Birdnotes: {BIRD NOTES} ~ March 09, 2013

Bird Notes

Common Redpolls

Dear Al--Has anyone reported flocks of redpolls this season? I have some every day and have counted up to 50 at one time at my feeders. It took me at while to identify them!

---Jean Pett, Brattleboro, VT

Florida Bird

I saw my first Painted Bunting at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary here in Florida recently. Also learned -- and then saw the locations of -- two recently discovered ghost orchids there. They are expected to bloom in July/August.

---Mark Mikolas, Florida winter resident

Blackbirds Have Arrived

Yesterday, 3/3/13, we had our first Red-winged Blackbirds of the season. There were several males coming and going to the feeders. In addition we have had all of the usual birds at the feeders including a Carolina Wren and a pair of Red-bellied Woodpeckers. And a while ago we did have a one hour visit from a flock of Common Redpolls.

We've had several sightings of a Bald Eagle, all at the same location. This was along the River Road, in Putney, between Ompawmet and Fort Hill roads and across the middle of the swampy area and the railroad tracks. Each time the eagle was perched on a tree located on the near side of he Great Meadow. Two of the times, the bird was perched on a tree branch for a good long period, so with that cooperation and the help of Sibley's, the eagle looked like a 2nd year, about to be a 3rd year Bald Eagle. Also, on two different occasions we had an adult Bald Eagle fly over our yard. Our neighbors, on Ompawmet Road, have also seen an adult, in this same area.

---Steve & Laurie Medved, Putney, Vt.

Feeding the Eagles (Submitted by Paul Miller)

In January of this year, 2013, the weather stayed so cold in Hinckley, Ohio on the shores of Lake Erie & Rocky River that the bald eagles were cruising over local homes in hopes of finding a quick meal. They could not access fish that had taken up residence at the bottom of the river, so gathered together along the shore. Some kind soles decided to feed the eagles so that they would have a chance to survive the cold spell. They scattered their catch of fish on the beach and the group of eagles huddled on the shore and enjoyed the repast, completely ignoring the humans that were spreading the fish for them. They were so close a telephoto lens was not needed.