Today was our own Christmas Bird Count on West Campus. Our intrepid team was Lynn, Nick and Sue. Lynn was on campus at 6, while it was still dark, to try to find a few owls. Nick joined her half an hour later, and I was there by 6:40 - with color just showing in the east. The sky was clear and the temperature may have been in the single digits... by 8:30, an hour after sun-up, it was 12 degrees fahrenheit. We had expected wind, but thankfully there was none!
The first spectacle of the day was the sight of the crow roost breaking up and heading off in all directions. We figured, conservatively, 1500 birds were leaving the trees along Frontage Road, just in front of the north entrance to West Campus. In the flock we had two positive Fish Crows, and there were probably more, but we were happy to have this new species for our list.
Lynn had no luck calling owls with her tape recorder, so once the sky was light we began birding in the nature preserve, along the river. We walked downstream, then up, birded the brambles along the parking lots behind the B buildings, birded the shrubs and pines behind the A buildings, then at 8:30 took a 15-minute warm-up break indoors.
Next we drove along the back side of the large warehouse - our good sparrow place, then went to the far south end of campus to walk the fence line as far as the river. We ended up spending quite a bit of time in the woods here, and in the overgrown dumping area, which we scanned from within and from above. Heading back up to A21 for a lunch break, we drove the lower parking lot edges looking for a few last species before calling it quits - at noon.
So, six hours of birding yielded 33 species. Had it been an actual "count day", we probably would have stayed until dusk - but since we were just out for fun, and we had had our fun, we called it a day.
1. Canada Goose ...................105
2. Turkey Vulture .................... 1
3. Red-tailed Hawk .................. 2
4. Sharp-shinned Hawk ........... 1
5. Herring Gull ........................ 12
6. Ring-billed Gull ...................66
7. Hairy Woodpecker ................1
8. Downy Woodpecker ............. 6
9. Red-bellied Woodpecker ..... 1
10. Northern Flicker ................ 4
11. Mourning Dove ................... 7
12. Cedar Waxwing .................. 1
13. American Crow .............1500
14. Fish Crow ............................ 2 confirmed
15. Blue Jay ............................... 7
16. European Starling ............. 45
17. American Robin .. ............ 121
18. Hermit Thrush ....................3
19. Northern Mockingbird ...... 1
20. Brown Thrasher ................ 1
21. Gray Catbird ...................... 1
22. Carolina Wren .................... 5
23. Golden-crowned Kinglet .. 3
24. Black-capped Chickadee .. 8
25. Tufted Titmouse ............... 1
26. Northern Cardinal ............ 9
27. Dark-eyed Junco .............. 11
28. White-throated Sparrow . 59
29. Song Sparrow .................... 1
30. Eastern Towhee ............... 1 by ear
31. American Goldfinch .........12
32. House Finch ...................... 6
33. Red-winged Blackbird...... 6
So, the special bird of the day was definitely the Brown Thrasher, which Nick spotted, but, we had a total of FOUR new species for our bird list!
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Wren
Fish Crow and
Hairy Woodpecker
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
more Winter at West Campus
One rather cold-looking male Northern Cardinal perched in the Sycamore tree - just to his right is our little feeder. His preference seems to be to pick up seeds from the ground (snow) under the feeder, rather than use the feeder directly.
Here's a better photo of the curled-up leaves of our Rhododendron, with next spring's flower bud just visible at the apex of the twig.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Snow :-)
Saturday's big nor'easter hit the mid-atlantic states and coastal southern New England with lots of snow. Here at West Campus, we didn't have an unusual snowfall, maybe 6 to 8 inches.
We haven't been out birding yet this week, just observing the birds in our little feeder, see above. We have a regular female Downy Woodpecker, and some occasional Chickadees.
There remains some natural food in the A-21 courtyard, as seen on this ornamental fruiting tree - not sure whether it's a cherry or a crab-apple. We still see Robins in this tree.
If you don't have an outdoor thermometer, and you do have a Rhododendron shrub, you at least know if it's really cold or just sort of cold. The leaves of the Rhododendron curl up very tightly when it's really cold, and open out as the sun warms them. This is, I believe, a moisture-conserving mechanism. The leaves of the plant in the photo above have already begun to warm with the morning sun. Now go back up to the first photo and take a look at the leaves of the shrub still in shadow.
Not much to report in the birding department. Folks have noticed that the crows are gathering at West Campus again. Just at sundown they can be seen flying in our direction, singly, and in small groups. They alight in the bare branches of the tallest deciduous trees along nearby roads, and on our rooftops as well. Eric estimated about 600 yesterday afternoon.
Lynn mentioned that our resident flock of Canada Geese seems to have departed since the snowstorm, though a small flock was winging overhead this morning, perhaps ours?, checking for bare ground. They will find grazing either in coastal areas or wide open wind-swept areas.
Well, we will stock our little feeder tomorrow before we depart for our extended Christmas recess. And maybe I'll keep posting with some non-West Campus birding excursions.
We haven't been out birding yet this week, just observing the birds in our little feeder, see above. We have a regular female Downy Woodpecker, and some occasional Chickadees.
There remains some natural food in the A-21 courtyard, as seen on this ornamental fruiting tree - not sure whether it's a cherry or a crab-apple. We still see Robins in this tree.
If you don't have an outdoor thermometer, and you do have a Rhododendron shrub, you at least know if it's really cold or just sort of cold. The leaves of the Rhododendron curl up very tightly when it's really cold, and open out as the sun warms them. This is, I believe, a moisture-conserving mechanism. The leaves of the plant in the photo above have already begun to warm with the morning sun. Now go back up to the first photo and take a look at the leaves of the shrub still in shadow.
Not much to report in the birding department. Folks have noticed that the crows are gathering at West Campus again. Just at sundown they can be seen flying in our direction, singly, and in small groups. They alight in the bare branches of the tallest deciduous trees along nearby roads, and on our rooftops as well. Eric estimated about 600 yesterday afternoon.
