7:00-8:30 PM I went to Grandvue to do a quick check on the nest boxes and warbler check. More feathers in box #2 but still no eggs in any boxes. Orioles everywhere, thrashers still on territory, Wood Thrush, Red-eyes, did not see a blue bird. It was fairly windy on the ridge.
Back in the clearing I did hear a warbler and my first thought was a redstart. The first 3 or 4 notes where consistent and the last note always trailed down. It did not vary its song but the constant song allowed me to walk a straight line toward it. That bird was impossible to see until it moved and then the quick movements made it hard to track. when I saw a pale breast and olive brown/dark brown warbler I ruled out a singing male red start. Further observation yielded a small yellow patch by the shoulder and an unusually long tail the underside of which was light/pale down toward the end where it abruptly turned black. I also noticed the face seemed to be darker especially toward the beak which was black. I checked my small peterson field guide but could not place. I even looked at flycatchers. I was stumped for a good 45 min. I walked back to my car and on the way observed a rose breasted gross beak, first sighting of the year.
When I got to the car I checked the Sibley's guide again and after some searching in other areas came to the redstart page hoping to read "similar species". But the answer was on the page. I saw a 1st year plummage male redstart. I had no Idea it takes a year for the redstart to get its adult plummage..... now I know! It was a nice evening but I'm sure to the non birder I looked like an idiot following a sound through the trees.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Sherrard Middle School 5/4/10
6-8PM Birding at the middle school trail to help cover some of Jim's breeding bird block. Most notable was the large number of Indigo Buntings. We have observed many in the late summer after nests empty but this time we got to see males on territory. I think we saw at least 5 different males. On several occassions I noticed a bird song that was not familiar. Part was similar to a portion of the chipping sparrow trill. I was sure it was a sparrow song but I could not ID.... should have taken more time to get a visual. Also a nest box held five young blue birds which were observed feeding the nest.
At about 8:00 I noticed a sparrow near the blue bird nest. I had maybe a 10 second look at the sparrow from about 30-40 feet through binoculars so it was a good view. I could only see half the bird but my first impression of the distinctly colored and streaked face resembled a whitethroated sparrow without the yellow marking by the beak. It may have been a little heavier and bigger as well. Again I should have persued but did not and I did not relate it to the earlier birds I heard. After looking at my Sibleys guide I think it may have been a Lark Sparrow. I also see the notation that at one point they nested east to WV and PA but no longer extend their range that far east. It could be a good bird that I need to revisit!
At about 8:00 I noticed a sparrow near the blue bird nest. I had maybe a 10 second look at the sparrow from about 30-40 feet through binoculars so it was a good view. I could only see half the bird but my first impression of the distinctly colored and streaked face resembled a whitethroated sparrow without the yellow marking by the beak. It may have been a little heavier and bigger as well. Again I should have persued but did not and I did not relate it to the earlier birds I heard. After looking at my Sibleys guide I think it may have been a Lark Sparrow. I also see the notation that at one point they nested east to WV and PA but no longer extend their range that far east. It could be a good bird that I need to revisit!
Grandvue 5/3/10
Spent a couple hours in the evening at the park. Northern Orioles, many yellow rumped warblers, 3 male blue birds, tree swallows (feathers in nest box 2)Red eyes, scarlet tanagers and I heard rose breasted gross beaks, brown thrasher still on same territory.
Middle Creek Rookery 5/1
7AM went to Middle Creek Elementary in Ohio County to observe the much talked about Blue Heron Rookery. Jim and I both went and after a quick scan of the heron nests began to observe other birds. My first birds included Yellow warblers, Red Eye Vereos and a Yellow Thorated Vereo. The a new song got my attention. I studied for at least 10 minutes with no ID........ I had never seen or heard the bird before. When Scott Shallaway arrived he took some time and then made the identification of Lousiana Waterthrush... so add that to the life list.
We then proceded to the middle creek damn where we saw phoebe, wood duck, heard scarlett tanagers, tree swallows, and a hawk that we did not ID, probably a sharp shinned.
We then proceded to the middle creek damn where we saw phoebe, wood duck, heard scarlett tanagers, tree swallows, and a hawk that we did not ID, probably a sharp shinned.
Fishing Fish Creek 4/29
3:30-7:00 Ended my day with fishing and birding. Yellow throats in abundance, observed multible yellow warblers fighting their territorial battles. As I stood on the bend in the river a duck flew low past me, maybe a 4 second look. It had a lot of white and it was much too big for a buffle head so my first thought was a golden-eye. After discussing with Scott Shalaway I now know this to be a common merganzer which he has indicated nest on that part of fish creek. The large amount of white, some white on the head, the wing pattern deffinitely confirm the ID. I will return to confirm a next or clutch of young for breeding bird atlas.
Red Eye Verios, Green Herons, Carolina Wrens and many commoners ended the evening.
Red Eye Verios, Green Herons, Carolina Wrens and many commoners ended the evening.
Nauvoo 4/29
12:00-3:00: I continued my day off with a trip out to Nauvoo, near fish creek. Blue bird boxes produced one nest of 5 eggs. House wren also using one or two boxes. Heard scarlett tanagers, saw barn swallows, tree swallows, sarp-shinned (could I ID a merlin??)heard an oven bird but could not locate. He seemed to be up a bit too high in a tree so I question this ID.
Grandvue 4/29
10:00 AM Took the day off and did a day of "outside". Doesn't get better than that! It was Oriole day. I saw Baltimores and orchards.
Saw Orchard Orioles first thing as I walked behind the conference center. Observed one on a tree top and hear several around me, all in close proximity. Then when a group of 4 flew off, my bird joined. I would say of the 5 or 6 birds 3 or 4 were mails so I think they may have just come into town. Also saw a phoebe, sharp shinned hawk, Brown Thrasher (same location as before) heard scarlet tanagers, heard a Red Start (?), field sparrows, flickers and more.
Saw Orchard Orioles first thing as I walked behind the conference center. Observed one on a tree top and hear several around me, all in close proximity. Then when a group of 4 flew off, my bird joined. I would say of the 5 or 6 birds 3 or 4 were mails so I think they may have just come into town. Also saw a phoebe, sharp shinned hawk, Brown Thrasher (same location as before) heard scarlet tanagers, heard a Red Start (?), field sparrows, flickers and more.
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