{BIRD NOTES} ~ February 20, 2013

Bird Notes

Bhutan

Just got back from a trip to a remote valley, a six hour drive from Thimphu,the capital where we are staying. At almost 10,000 feet it was a cold weekend, but got to see the endangered black neck cranes who winter there from Tibet.

 

 

They are 5 feet tall, and seem to be at peace with the rural farmers and livestock tenders who live there.

---Burt Tepfer, reporting from Bhutan in the Himalayas.

 

I had a quick drive-by look at what I think were snow buntings.  Has anyone in the southern part of the state seen any flocks?
---Mitch Harrison

 

Waterfowl at Vernon Dam

A first winter male Long-tailed Duck was in the CT River below Vernon Dam today along with 14 C. Goldeneye, 16 C. Mergansers, and 6 Hoodies. The Long-tailed has been around at least since 2/8/13.
---Dave Johnston, W. Brattleboro, VT

 

Bobcat in Marlboro

Last week Hollie Bowen reported that a Bobcat was stalking red squirrels in her backyard. Here is a digiscope photo of that beautiful creature, taken by Nori Howe.

 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Al Merritt

W. Brattleboro, VT

chpmnkx@sover.net

www.sevtaudubon.org

 

{BIRD NOTES} ~ February 9, 2013

Bird Notes

 

The Bobcat was back today for a couple of hours, even closer to the house than last Sat.  I was at work so missed it but Nori Howe came up & took photos through her scope.  I'll ask Paul to send them to you.  He even saw it go up the apple tree outside the kitchen window after a red squirrel, but the squirrel made it to the little branches at the top so the bobcat is still hungry!

---Hollie Bowen, Marlboro, VT

 

I've got an immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker visiting my suet feeder. Also a Northern Goshawk raided my feeder guests recently.

---Mick Durante, Guilford, VT

 

Greenleaf Street Robins

No they were not a harbinger of Spring, they were 37 hungry Robins that were attacking the fruit on the ornamental tree on Greenleaf Street just across from the Jewish Temple last week.

 

Pine Grosbeaks: Male, Female or Immature? I got to wondering about all these female Pine Grosbeaks being reported and whether they might be a combination of mature females and immature, so went looking for info and found this: "Immature male usually is indistinguishable from immature or adult female until the second year when it molts and grows new reddish feathers. Some young males have some red or orange feathers in the body plumage, which females apparently lack. Females average duller than males (especially on the crown and rump) and have a lighter russet tinge to the head or lighter olive tinge to the breast than males. The color of the head and body is often golden orange or reddish bronze in males, in contrast to golden yellow of the female, and the chin is often buffier or more brown-gray than in the female." ---Jane Stein     Join In On the “Great Backyard Bird Count” Friday, February 15th through Monday, February 18th The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is for everyone, from beginner birdwatchers to experts, and for the first time ever, anyone can participate from anywhere in the world. Counting birds provides scientists and researchers with a real-time snapshot of winter bird populations. Each checklist submitted during the GBBC helps the National Audubon Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and Bird Studies Canada learn more about how birds are doing, and how to protect them and the environment we share.    How to Count the Birds: Easy as 1-2-3! Count birds anywhere you like for at least 15 minutes, but longer if you wish. Keep track of the species that you see. Make your best estimate of how many birds you saw of each species. For example: 5 Northern Cardinals, 3 American Crows. Huge flocks may be a challenge, but your best guess is still valuable. Enter your list online at www.BirdCount.org  Put in a new list for each time you count, whether it is on the same day, at the same place, or at a new location.   NOTE: Look for the “Submit your checklists” button on the Great Backyard Bird Count website. You will be able to start entering bird lists at 7:00a.m. Eastern time on the first day of the count, Friday, February 15, 2013.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Al Merritt W. Brattleboro, VT chpmnkx@sover.net www.sevtaudubon.org