Lynn mentioned that our resident flock of Canada Geese seems to have departed since the snowstorm, though a small flock was winging overhead this morning, perhaps ours?, checking for bare ground. They will find grazing either in coastal areas or wide open wind-swept areas.
Well, we will stock our little feeder tomorrow before we depart for our extended Christmas recess. And maybe I'll keep posting with some non-West Campus birding excursions.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Cold and clear.
A very bright, very cold day - so we sought shelter down in the river bottoms. Sounds like Louisiana... The floods from last Wednesday had receded and any remaining standing water was frozen! Our goal was to explore upstream from the Nature Reserve footbridge as far as we could go. The Oyster River itself was flowing along, but mostly under thin ice. Just as in warm weather, water can be a bird magnet - so there was some activity along the edges of the stream.
John James Audubon's Canada Goose
Today's birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Canada Goose
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Red-tailed Hawk - two
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Robin
Northern Cardinal - a group of 12
Black-capped Chickadee
American Goldfinch (heard)
White-throated Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
The cardinals were actively flying about, from the brushy slope down to the water, from there up into the cottonwood trees then back to the bittersweet tangles. There were several females, with their subtle golden-gray coats and bright red bills, but mostly males, in varying shades of bright to dusky red. Their strong clear "chip" notes followed us as we made our way along the river bank.
John James Audubon's Cardinal Grosbeak, our Northern Cardinal
Tomorrow is the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count in our area, and though we will not be counting birds here at West Campus, we will submit a list of birds we've seen to the area compiler. If nobody else counts a Barred Owl tomorrow, then Lynn and Scott's sighting of OUR Barred Owl - again - two days ago, will be added to the area list! Most of our other birds are very common, and will likely be counted elsewhere.
To all of you who will be participating in Christmas Bird Counts this weekend - good luck, and have fun!
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunset, Sunrise
If you're outdoors regularly at sunrise and sunset, you may be pretty sensitive to the subtle changes in the daylight. And guess what? The sun is already setting later. But, you may say, what about the shortest day of the year being December 21st? Well, the sun is still rising later, and that won't change until the end of December. So, the average of earliest sunset - Dec. 14th, and latest sunrise - December 29th, gives us the northern hemisphere's winter solstice, that day with the fewest hours of sunlight, December 21st.
Sunset at West Campus today, with crab-apple tree in foreground
December 16, 2009, S. Hochgraf photo
December 16, 2009, S. Hochgraf photo
So linger a moment outside these days, and enjoy that lengthening afternoon light!
And hey - where are all the birds anyway? Hunkered down against the cold and wind of winter which is really just beginning - despite those later sunsets.
Today Nick, Lynn and I spent 15 minutes out birding, and found:
American Goldfinch, three
Dark-eyed Junco, five
White-throated Sparrow, several
European Starling, one
Ring-billed Gull, one
Canada Goose, 27
Today Nick, Lynn and I spent 15 minutes out birding, and found:
American Goldfinch, three
Dark-eyed Junco, five
White-throated Sparrow, several
European Starling, one
Ring-billed Gull, one
Canada Goose, 27
Anything at the feeder I missed? let me know!
The dates I mentioned above are averages, gleaned from a variety of sources. For really detailed information try the U.S. Navy's Astronomical Information Center:
The dates I mentioned above are averages, gleaned from a variety of sources. For really detailed information try the U.S. Navy's Astronomical Information Center:
Monday, December 14, 2009
Winter Birds
After a cold, rainy weekend, we were lucky to have a sunny lunchtime walk today. Temps in the low 40's, very little wind. There were a lot of birds around this morning as we all arrived at work, but after lunch we scared up only a few birds, but a good new one!
Today's birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Meleagris gallopavo, Wild Turkey, high count of 11
Branta canadensis, Canada Goose
Larus delawarensis, Ring-billed Gull
Larus argentatus, Herring Gull
Columba livia, Rock Pigeon
Zenaida macroura, Mourning Dove
Colaptes auratus, Northern Flicker
Picoides pubescens, Downy Woodpecker
Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lZfSFoZeDLc/SujIvr813FI/AAAAAAAAB9w/sF0uSvvJ5LM/s400/Fox+Sparrow.jpg
Corvus brachyrhynchos, American Crow
Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay
Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling
Turdus migratorius, American Robin, still a big flock hanging around
Bombycilla cedrorum, Cedar Waxwing, flock of a dozen
Poecile atricapillus, Black-capped Chickadee
Junco hyemalis, Dark-eyed Junco
Zonotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow
Melospiza melodia, Song Sparrow
Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow - good bird, Lynn!!
Carduelis tristis, American Goldfinch
Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged Blackbird
Alas, I am very jealous, because I didn't actually see the Fox Sparrow, well, except as it flew away. This sparrow spends the winter from Connecticut south to Georgia and across the southwest to California and Mexico. It breeds in northern Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador through the prairie provinces, and from Alaska south into the Rocky Mountains of the U.S.
I often see the Fox Sparrow only in early and late winter - December and March, so our sighting today is pretty typical, but still a beautiful little bird to add to our list.
Today's birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Meleagris gallopavo, Wild Turkey, high count of 11
Branta canadensis, Canada Goose
Larus delawarensis, Ring-billed Gull
Larus argentatus, Herring Gull
Columba livia, Rock Pigeon
Zenaida macroura, Mourning Dove
Colaptes auratus, Northern Flicker
Picoides pubescens, Downy Woodpecker
Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_lZfSFoZeDLc/SujIvr813FI/AAAAAAAAB9w/sF0uSvvJ5LM/s400/Fox+Sparrow.jpg
Corvus brachyrhynchos, American Crow
Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay
Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling
Turdus migratorius, American Robin, still a big flock hanging around
Bombycilla cedrorum, Cedar Waxwing, flock of a dozen
Poecile atricapillus, Black-capped Chickadee
Junco hyemalis, Dark-eyed Junco
Zonotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow
Melospiza melodia, Song Sparrow
Passerella iliaca, Fox Sparrow - good bird, Lynn!!
