BIRD NOTES ~ August 13, 2009
Bird Notes
Black Bear in
Though I have some interest, Black Bears are not my forte and was the last thing that I expected to see when I drew the curtains to check the early morning visitors at our bird feeders. If it were the 11th of April it would not have been a surprise, but I thought it highly unusual for the 11th of August. Anyway, there it was lying on its belly, all 180(?) pounds, (See attachment) lapping up the remains of a pile of sunflower seed it had dumped after dislodging a feeder from the overhead wire. It looked quite content lying there licking its chops as I scrambled to get my camera. Forgive the poor quality, but I snapped a quick picture through two panes of glass and a window screen before it arose with nose in the air and for no reason bolted off into the brush and wooded area in the direction of Mather Road. So, all those in the West B. neighborhood, BEWARE THE BEAR!
Early Evening Grosbeaks
Two Evening Grosbeaks appeared at my feeder 2 days ago(8/8). Harbingers of early fall? Photos are on my blog at http://onejackdawbirding.blogspot.com
---Hilke Breder,
Jeffrey’s Ledge Whale Pelagic Trip
These observations were made during an afternoon (2:10 PM to 6:40 PM) Granite State Whale Watch out of
8 Cory’s Shearwater
696 Greater Shearwater
349 Sooty Shearwater
4 Manx Shearwater
496
5 Northern Gannet
X Double-crested Cormorant
5 Red-necked Phalarope
X Herring Gull
X Great Black-backed Gull
X Common Tern
---Lance Tanino,
P R O G R A M
HAWKS IN FLIGHT
Tuesday, August 18, 7:00 pm
Putney Mountain Hawk Watchers (Phil, Alma, and Marshall) will describe the basics of identifying hawks that migrate over the
Brooks Memorial Library Community Room
Sponsored by
Program is FREE and open to the public.
South Pond Loon
Following the tip from Charlie LaRosa we drove to South Pond on Tuesday to see if we could locate the reported Common Loon.
As we sat at the boat launch we could see and hear many swimmers on the beach and sitting aboard the float just across the way. In the distance were a couple of kayakers paddling toward the far shore. It caused us to wonder where the loon would be with so much activity. We didn’t wonder long. While scanning the placid water I saw the loon rise up and flap and shake its wings before settling down again and disappearing underwater. It was under so long before surfacing again that we thought it must be part fish. The second dive took it left out of our sight so we waited patiently for its resurfacing. Minutes later it broke water not 50 feet from the end of the boat launch and proceeded to dive and resurface several times as it headed into the cove to our right. It finally made its way around the cove and back out into deeper water again seemingly oblivious of the bathers and paddlers and they of its presence.
You were correct Charlie, someone with a camera could have snapped some good close-ups of this magnificent creature. Thanks for the heads up.
Shorebirds!
I just received this note from a friend in
For all those interested, Brigantine NWR, with which many of you are familiar, is hopping with wonderful shorebirds. Among the species (41) that Sharon and I managed to find yesterday were many whimbrels (several dozen), black-bellied plover, plenty of peeps, mostly semi-palmated sandpipers, semi-palmated plovers, roseate spoonbill, dowitchers, several clapper rails (including two standing side by side), plenty of common and Forster's terns, a tri-color heron as well as many great egrets, great blues, and snowies. There are also several osprey nests with fledglings, and a peregrine which perches on a tower with nest box in the middle of the refuge. Just be aware that the flies were also in great abundance, so bring plenty of Deep Woods Off. ---David Baker, E.A. Mearns Bird Club,
Al Merritt
A friend is someone who reaches for your hand
and touches your heart.
posted by Geoff Burgess: Administrator @ 8:47 AM
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