BIRD NOTES ~ January 8, 2009

Bird Notes

 

 

 

Pine Siskins

I too have a small flock of pine siskins at the feeder, along with the goldfinches. They like the finch food in my tube feeder. Since the feeder is only three feet from my kitchen window I get a good look. I don't see much if any yellow but the stripes on the belly are the clearest way for me to separate them.

---Burt Tepfer, Putney, VT

 

 

Woodpeckers

This morning brought a male Red-bellied Woodpecker to the feeders, he ignored the suet but sat for a long time eating sunflower seeds. This is a first for our feeders so I was interested to see the various reports of Red-bellies posted here. Is this unique to this winter or have they been around?  I recently had the pleasure of watching a Pileated Woodpecker working a tree along the shore of the West River, just about 3 feet from the ground, quite ignoring me as I stood nearby.

---Diane Parton, W. Brattleboro, VT

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*Red-bellied Woodpeckers are relatively new to New England. It is a southern species that is gradually extending its range to the north.

 

 

 

White-winged Crossbills

Fast-moving crews, numbering no more than a dozen birds or so, of White-winged Crossbills have been combing the spruce tops here on Walloomsac Rd. in Bennington off and on for several mornings now.  It's nice to have these birds so much in evidence down here this year (undoubtedly nicer for us than it is for them). All in all, good birding this winter.

---Kim Likakis, Bennington, VT

 

 

 

Massachusetts Birds

A stop at the Power Canal in Turners Falls turned up many Herring & Black-backed Gulls, 2 female Common Goldeneye, 1 female Common Merganser, 8 Mute Swans, 15 Mallards and 40+ Canada Geese.

 

 

 

Area Birds

A Mockingbird is still guarding the bittersweet berries at the water treatment plant at the Retreat Meadows. Several Robins have been frequenting the wild rose tangle along Mather Road in West B. Each day at our feeders at Chipmunk Crossing, we have enjoyed as many as 20 Pine Siskins, 8 Goldfinch, 2 White-breasted Nuthatches, 4 Tufted Titmice, 2 Downy Woodpeckers, a multitude of Black-capped Chickadees & Dark-eyed Juncos, 2 Blue Jays, a pair of Cardinals and 2 Wild Turkeys.