BIRD NOTES ~ June 30, 2008

COMMON  NIGHTHAWK

 

Bird Notes

 

 

“Peenting” Nighthawks

A single Common Nighthawk was heard "peenting" near McNeil's on Sunday morning at 1:30AM.  How common are nighthawks in Brattleboro?

--Lance Tanino, Keene, NH

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*Note: They have been known to nest on the flat gravel roofs in downtown Brattleboro.

 

 

 

Carolina Wren in West Brattleboro

On June 23 afternoon, outside my house in West Brattleboro near the interstate, we heard a bird call which my friend (Mimi) described as "teakettle teakettle". She and I were unfamiliar with the call. She saw the bird, I didn't. She looked it up and this is her report below.

---Maggie Newton

 

I believe the loud 'teakettle teakettle' call we heard was that of the CAROLINA WREN.  The reddish brown back is also diagnostic.  It's common up and down the East coast, often in built up areas, which is why perhaps I didn't know the call. 

---Mimi Morton

 

 

 

Watch Out for the Turtles

Here in Waltham, MA, on Lyman Pond, one immature GREAT BLUE HERON, two GREEN HERONS and a female WOOD DUCK with 4 babies.  Also over seven small snapping turtles, look out, duckies!  On May 28, I saw a CEDAR WAXWING totally involved in scratching all over its body.  Not seen since.

---Doreen Pugh

 

 

 

Avian Nursery School at Chipmunk Crossing, West B.

If you chose not to feed the birds after the spring migration, you are missing out on seeing the youngsters of your neighborhood nesters. This week at our feeders we have recorded several immatures that first show up with their parents and then, after several visits, gain enough courage to show up on their own.

     Here is that list: BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE, TUFTED TITMOUSE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY WOODPECKER, ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK, PURPLE FINCH, CARDINAL, BLUE JAY, MOURNING DOVE, and COMMON CROW.

     Mature birds that are regulars but not yet bringing young with them are: INDIGO BUNTING, REDWING BLACKBIRD, CHIPPING SPARROW, SONG SPARROW, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, and ROBIN.

     Still others that we hear frequently but are not expected at the feeder are: WOOD THRUSH, VEERY, CATBIRD, RED-EYED VIREO, OVENBIRD, CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER and YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER. The Ovenbird did show up briefly one day and walked out on the limb of the willow tree near our back deck. Ever see one walk? They look like little tin wind-up toys that you wind with a key and set on the floor.

     So, if you wish to get in on the action, put out some bird feed in a favorite feeding station and watch the flying circus. The youngsters really add a comic touch to some serious survival techniques and singing lessons that are being taught them by their parents.

 

 

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

 

 

 

 

 

BIRD NOTES ~ June 23, 2008

Bird Notes

 

 

 

First I would like to apologize for not acknowledging the bird sightings that many of you submitted this past month or so. We were off on a motor trip visiting family and friends in Texas and New York. When our computer server’s allotted mail box space became full, all succeeding mail was stopped and a warning was sent out to anyone sending us a message that our mail box was full. It is no longer full and you may resume sending along any bird reports that you want to share with us.  Please!

 

 

Birding the Texas Coast

Our trip to Texas was wonderful. We set aside 5 days to bird the coast of Texas as we made our way south from Winnie to Corpus Christie, stopping at many of the places along the way that were recommended by the ABA in the Lane birdfinding series “A Birder’s Guide to the Texas Coast” by Mel Cooksey and Ron Weeks. If you are going that way I highly recommend this guide book.

     Here are several of the areas we birded: Anahuac National Wildlife Refuge, Bolivar Peninsula, Fort Travis, Bolivar Ferry to Galveston, Big Reef Nature Park, Galveston Island, Brazoria NWR, Port Lavaca Bird Sanctuary, Aransas NWR, and Goose Island State Park. And of course there were lots of spots we stopped along the way as we spotted birds sitting on fences, wading in roadside pools or just flying by. Our first CRESTED CARACARA was sitting on the crossbar of a telephone pole along State Rt. 135, just as it was described in the birding guide. Of all that we saw, I thought that this was the most awesome creature.

     In all, we added 17 “lifers” to our list and renewed acquaintances with another 148, for a grand total of 165 species. The weather was near perfect with temperatures in the 80’s, partly overcast and enough of a breeze to keep the insects at bay.

 

 

 

Mountain Rd. Bobolinks

Bobolinks are busily feeding their offspring.  They thrive in large fields with high grass cover and can only survive if mowing is postponed until the young are fledged. See attachment for my photo in a field off Black Mtn. Rd in Brattleboro.

---Hilke Breder, Brattleboro

 

 

 

Mississippi Kite

Friday I went to Newmarket, NH, for the Mississipi Kite. One male and two females are busy nest building and copulating. Nest is hidden in a maple tree next to a fairly busy state route in a residential area (228 Main St, Route 152). Parts of the nest are visible. This is the first breeding record for Mississippi Kite in New Hampshire, and the first record of this species in New Hampshire. There have been fairly regular Spring reports in eastern Massachusetts the last few years.

---Chris Petrak, Newfane

 

 

 

West Bratt Birds

Bobolinks on Abbott Rd.

Brown Thrasher (2) carrying food, Abbott Rd.

Kingbird on Mather Rd.

 

At Chipmunk Crossing:

Hairy Woodpecker (feeding Young)

Downy Woodpecker (feeding young)

White-breasted Nuthatch

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Tufted Titmouse

Blue Jay

Goldfinch

Mourning Dove

Cardinal

Chickadee

Crow

Redwing Blackbird

Grackle

Ruby–throated Hummingbird

Chipping Sparrow

Wood Thrush

Veery

Ovenbird

Indigo Bunting

Robin

Red-eyed Vireo

Catbird

 

 

Please keep us abreast of what birds you are seeing, whether at home or on a trip in or out of the Windham County area.

 

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net