BIRD NOTES ~ December 6, 2009

Macgillivary’s Warbler © John Harrison and Ivory Gull © Howard Eskin

 

Bird Notes

 

 

The local birding reports have slowed down considerably, so I have elected to include reports from the rare bird sector that may be of interest.

 

 

Macgillivary’s Warbler in Boston

This little guy is far from its home in western United States and has been hanging out for over two weeks at Fenway Gardens. Field guides list it as a rare visitor as far east as the Mississippi River. So, I would say that this bird is extremely rare as far east as Boston. (See photo attached)

 

 

Ivory Gull at Cape May, NJ

Michael and I drove down to Cape May from Sussex, NJ, yesterday (Dec. 3) to see the Ivory Gull reported to be hanging out at the Breezee Lee marina off Ocean Drive in Wildwood Crest.  When we arrived around 1:00, it was resting on some pilings opposite a small parking lot.  Kevin Karlson, a wildlife photographer and photojournalist, was monitoring the scene and was kept busy shooing away large gulls from the fish carcasses laid out for the Ivory Gull.  The bird offered terrific photo ops and seemed unconcerned by the humans only feet away from its fish dinner.  We got excellent views of the bird at rest, flying overhead and feasting on those fish carcasses.  It was an experience worth the 400 mile round-trip drive.  (See attachment)

---Molly Martin & Michael King

 

 

Snowy Owl at Plum Island, MA

The first Snowy Owl report of the season was on 12/1 when a Connecticut birder found a very white specimen sitting on the dike at the North Pool overlook. Today (12/5) the bird is being observed from the Warden's Station looking west across Plum Island Sound. It is perched on top of a flagpole on the mainland.

 

 

Retreat Meadow

The Retreat Meadow continues to be void of the usual migrating ducks. The only reports are of several Common Mergansers and the hundred or so Canada Geese that seem to be dominating the scene. The forecast of colder temperatures heading this way will soon be chasing even them, to the warmer water above and below the Vernon Dam.

 

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December 7, 1941

There aren’t many of us around that remember the infamous sneak attack by the Japanese on our naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii on that fateful day. Monday will be the 68^th anniversary of that day that led to the declaration of war by president Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Let us never forget the bravery of those men and women  that lost their lives on that day and the others that survived and fought back to defeat the enemy.

 

  REMEMBER PEARL HARBOR!

 

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

 

A friend is someone who reaches for your hand

 and touches your heart.