Carduelis tristis, American Goldfinch
Agelaius phoeniceus, Red-winged Blackbird
Alas, I am very jealous, because I didn't actually see the Fox Sparrow, well, except as it flew away. This sparrow spends the winter from Connecticut south to Georgia and across the southwest to California and Mexico. It breeds in northern Canada from Newfoundland and Labrador through the prairie provinces, and from Alaska south into the Rocky Mountains of the U.S.
I often see the Fox Sparrow only in early and late winter - December and March, so our sighting today is pretty typical, but still a beautiful little bird to add to our list.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Another Oyster River
I wanted to share this photo with you. This is the Oyster River in Durham, New Hampshire, where I grew up - a hop skip and a jump from my parents home. As kids, once we were deemed seaworthy, we were allowed to take the family canoe or rowboat out on the river - with a buddy of course. Deep in winter, a thick layer of salty ice covers the river and mudflats, shifting with the tides.
Oyster River, at the town landing, Durham NH, December 6, 2009
I took this photo last Sunday morning after the new snow, when the sun was just coming over the treetops. That's a flock of Ring-billed Gulls in the foreground, and the dark spots on the river are mostly Canada Geese. This Oyster River of my childhood is a tidal river (there really are oysters), one of five estuaries which ebb and flow to the Piscataqua River and thence to Portsmouth Harbor and the Atlantic.
The Oyster River running through West Campus has its origin only half a mile north of campus, and follows a pretty direct north to south route. Our campus provides just about the only real woodland bordering the river, and even that is pretty sparse!
Follow Marsh Hill Road from the south end of campus towards the east (road name changes to Woodmont) and when you cross the river there, you'll see that it has entered a flat marshy plain.
Oyster River at Woodmont Road, Milford CT, December 11th, 2009
The river slows down and cuts through the Phragmites marsh in a series of looping meanders. Farther along its course, near Anderson Avenue, the river turns 90 degrees to the east, and shortly reaches Long Island Sound, right near The Oyster River Tavern.
Oyster River, at the town landing, Durham NH, December 6, 2009
I took this photo last Sunday morning after the new snow, when the sun was just coming over the treetops. That's a flock of Ring-billed Gulls in the foreground, and the dark spots on the river are mostly Canada Geese. This Oyster River of my childhood is a tidal river (there really are oysters), one of five estuaries which ebb and flow to the Piscataqua River and thence to Portsmouth Harbor and the Atlantic.
The Oyster River running through West Campus has its origin only half a mile north of campus, and follows a pretty direct north to south route. Our campus provides just about the only real woodland bordering the river, and even that is pretty sparse!
Follow Marsh Hill Road from the south end of campus towards the east (road name changes to Woodmont) and when you cross the river there, you'll see that it has entered a flat marshy plain.
Oyster River at Woodmont Road, Milford CT, December 11th, 2009
The river slows down and cuts through the Phragmites marsh in a series of looping meanders. Farther along its course, near Anderson Avenue, the river turns 90 degrees to the east, and shortly reaches Long Island Sound, right near The Oyster River Tavern.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Good weather for a Duck!
Yes, birders DO go out in bad weather! Whatever snow fell last night was washed away by heavy rain - and it's raining still.
We don't have standing water at West Campus, no ponds or open marshes, but today the puddles in the parking lots were pretty deep. Not deep enough for a duck, but we did have a duck fly-over. Our first duck! Geese are in the same family, but they are geese, so we are happy with our first duck. In my photo, you can see that the Oyster River was running high and fast, good water for a Torrent Duck, but here in Connecticut, we're pretty much out of the range of Merganetta armata. If you're curious why I chose this image of the Torrent Duck, it was to show how they swim upstream, against strong currents. There are many beautiful photos of this beautiful duck, but not so many of them swimming.
Today's intrepid birders: Nick, Kristof, Lynn and Sue
Today's wet birds:
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser - ours was flying high overhead, not skimming the water
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/434721924_a6a3292d6b.jpg
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Accipiter species
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Common Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Birding by car means driving from one spot to the next, getting out and looking for birds in the rain, and moving on to do it again - maybe crazy, but definitely typical!
We don't have standing water at West Campus, no ponds or open marshes, but today the puddles in the parking lots were pretty deep. Not deep enough for a duck, but we did have a duck fly-over. Our first duck! Geese are in the same family, but they are geese, so we are happy with our first duck. In my photo, you can see that the Oyster River was running high and fast, good water for a Torrent Duck, but here in Connecticut, we're pretty much out of the range of Merganetta armata. If you're curious why I chose this image of the Torrent Duck, it was to show how they swim upstream, against strong currents. There are many beautiful photos of this beautiful duck, but not so many of them swimming.
Today's intrepid birders: Nick, Kristof, Lynn and Sue
Today's wet birds:
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser - ours was flying high overhead, not skimming the water
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/177/434721924_a6a3292d6b.jpg
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Accipiter species
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Common Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Birding by car means driving from one spot to the next, getting out and looking for birds in the rain, and moving on to do it again - maybe crazy, but definitely typical!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday walk - in the snow??
We'll go out tomorrow for a bird walk in the first really wintry weather of the season! Meet at the big warehouse at the southeast end of campus.Might want waterproof footwear?
See you tomorrow!
Sue
photo of junco and titmouse in snow, taken from:
http://amykane.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c6aff53ef0105369dd223970b-250wi
West Haven Crow Roost??
If you happen to stop at the Shell station for gas just after dark, you won't miss the crows! I was there just before 5pm Monday afternoon, and a veritable cloud of crows was rustling in the small trees just behind the building. Very cool!
