Birdnotes: Bird Notes ~ Jan. 31, 2008

Bird Notes

Yesterday on a drive on 313 in West Arlington almost near the New York border flying over a field I saw a Rough-legged Hawk hunting. I pulled over and saw it hover and then dive catching its meal. It seems to me this is further south than usually reported in the Chaplain Valley. How Lucky!!
---Barbara Powers, Manchester Center

Al, Yesterday morning I walked to where I had seen the SNOWY OWL last week and sure enough there was a Barred Owl in the same vicinity. That probably was your bird. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but the snowy owl was very easy to see because he was so close to the road and low to the ground. I also had my 15 year old with his excellent eyes, as well as binoculars. I saw some Pine Grosbeaks on my way home yesterday morning, right on the Green River Road.

---Carol Schnabel

Our Barred Owl has been here for quite some time - off and on and now this past week every day it is perched in various locations. I am pleased to say that I have not seen but one squirrel. Either they are waiting till it moves on or ………? It has become used to us so that it does not fly away easily. During the night (3a.m. -dog had to go out) the owl was sitting on the perch of our large feeder about five feet above the ground! They have been on this hill for many years – will soon be hearing them calling. Yesterday I was quite surprised to hear the tentative singing of the White-Throated Sparrow – just a few notes – very nice to hear.

---Barbara Cole, Wilmington

Hinsdale Bluffs (and CT River below Vernon Dam), 2:55-3:30 PM

Common Goldeneye 114

Hooded Merganser 24

Common Merganser 1

Bald Eagle 3 (two adults were perched at the Setbacks and a juvenile

flew along the Bluffs.)

Ring-billed Gull 3

Northern Shrike 2 (one was observed perched atop a tree across the

field from the hunting range parking area; second individual was observed from the Bluffs overlooking the lake feeding on a small rodent previously caught and stored in a branch.)

Eastern Bluebird 3

American Robin 9

Lake Wantastiquet, 3:30-5:00 PM

Mute Swan     8

American Black Duck     60

Mallard     2

Common Goldeneye     138

Hooded Merganser     75

Common Merganser     36

Ring-billed Gull     11

Herring Gull     8

---Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

A Long Way from Home

On January 3, 2008 a duck hunter in Mississippi shot a Northern Pintail that was wearing a bird band. Hunters shooting banded waterfowl is certainly not unusual, except that in this case the hunter was startled to see the name JAPAN engraved on the band. The bird was banded nearly eight years ago in February 2000 in Japan!