Birding With Splatt

I haven't died

2012-02-01T17:27:00.003-05:00

I haven't posted is ages, and I know it!

I have been a little down as of late as foot problems have been preventing me from enjoying the unseasonally warm weather around here. I also have been dog sitting for a while and it looks like that the dog may become ours. I don't mind. His name is Donny, and he's a breath of fresh air compared to our previous dog. The interesting part is trying to figure out how to position the bird feeders in the backyard so Donny can still play and not disturb the birds. This should be interesting. LOL!

I promise to not be a stranger to this blog and keep it updated.

Birding Update

2009-07-06T12:42:00.001-04:00

Well, this is my first post using Word 2007 as a blogging medium, so we'll see how it goes.

It's been an interesting month when it comes to birds. I have noticed that starlings have been flocking up in great numbers. I've seen one flock that had at least 100 birds. I've also been seeing red-tailed hawks all over the place. The one bird that I haven't seen a lot of is the vultures. I usually see them in the afternoon on the highway on my way home from work. I'll have to keep my eyes open for them.

More later once I know Blogging with Word 2007 works! LOL

Another Robin Update

2009-05-29T11:47:00.001-04:00

I thought there were only a couple of robin chicks in the nest, but I have FOUR chicks!

They are growing very quickly and should be fledging any time now. It's weird to see them all crammed into the nest. I keep waiting for them to overflow out of the nest. LOL I am going to try to get some pictures later today of the chicks.

Shannon
http://www.birdingcommunitylinks.com

Robin Update

2009-05-24T18:49:00.004-04:00

The eggs have hatched in the robins nest, and they are growing fast. I was able to get some video of the chicks.

Mom and Dad have been very protective of the nest, but they are getting used to our presence. We can actually park a tad closer to the nest instead of in the middle of the street. (A friend of our actually made the comment about not having any guest parking. I informed him we did have guest parking. It was just above the light in the driveway and occupied at the moment. LOL!) I'm still trying to get a picture of one of the parents on the nest with the chicks.

Birding otherwise has been nothing but the usuals in the yard and one the drive to work. I haven't seen the pine siskins lately, but I'm still on the look out for them. I have the feeders topped off for them. The waterfall fountain had to be emptied due to us cleaning the deck. It's sitting in one of our planting beds at the moment. I made sure the birdbath the robins use daily was accessible to all the birds. I just have to make sure that I check on the water level regularly since the robins can quickly empty out the bath with their baths.

Shannon
http://www.birdingcommunitylinks.com/

Update

2009-05-06T19:57:00.005-04:00

Well, it's been a while since I posted anything to which I apologize. I have had computer problems which forced to buy a new laptop. (For those geeks out there, it's a Gateway 4 GB dual core with 500 GB hard drive. I lovingly call it "My Baby Cow.")

Now, for the bird updates...
Spring is in full swing. The redtails and Turkey Vultures are out in force on every highway. It's not uncommon to see at least 3 Vultures in one shot circling over the road. I have yet to go driving through North Park lately to see what is there. I am off Friday, so I hope to get there.

The Pine Siskins are still around! Yea!!! They have been hanging out with the Goldfinches. They have also been drinking from the new fountain I have on the back deck. I didn't think there would be any takers on the fountain, but the siskins love it.

The other major thing of note is a surprise nest in the yard. I had the early roll out this morning had to leave the house around 4:30am) and headed to my car to pack my crap inside. As I was walking toward the passenger side door, I spooked a robin from her nest on our double spotlight. The light is motion activated, which for her sake is good. I don't want any scrambled eggs. LOL I feel so bad. I didn't know that she was there, and the morning was kind of cool.

I did check the nest when I got home from work and could feel two eggs in the nest. There were warm from her incubating them. I know that nest hasn't been there for long since we always go through the garage. Well, we just won't be using the garage for a while. I'll try to get some pictures of the nest without disturbing the parents.

April Wonders

2009-04-07T22:19:00.003-04:00

A couple of the wonders of April...
* I wonder why it insists on snowing in April especially after a 60 degree day.
* I wonder why I always see the "good" birds on my way to work when I have no time to stop.