I'll have to find a video camera with night setting to film the scene to share with you.
I'll have to find a video camera with night setting to film the scene to share with you.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday Dec 7th
Lynn here, taking over the writing duties of the day. Sue had other obligations at lunchtime and was unable to join us. So, I will try to do justice to Sue's great work and add to the list. On the AM ride through campus, I saw large groups of both Robins and Cedar Waxwings. I was hoping that mixed in with them we might have a chance for a Bohemian Waxwing. Bohemian Waxwings during the winter are found throughout much of Canada and southward in the western United States. In the east they occasionally venture south often times mixed in with groups of Cedar Waxwings.
The elusive Bohemian Waxwing
Unfortunately come lunchtime we could only find one Cedar Waxwing in totaly, where did the 100 or so I saw this morning go?
Todays Birders- Nick and Lynn
Todays Birds-
Cedar Waxwing
American Robin
Rock Pigeon
Canada Goose
Bluejay
American Crow
House Finch
Goldfinch
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Coopers Hawk
White-throated Sparrow
Black-capped Chickadee
European Starling
Downy Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Friday, December 4, 2009
Friday's birds.
After yesterday's record-breaking high temperature (66 degrees at Bradley International Airport, the highest since 1932) today's mid-fifties almost seemed cool.
Friday's bird list comes to me from many sources and different times throughout the day. More people looking for birds as they move about West Campus is a GOOD thing.
Today's contributing birders: Nick, Maureen, Sue and Lynn
Today's birds:
Wild Turkey
Canada Goose
Ring-billed Gull
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Eastern Phoebe
Cedar Waxwing
Mimus polyglottos, Northern Mockingbird http://meggitymegs.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/northern20mockingbird.jpg
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
European Starling
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
In my experience, the mockingbird can often be found perched on the outer branches of a tangle of brambles, and usually facing the sun. They will sit rather quietly, and sometimes not even fly off - I passed within 2 meters of today's "mocker". It just cocked it's head and watched me walk by.
Friday's bird list comes to me from many sources and different times throughout the day. More people looking for birds as they move about West Campus is a GOOD thing.
Today's contributing birders: Nick, Maureen, Sue and Lynn
Today's birds:
Wild Turkey
Canada Goose
Ring-billed Gull
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Mourning Dove
Eastern Phoebe
Cedar Waxwing
Mimus polyglottos, Northern Mockingbird http://meggitymegs.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/northern20mockingbird.jpg
Northern Mockingbird
American Robin
European Starling
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
In my experience, the mockingbird can often be found perched on the outer branches of a tangle of brambles, and usually facing the sun. They will sit rather quietly, and sometimes not even fly off - I passed within 2 meters of today's "mocker". It just cocked it's head and watched me walk by.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
It's been a while since we had a new bird!
High overcast, in the mid-fifties, no wind - we decided to meet for our Wednesday walk on the bridge where the roadway crosses the Oyster River. It's often a good spot to look down on birds feeding and sheltering in the brambles.
Today's lucky birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
Barred Owl, Strix varia
http://yourmlssearch.com/UserFiles/Image/Barred_Owl_3_compressed.jpg
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
So, the owl. First we checked down in the brambles on the west side of the road and flushed lots of robins, and the mockingbird, and kept hearing little "chips" on the other side of the road. Expecting sparrows, I walked further down the road to where the good sparrow habitat is, and peered over the stone wall into the bushes and vines. Lynn, however, went straight across the road and looked down into the small trees that border the river. She immediately called me to where she was, with excited hand gestures - as in, look!! down here!! quick!!
We were looking not even twenty feet down on a beautiful Barred Owl - who looked up at the commotion above him and promptly flew off. We followed his flight and found him again further away.
Wow, after that, the sparrows and chickadees didn't much matter!!
Today's lucky birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus
Barred Owl, Strix varia
http://yourmlssearch.com/UserFiles/Image/Barred_Owl_3_compressed.jpg
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse, Baeolophus bicolor
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
So, the owl. First we checked down in the brambles on the west side of the road and flushed lots of robins, and the mockingbird, and kept hearing little "chips" on the other side of the road. Expecting sparrows, I walked further down the road to where the good sparrow habitat is, and peered over the stone wall into the bushes and vines. Lynn, however, went straight across the road and looked down into the small trees that border the river. She immediately called me to where she was, with excited hand gestures - as in, look!! down here!! quick!!
We were looking not even twenty feet down on a beautiful Barred Owl - who looked up at the commotion above him and promptly flew off. We followed his flight and found him again further away.
Wow, after that, the sparrows and chickadees didn't much matter!!
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Morning Drive.
I've contemplated creating a commuter's guide to birds. Familiarity with size, shape, color and flight habits, even at 65mph can often yield a positive identification. As I drove down the interstate this morning in the purple-pink haze before sun-up, a large dark bird flew across the road. Crow-sized, with an undulating flight - only one thing it could be.
To be continued after our lunchtime bird-walk.
To be continued after our lunchtime bird-walk.
At lunchtime I took a quick walk around the A21 parking lot, and saw:
One Ring-billed Gull
Two Mourning Doves
Earlier in the day, around campus, were seen and/or heard :
One Blue Jay
Some American Goldfinches
A Flock of American Crows
A Flock of small brown birds
At our courtyard feeder there were:
Four Black-capped Chickadees
One Downy Woodpecker
If anything else was out there, it was hiding from the strong wind that blew through our hill-top today.
Yesterday there was:
A small flock of Brown-headed Cowbirds
Two large groups of Canada Geese, totalling over fifty birds
Oh, my mystery bird? I didn't indend for it to be a mystery bird, but spent some fruitless time looking for a photo or video of my bird in flight, as I had seen it this morning. A Pileated Woodpecker - and to reiterate, not a West Campus Bird, though we certainly could have them here.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
The Wild Turkey
In anticipation of Thanksgiving, a little history on one of our West Campus birds. The Wild Turkey was a very important food source to Native Americans, and was still abundant when the first settlers arrived in North America.
