach rinse, rinse, rinse) and refill with fresh syrup. You may know- use 4 parts boiling water to 1 part regular granulated white sugar, never honey, and no need for dye. A bit of red ribbon or a fake flower taped on will be enough to draw the hummers.

2. Any advice on location...? You location sounds pretty good. If you can cluster some potted flowers nearby that is helpful.

Birds & Blooms magazine and website have a section devoted to hummers; here's a link:

www.birdsandblooms.com

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 02 May 09 - 08:07 PM

Thanks, maeve, I'll check out the website and clean out the feeder.

Does the sugar water have enough nutrients in it to meet the needs of hummers? (as opposed to commercial packets of powdered "hummingbird nectar") Would raw sugar be better than refined sugar?

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: RangerSteve
Date: 03 May 09 - 07:19 PM

At my birdfeeder there was a goldfinch the other day. A pair of bluebirds in the back yard. Some mourning doves and a pair of cardinals in the front yard.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 09 May 09 - 06:06 AM

The One-to-four-parts white sugar-nectar we put out is what is recommended by Audubon and others who know hummers well. It may be possible to play with the sugar used, but nutritionists keep insisting there is no real difference in nutrition between the various forms of sugar. Where hummers are concerned however, honey is dangerous and nectar made from it can and has killed the little darlings.

The hummingbirds also eat real flower nectar, juices from fruits, and many tiny insects. The value of human-provided sugar water seems to be as an immediate energy source rather than their sole or even primary source of nutrition. Commercial mixtures I have tried in the past were simply powdered sugar with dyes added.

For myself, I use the sugar nectar to support and attract hummers, but plant hummer friendly plants with abandon to provide real food and habitat options.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 09 May 09 - 06:17 AM

I meant to post this earlier-

A generous person in Maine has been sending out new wood nesting boxes designed for flickers and kestrels. We are fortunate enough to have been given some, and will get them mounted asap. In return we promised to maintain them and send back written and photographic reports concerning any birds nesting there. Both species are under stress in the USA, so I hope we can offer some meaningful observations.

We've seen bluebirds, American goldfinches, Rose breasted grosbeak, siskins, heard warblers, wood thrushes, and many sparrows, and again watched a sharp-shinned hawk diving at chortling chickadees in a large beautybush.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 09 May 09 - 09:38 AM

still no hummers, but I am going through two blocks of suet a week now among the woodpeckers, nuthatches and catbirds. I also think the squirrels may be partaking.

No species to add for April other what I already mentioned.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Sooz
Date: 09 May 09 - 01:06 PM

Saw and heard a nightingale at Whisby Nature Park last week (Lincoln UK)
A bit special.
Arrived home to find that a straying dog had killed the widgeon on the pond. Shame - he was beautiful and had been there a long time.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 09 - 04:59 PM

Hummers... there is an elderly lady in SE New Brunswick that has hundreds of hummers coming to her feeders near the Tantramar Marshes. She uses 3:1 (never that store bought crap with the dye in it) and she uses 2:1 (and stronger!) near season end as the young ones build strength.

4:1 is good... unless you want to lure hummers from you neighbours. >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Janie
Date: 09 May 09 - 07:43 PM

Talked to the guy at the Wild Bird Center store this afternoon. I think I just need to take maeve's advice and tie a nice red ribbon on the pole. The feeder itself is not red, just the little holes to access the sugar water.    I had bought the feeder mixture when I bought the feeder and it has red dye in it, but the container itself is light green glass and the red is dull. Maybe also a few pots of red impatience or begonias around it also will help.

Or, I could just go get a pastic red feeder and see what happens. Would rather use what I already unwisely bought, though.

Found out that 3 of the 5 cats that are the worst offenders belong to the woman next door. A 4th cat, that occasionally seem also belongs to her, but mostly stays inside. The rest of the cats are outdoor cats. Spoke with her at length today. She was out in the yard marking the lines for an electronic invisible fence for her dogs. She is going to go ahead and get collars for the cats also, and see if that will keep them in her yard, and out of mine. Told me to let her know if I continued to have a problem. I think she actually doesn't get it (she is also the one with the dogs tethered 24-7 that bark non-stop at night.) But at least she was cordial about it, and at least verbalized that she considers my concerns legitimate. We'll see.

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: maeve
Date: 10 May 09 - 06:59 AM

A Baltimore Oriole visited the hummer feeders late yesterday afternoon. I've put out fresh sweet grapefruit halves, and will add oranges when we have some on hand.

Janie, your present feeder will be fine. Hummers are clever enough to remember where food is found. That bit of red ribbon serves to attract their attention. After that, the little buzzbirds will remember food is there.

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Birdwatching 2009
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 11 May 09 - 05:53 AM

Cuckoos are supposed to be declining, but I heard one persistently in the Swinley Forest last week.
RtS