Not only did I hit triple digits of Rusties here in the yard (record photo thro bins of a pair just down the road yesterday) but I also picked out at least ten Brewer's Blackbirds (#58) by their distinctively short and dry call note (thank you KW tours). A small flock of four Great Blue Herons (#59) wandered over as did a pair of Wood Ducks (#60). Walking back into the hayfield to check and see if the valley to the west's ponds had opened up yielded a flyover Eastern Meadowlark (#61) and the half open ponds had both Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser (#62) on them (both breed there and are regular throughout the summer as almost nightly flyovers). While not exactly news anymore, had over 30 Killdeer go over and half expected a snipe or early yellowlegs to zip over under the low cloud cover, but no only the lapwing of north america.... Should have woodcocks peenting here any night now. 38 species in just 1.5 hours... Edit: at the end of every post from here on out I will put my total, post-fairness algorithm: ~28.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
A new yard bird!?!
Yes, I can hardly believe it - a new addition to my yard list! A seven-ship of scaup going right over the house in the fog turned out to be 5 Lessers and 2 Greaters (#56)! GRSC is yardbird number 213 and while not totally unheard of, I expected to get redhead or goldeneye before I picked up the less common inland scaup here. I was calling Caleb, in my excitement, when I noticed a lone swan flying almost below the ridge coming right at me at treetop level. I sort of expected it to be another new yardbird, mute swan, since it was low and alone, but it turned out to be a smashing looking Tundra Swan (#57) giving the closest flyby I've ever had of that species! I think I've only recorded TUSW once or twice before in early November from my yard so a spring sighting is quite noteworthy even for here! Caleb was definitely right, the south wind here has brought in lots of migrants , chiefly ribbon upon ribbon of blackbird flocks. 
Not only did I hit triple digits of Rusties here in the yard (record photo thro bins of a pair just down the road yesterday) but I also picked out at least ten Brewer's Blackbirds (#58) by their distinctively short and dry call note (thank you KW tours). A small flock of four Great Blue Herons (#59) wandered over as did a pair of Wood Ducks (#60). Walking back into the hayfield to check and see if the valley to the west's ponds had opened up yielded a flyover Eastern Meadowlark (#61) and the half open ponds had both Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser (#62) on them (both breed there and are regular throughout the summer as almost nightly flyovers). While not exactly news anymore, had over 30 Killdeer go over and half expected a snipe or early yellowlegs to zip over under the low cloud cover, but no only the lapwing of north america.... Should have woodcocks peenting here any night now. 38 species in just 1.5 hours... Edit: at the end of every post from here on out I will put my total, post-fairness algorithm: ~28.
Not only did I hit triple digits of Rusties here in the yard (record photo thro bins of a pair just down the road yesterday) but I also picked out at least ten Brewer's Blackbirds (#58) by their distinctively short and dry call note (thank you KW tours). A small flock of four Great Blue Herons (#59) wandered over as did a pair of Wood Ducks (#60). Walking back into the hayfield to check and see if the valley to the west's ponds had opened up yielded a flyover Eastern Meadowlark (#61) and the half open ponds had both Wood Duck and Hooded Merganser (#62) on them (both breed there and are regular throughout the summer as almost nightly flyovers). While not exactly news anymore, had over 30 Killdeer go over and half expected a snipe or early yellowlegs to zip over under the low cloud cover, but no only the lapwing of north america.... Should have woodcocks peenting here any night now. 38 species in just 1.5 hours... Edit: at the end of every post from here on out I will put my total, post-fairness algorithm: ~28.
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Sean, if you care to further demean us as your friends with your "superior bird yard" I may just have to get ugly and pull out my blackmail picture of you from Dec. 07. Just think about what you did in the car on the way home from Niagara...then you might put the pieces together. Shape up, or I POST it up!
ReplyDeleteDude if you think thats a good blackmail photo you have no idea some of the shots my roomies took of me in GR or up in Grayling. I've seen what you've got and I'm not the slightest bit intimidated. Also, I have the ultimate power to edit and delete whatever I choose on this blog since I'm admin. Ha! Instead of getting ugly with personal attacks Curtis, why don't you get outside and try to get a flyover PISI or CORE before you lose the chance... Sage advice, I know, and thats why it hurts.
ReplyDeleteI have 3 words about this post. SICK EN ING.
ReplyDelete