Wild Turkey females, Meleagris gallopavo silvestris, photo by J. de Leon
In Connecticut, it was eliminated from much of its range by the early 1800s, due in part to deforestation.
Re-introduction programs from the 1950s to early 1970s using captive-bred birds were unsuccessful, but when wild-caught turkeys were released, new breeding populations were quickly established.
According to our State DEP, between 1975 and 1992, 356 wild turkeys were released at 18 sites throughout the state. The birds can now be found in all of Connecticut's 169 towns.
Displaying Wild Turkey. http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/TurkeyWildTom01.jpg
Here on the grounds of West Campus, we see turkeys just about everywhere - in the wooded areas of the Nature Preserve, in the landscaped areas around the buildings. Take a look at the plumage of this tom turkey, and next time you pick up a turkey feather, you might be able to figure out which part of the bird it came from.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, with or without the turkey.
No Wednesday birdwalk on November 25th.
Wild Turkey females, Meleagris gallopavo silvestris, photo by J. de Leon
In Connecticut, it was eliminated from much of its range by the early 1800s, due in part to deforestation.
Re-introduction programs from the 1950s to early 1970s using captive-bred birds were unsuccessful, but when wild-caught turkeys were released, new breeding populations were quickly established.
According to our State DEP, between 1975 and 1992, 356 wild turkeys were released at 18 sites throughout the state. The birds can now be found in all of Connecticut's 169 towns. Displaying Wild Turkey. http://www.hiltonpond.org/images/TurkeyWildTom01.jpg
Here on the grounds of West Campus, we see turkeys just about everywhere - in the wooded areas of the Nature Preserve, in the landscaped areas around the buildings. Take a look at the plumage of this tom turkey, and next time you pick up a turkey feather, you might be able to figure out which part of the bird it came from.
Enjoy your Thanksgiving holiday, with or without the turkey.
No Wednesday birdwalk on November 25th.
Monday, November 23, 2009
A Blustery Day.
You could almost call it armchair birding. A gray day, cold and windy, so we stayed inside and spent ten minutes walking the empty hallways of our building, checking out the windows. Interesting to peer down onto the same haunts we have walked many times, looking for signs of birdlife.
That's where the Phoebe always sat...
and that's where Nick and I watched a Song Sparrow...
this area is really protected from the wind, maybe good for another feeder?
those spruces have a lot of cones - we should check for cone specialists during the winter
Today's pseudo-birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's scarce birds:
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
That's all folks.
Here's one of my target birds for the winter birding season!! a cone specialist.
White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
http://laurakammermeier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/White-winged-Crossbill-56c.jpg
Also good to report, is that four Juncos were seen eating seed which had fallen from our courtyard birdfeeder. Lynn signed up to participate in the New Haven Bird Club's Feeder Survey for 2009/2010, so we will keep track of species and numbers through the end of March.
That's where the Phoebe always sat...
and that's where Nick and I watched a Song Sparrow...
this area is really protected from the wind, maybe good for another feeder?
those spruces have a lot of cones - we should check for cone specialists during the winter
Today's pseudo-birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's scarce birds:
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
That's all folks.
Here's one of my target birds for the winter birding season!! a cone specialist.
White-winged Crossbill, Loxia leucoptera
http://laurakammermeier.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/White-winged-Crossbill-56c.jpg
Also good to report, is that four Juncos were seen eating seed which had fallen from our courtyard birdfeeder. Lynn signed up to participate in the New Haven Bird Club's Feeder Survey for 2009/2010, so we will keep track of species and numbers through the end of March.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Wednesday Woods Walk
Wow, another gorgeous day, sunny, high-50's, no wind. We explored a new trail, which Tom recently extended - he gets to spend WORK time doing things like that!!! So, we got our feet a little wet, jumping over the stream, but other than that, wandered through some pretty nice habitat.
portion of the new trail along the Oyster River
Today's birders: Lynn, Nick, Scott, Debby and Sue
Today's birds:
Accipiter sp., likely two Sharp-shinned Hawks, flying amongst a swirling flock of Starlings
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus - sitting on a light post
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens - male and female
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus - A21 parking lot
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum - several
Scott and Nick scanning the treetops
American Robin, Turdus migratorius - a large flock
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos - morning fly-over
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapilla
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis - in A21 courtyard
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis - several
American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - male and female
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus - two males
Everybody's feeding on the abundant berry crop.
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) in an Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Photo taken through my binoculars. SBH
Today's mammals:
Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus
portion of the new trail along the Oyster River
Today's birders: Lynn, Nick, Scott, Debby and Sue
Today's birds:
Accipiter sp., likely two Sharp-shinned Hawks, flying amongst a swirling flock of Starlings
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus - sitting on a light post
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens - male and female
Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus - A21 parking lot
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum - several
Scott and Nick scanning the treetops
American Robin, Turdus migratorius - a large flock
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos - morning fly-over
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapilla
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis - in A21 courtyard
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis - several
American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis
House Finch, Carpodacus mexicanus - male and female
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus - two males
Everybody's feeding on the abundant berry crop.
House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) in an Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)
Photo taken through my binoculars. SBH
Today's mammals:
Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday Walk
Meet Wednesday at 12:15, at the big sign for the Nature Area, to explore a newly-cleared trail, and maybe see some birds too.
Tuesday, a quick walk...
Bright sun, light wind, few birds. Temps high 50's. We walked the brushy edges along the W periphery of our end of campus (A21), where there are lots of good berry-bearing trees and bushes. 
Today's birders: Nick, Lynn & Sue
Today's birds:
Buteo sp. - very high, likely NOT Red-tail
Buteo jamaicensis, Red-tailed Hawk
Falco sp. likely peregrinus - very high, wings crook'd in a dive
Cathartes aura, Turkey Vulture
Columba livia, Rock Pigeon
Corvus brachyrhynchos, American Crow
Cyanocitta cristata, Blue Jay
Turdus migratorius, American Robin
Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris, European Starling in winter plumage
Cardinalis cardinalis, Northern Cardinal
Zonotrichia albicollis, White-throated Sparrow
Melospiza melodia, Song Sparrow
Junco hyemalis, Dark-eyed Junco
Poecile atricapilla, Black-capped Chickadee
Today's mammals:
Sylvilagus floridanus, Eastern Cottontail
Monday, November 16, 2009
I'm Baaaack!!
I was out with a cold, just the common cold, no bird flu or porcine flu. And now that my sinuses have almost cleared, I'm finally up to going out birding again - 65 degrees and a beautiful sunny day sure helped! We headed to the shore again, picked up lunch at Chick's Drive-In, and tried to see what we could see.
Today's birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos - new
Brant, Branta bernicla
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser -new
Mergus merganser, Common Merganser
http://www.capebretonbirds.ca/commonmerganser.jpg
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias -taking handouts from two fishermen on a pier
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos - EVERYBODY's noticing the local flock!
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
American Robin, Turdus migratorius -in A21 parking lot
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis -near A21
It's good to be out birding again!!
Today's birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos - new
Brant, Branta bernicla
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser -new
Mergus merganser, Common Merganser
http://www.capebretonbirds.ca/commonmerganser.jpg
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias -taking handouts from two fishermen on a pier
Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Great Black-backed Gull, Larus marinus
Rock Pigeon, Columba livia
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos - EVERYBODY's noticing the local flock!
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
American Robin, Turdus migratorius -in A21 parking lot
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis -near A21
It's good to be out birding again!!
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Trying to solve the problem
We went out today to soap the windows of the killer corridor. Lynn read that this method can be effective, and it's certainly a quick fix. So, with stepladder, a bar of soap, and fifteen minutes, we tried to create a visual barrier for our resident flocks.
before (bird's eye view through corridor to little courtyard beyond)
Sue on ladder - Lynn making a grid
Birds please fly over!
With the added grids of soap it seems visually much more confusing, hopefully this will deter attempts to fly through the glass.
Apologies to the feathered denizens of West Campus, we are trying...
before (bird's eye view through corridor to little courtyard beyond)
Sue on ladder - Lynn making a grid
Birds please fly over!
With the added grids of soap it seems visually much more confusing, hopefully this will deter attempts to fly through the glass.
Apologies to the feathered denizens of West Campus, we are trying...
Monday, November 2, 2009
A sad day.
What was it this morning - the overcast sky? the blustery weekend? the cold night? As we sat through our morning meeting, we watched a large flock of Juncos flying back and forth (feeding) outside in the courtyard of A21. We mentioned wanting to do something about window-strikes, and offered to prepare a cost estimate for screening over the glass corridors. But nothing could prepare us for the death toll outside later in the morning.
today's somber birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
today's surviving birds:
Canada Goose
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
American Crow
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
American Robin
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
While out on our birdwalk, we met one of the West Campus grounds crew. Seems like we bird watchers weren't the only ones noticing dead birds all over the place this morning.
today's dead birds:
Golden-crowned Kinglet - one
Song Sparrow - one
White-throated Sparrow - two
Dark-eyed Junco - I'm having trouble writing this...
fifty two
fifty two that we counted with our own eyes
how many more that we never saw?
Eighteen birds were picked up along the glass corridors of A21, and the fellow on the grounds crew picked up the other 38 from other locations on campus.
As soon as I returned from our walk I went off to the store to get estimates on protective screening for our deadly windows.
today's somber birders: Nick, Lynn and Sue
today's surviving birds:
Canada Goose
Downy Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
American Crow
Blue Jay
Northern Cardinal
American Robin
White-breasted Nuthatch
Black-capped Chickadee
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
While out on our birdwalk, we met one of the West Campus grounds crew. Seems like we bird watchers weren't the only ones noticing dead birds all over the place this morning.
today's dead birds:
Golden-crowned Kinglet - one
Song Sparrow - one
White-throated Sparrow - two
Dark-eyed Junco - I'm having trouble writing this...
fifty two
fifty two that we counted with our own eyes
how many more that we never saw?
Eighteen birds were picked up along the glass corridors of A21, and the fellow on the grounds crew picked up the other 38 from other locations on campus.
As soon as I returned from our walk I went off to the store to get estimates on protective screening for our deadly windows.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Crows!
So, the crows have been making their presence known lately - you can't NOT notice them! They arrive in great numbers, often towards the end of the day, feeding together before they head off to roost. 
The flock has been observed at lunchtime too, though - taking over the A21 courtyard, hanging out on the edge of the roof, and making a real ruckus. I took this photo one afternoon around 4:30 in the A21 parking lot - here you only see about a quarter of the flock.
Our most common crow is Corvus brachyrhynchos, the American Crow, another crow which we might encounter at West Campus is Corvus ossifragus, the Fish Crow (smaller) or Corvus corax, the Northern Raven (larger). To go into detail about how to distinguish would make this blog a little too wordy.
Cornell University's Birds of North American Online has a lot of information about crows.
I have pulled out some general facts from this website about their roosting behavior:
"Crows roost communally; often the same sites are used year after year. Outside of the breeding season, such roosts may contain thousands of local individuals, their numbers often augmented by migrants from northern regions."
"Starting 2–3 hours before sunset, small groups of local crows gather in preroost sites, including trees, buildings, and on the ground. From there, they fly along regular flight lines toward the roost but may stop at one or more additional preroost sites, where they are joined by other small groups."
A rather low-quality movie (17 seconds) taken with my little Nikon Coolpix 7600 - you may have to turn up the volume on your computer to hear the crows cawing amongst themselves.
So, historically there has been a crow roost somewhere in West Haven. I'll have to do a little more research to find out where. For now, as long as food is plentiful, I can say that we are definitely a "preroost" site for the West Haven crow roost.
The flock has been observed at lunchtime too, though - taking over the A21 courtyard, hanging out on the edge of the roof, and making a real ruckus. I took this photo one afternoon around 4:30 in the A21 parking lot - here you only see about a quarter of the flock.Our most common crow is Corvus brachyrhynchos, the American Crow, another crow which we might encounter at West Campus is Corvus ossifragus, the Fish Crow (smaller) or Corvus corax, the Northern Raven (larger). To go into detail about how to distinguish would make this blog a little too wordy.
Cornell University's Birds of North American Online has a lot of information about crows.
I have pulled out some general facts from this website about their roosting behavior:
"Crows roost communally; often the same sites are used year after year. Outside of the breeding season, such roosts may contain thousands of local individuals, their numbers often augmented by migrants from northern regions."
"Starting 2–3 hours before sunset, small groups of local crows gather in preroost sites, including trees, buildings, and on the ground. From there, they fly along regular flight lines toward the roost but may stop at one or more additional preroost sites, where they are joined by other small groups."
A rather low-quality movie (17 seconds) taken with my little Nikon Coolpix 7600 - you may have to turn up the volume on your computer to hear the crows cawing amongst themselves.
So, historically there has been a crow roost somewhere in West Haven. I'll have to do a little more research to find out where. For now, as long as food is plentiful, I can say that we are definitely a "preroost" site for the West Haven crow roost.
Friday, October 30, 2009
Quiet rambling bird walk today
Another fairly quiet, warm-in-the-sun, cool-in-the-shade sort of day. We walked the west side of A21 and circumnavigated the B's, following the brushy plantings and pausing on the bridge awhile. The autumn olives and other fruiting trees are a real bird-magnet these days. 
birders: Lynn and Sue
birds:
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus
Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Brown Creeper, Certhia americana
Black-capped Chickadee, Poecile atricapilla
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Regulus calendula
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
Northern Mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
White-throated Sparrow, Zonotrichia albicollis
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
Thursday birding
Thursday lunchtime was freakishly quiet, but maybe we've reached that time of year - when the migrants are gone, the sparrows have plentiful natural food, and all that we see are the more common hangers-on.
today's birders: Lynn, Scott, Nick
today's birds:
Blue Jay
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
House Finch
Canada Goose
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Ring-billed Gull http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/RBGU_Ring-billed_Gull_47_rsz_ct.jpg
and another sad window-strike saga
Song Sparrow - dead
Thrush - stunned and recovered (maybe)
today's birders: Lynn, Scott, Nick
today's birds:
Blue Jay
White-throated Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
House Finch
Canada Goose
Dark-eyed Junco
American Crow
Ring-billed Gull http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/RBGU_Ring-billed_Gull_47_rsz_ct.jpg
and another sad window-strike saga
Song Sparrow - dead
Thrush - stunned and recovered (maybe)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wednesday Birdwalk
We're staying inside today - no organized Wednesday birdwalk. Just too wet to be slogging around out there in sneakers. Maybe instead I'll work on a plan to protect the birds from our window hazards. This is what Lynn picked up in the A-21 courtyard yesterday morning - probably a few days' accumulation.
left to right:
Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco
Melospiza melodia, Zonotrichia albicollis, Junco hyemalis
left to right:
Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco
Melospiza melodia, Zonotrichia albicollis, Junco hyemalis
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Field Triiip!!!
A windy, rainy lunch hour today - didn't think there would be many birds around, so we abandoned our plan to walk in the woods and escaped to the beach. Less than a ten-minute drive away, we stopped first at South Beach in West Haven, then made our way north-eastward, stopping along the way for coastal birds. 
These birds don't count as West Campus birds, and indeed some of them would NEVER be seen in our landscaped and forested habitats.
Today's birders: Sue and Lynn
Today's birds:
Peregrine Falcon, cruising over the beach, stirred up a flock of:
Semipalmated Sandpipers and a
Black-bellied Plover
American Oystercatcher, three
Brant, a flock feeding in shallow water
Black Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Gray Catbird
House Sparrow
European Starling
Rock Pigeon
15 species for our little field trip:
Falco peregrinus
Calidris pusilla
Pluvialis squatarola
Haematopus palliatus
Branta bernicla
These birds don't count as West Campus birds, and indeed some of them would NEVER be seen in our landscaped and forested habitats.
Today's birders: Sue and Lynn
Today's birds:
Peregrine Falcon, cruising over the beach, stirred up a flock of:
Semipalmated Sandpipers and a
Black-bellied Plover
American Oystercatcher, three
Brant, a flock feeding in shallow water
Black Duck
Double-crested Cormorant
Great black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Laughing Gull
Gray Catbird
House Sparrow
European Starling
Rock Pigeon
Additional Campus birds:
Wild Turkey (Nate's sighting)
Wild Turkey (Nate's sighting)
American Crow (huge flock in the courtyard-Barbara's sighting)
Blue Jay
Brown Creeper (Tom's sighting)
Monk Parakeet, more on this one another day (Tom's sighting)
15 species for our little field trip:
Falco peregrinus
Calidris pusilla
Pluvialis squatarola
Haematopus palliatus
Branta bernicla
Anas rubripes
Phalacrocorax auritus
Phalacrocorax auritus
Larus marinus
Larus argentatus
Larus delawarensis
Larus atricilla
Dumetella carolinensis
Passer domesticus
Sturnus vulgaris
Columba livia
plus the campus birds:
Meleagris gallopavo
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Cyanocitta cristata
Certhia americana
Myopsitta monachus
Monday, October 26, 2009
No birding today.
What a sad title!
Hopefully we all got in a little birding yesterday - a beautiful warm Sunday which followed Saturday's south winds and pouring rain.
So, yes, I wasn't able to get out birding at lunchtime today, but thought I'd share a photo Lynn took last week. She was checking the ground below a huge expanse of glass, a multi-level building connector here on West Campus, and found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Hopefully we all got in a little birding yesterday - a beautiful warm Sunday which followed Saturday's south winds and pouring rain.
So, yes, I wasn't able to get out birding at lunchtime today, but thought I'd share a photo Lynn took last week. She was checking the ground below a huge expanse of glass, a multi-level building connector here on West Campus, and found a Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Regulus calendula, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, photo-Lynn Jones
This little guy had been stunned by a window-strike, and was sitting below the window, eyes closed. As it sat for photos, it must have regained strength, and eventually flew up into a nearby pine. Today, as she approached the same place, Lynn noticed a lot of small-bird activity in the shrubbery, and sure enough there was another vicitim. This time a Golden-crowned Kinglet, which also seemed to recover, and fly away.
Research on window-strikes has shown that 50% of the birds that are able to fly away, eventually die from their injuries. Cornell University's Laboratory of Ornithology has a lot of information collected in one place, if you're interested in reading more:
Friday, October 23, 2009
Friday October 23rd
Gray and blustery today, so we decided to head into the woods for our birds. We walked the perimeter fence at the south end of campus as far as the Oyster River. This swampy area was full of small birds, and one White-tailed Deer - likely the same buck we saw on Wednesday.
Todays birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk (being pestered by crows and bluejays)
Canada Goose
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker (heard only)
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Black-capped Chickadee (quite a little flock)
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
and
Swamp Sparrow
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/sparrows/images/spar12.jpg
Todays birders: Lynn and Sue
Today's birds:
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk (being pestered by crows and bluejays)
Canada Goose
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Northern Flicker (heard only)
Eastern Phoebe
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
Black-capped Chickadee (quite a little flock)
Tufted Titmouse
Northern Cardinal
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
and
Swamp Sparrow
http://mdc.mo.gov/nathis/birds/sparrows/images/spar12.jpg
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
What we didn't see today.
Ever notice how sometimes you notice something because it's NOT there rather than because it IS there? We have seen Eastern Phoebes every day we've been out birding, for four weeks now. And today we didn't see them. We were in a somewhat different habitat than our usual daily walks, but we have seen them throughout campus. So keep your eyes open for our Phoebes. They are usually among the last migrants to leave in the fall (and the first to arrive in the spring) so they could easily be around into November. Eastern Phoebes usually spend the winter in the southern U.S. and Mexico.
Eastern Phoebe in fall plumage.
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/wild-birds/d-h/eastern-phoebe.html
Eastern Phoebe in fall plumage.
http://animal.discovery.com/guides/wild-birds/d-h/eastern-phoebe.html
Wednesday bird walk.
A good group went exploring at lunchtime today, checking for birds in the brushy edges around the south end of West Campus. Overcast with no wind, temp. in the low 60's.
Today's birders: Sue, Lynn, Tom, Kristof, Brian and Becky.
thanks for taking the photo Becky
Today's birds:
Wild Turkey (seen earlier in the morning)
Canada Goose
Merlin (fly-over, good eye Becky!)
Herring Gull
Rock Pigeon (seen earlier in the morning)
Mourning Dove (seen earlier in the morning)
Northern Flicker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (late afternoon, near Tom's bldg.)
Red-bellied Woodpecker (late afternoon, near Tom's bldg.)
American Crow
Blue Jay
American Robin
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Towhee (heard only)
House Sparrow
Common Grackle
Red-winged Blackbird
And, while we watched for finches, sparrows and warblers amongst the brambles of bittersweet, autumn olive and goldenrod, a white-tailed deer strolled through the scene, his head and antlers just visible above the vegetation!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Tuesday's birds
The brushy hillside down from the A21 parking lot - fine habitat for sparrows etc.
A rather quiet day, calm and sunny. The birds were quiet too.
Birders: Lynn and Sue
Birds:
Wild Turkey
Red-tailed Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Killdeer - three
Mourning Dove
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Phoebe
American Robin
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
House Sparrow
American Crow
Blue Jay
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Black-capped Chickadee
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Palm Warbler
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow - huge flock
Dark-eyed Junco
Eastern Towhee
Common Grackle
Grackles are often seen in huge mixed flocks with other blackbirds at this time of year. Lynn saw a few individuals on campus this morning.
BIRD WALK TOMORROW, 12:30, MEET IN PARKING LOT BEHIND EDUCATION CENTER/ DAYCARE CENTER - access is from within West Campus
Monday, October 19, 2009
Windowkills in the A21 courtyard
So, this is where we pick up 90% of our windowkills. Scattering birds get not only a view to the sky and trees beyond, but also reflections of the trees within the courtyard.
This morning, after the weekend, there were two victims, a junco and a sparrow. Research shows that the best deterrent is to completely cover the window area with a screen. The commonly used raptor decals work only if placed very close together - this window would need about 100, just on this side. More on this topic when I have more time.
As I approached the window to take that photo, a stunned Eastern Phoebe flew up right in front of me, to perch in the tree above.
This morning, after the weekend, there were two victims, a junco and a sparrow. Research shows that the best deterrent is to completely cover the window area with a screen. The commonly used raptor decals work only if placed very close together - this window would need about 100, just on this side. More on this topic when I have more time.
As I approached the window to take that photo, a stunned Eastern Phoebe flew up right in front of me, to perch in the tree above.
photo by me! Susan Hochgraf
And this is one of the curious Yellow-rumped Warblers who actually came close enough to be photographed by my little Nikon Coolpix 7600.
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