Well, the past week has been rather interesting from many different fronts. Sunday brought one of many that I had to work. It was a lovely day. I would have given anything not to have gone in. That point was well made on my way in Sunday. On my normal drive in, I spotted a few male Red-winged Blackbirds, a Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, and Wild Turkeys. Those were in addition to my usual findings: Blue Jays, Mourning Doves, Cardinals, Titmice, Chickadees, Robins, and Starlings. I made sure my boss knew it was really difficult to keep that car moving towards work.

It was a stark contrast to the weather of today. It was made worse by having to be at work at 5am. I usually don't mind being at work that early, but on cold days it seems even worse. I somehow managed to get to work before the snow squalls hit. When I left work early in the afternoon, it was very cold and windy. Flurries were still blowing all over. I passed by the cemetery that I spotted the banded goose, and the grounds were covered with starlings and robins eating on the ground. I don't think I've every seen that many birds there in one shot. I know the cold weather was keeping the birds grounded.

And speaking of the banded goose I found recently... I received a tad more information on the bird. It looks like the goose was banded by a member of the PA Game Commission and the goose was hatched in 2003.

Banded Bird

2009-03-24T16:51:00.002-04:00

I had the early shift this morning, so I was able to duck out early. My regular travels take me past a cemetery. I have found a number of birds there in the past... Nothing stellar or out of the ordinary. I decided to make a quick trip through to see what I could see.

After finding my binoculars in the back seat, I started through the cemetery. The crows were active in the tree tops. They were very vocal for no "caws." LOL! Down below the tree, a large flock of robins were feasting on what ever they could find. A little further down the road there were a flock of starlings bouncing all over the place. Finding one that stayed in one spot for anymore than a second was very difficult.

The interesting part of the trek was a pair of Canada Geese that hang out at the cemetery. I was getting ready to head home when I spotted something around the leg of the male goose. I pulled the binoculars to my eyes and discover it had a band. I maneuvered my car in such a way that I could get a closer look at the band. (Do you know how difficult it is to make a big blue car non-threatening to a bird?) Once I was in position, it took several minutes for the goose to move around so I could see the whole band. As soon as I got home, I sent the band information to the officials in charge of banding birds. It turns out the goose was banded in June, 2004 somewhere in Pennsylvania. Hopefully, I will soon receive more information about the bird such as where it was banded in PA.

I'll post that information as soon as I get it.

In the meantime, if you discover a banded bird you can go to the below website to file a report: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl

Birdwatching in Central Park Conan O'Brien

2009-03-23T18:55:00.000-04:00

I just came across this video. It's too funny not to share.

Spring has Sprung!

2009-03-23T18:24:00.001-04:00

With Spring officially beginning this past Friday, it turned out to be a definite turning point of the season. The warmer weather seemed to have brought the first male Red-winged blackbirds of the year to a marsh near a local church. I'm sure the females are not that far behind.

Some of the other notable sightings in no particular order:
* The Red-tailed hawks have been much more visible. They have been circling near every ridge and sitting on many a light pole.
* Turkeys have been more visible, too. I have been seeing them in a field near one of the area parks.
* My pine siskins still have been frequenting the thistle feeder. They are not in the numbers they were during the winter, but still around.
* Friends have been telling me the the goldfinches have started to turn yellow. I have yet to see that, but I'm sure it's a matter of time.
* The grackles have returned as well. I haven't had any seed out in the hopper feeder since the raccoons have been tearing everything apart. I'm hoping the grackles don't make themselves at home.

I think that's about it for now. More to come. :)

Winter Update

2009-03-07T11:23:00.004-05:00

Well, it's been some time since I've posted anything, so let me hit the highlights.

The pine siskins continue in the yard with the goldfinches. They have been eating me out of house and home. I had to downgrade the feed from the straight nyger to a finch mix. It's a bit easier on the wallet and gives the birds a variety of seed. I use the Scotts variety since it has a pour spout to go with it.

I have yet to find the White-winged Crossbills that have been in Pennsylvania. It's not for lack of trying, though. The siskins seem to know when I'm coming and just scatter. I'm going to try one more time on Monday at a well known locations for them. It would be another lifer for me. If I can't find them after Monday, I'm just going to write it off as it wasn't meant to be.

The latest problem in the yard is raccoons. They have been a holy terror!!! I'm missing a nut feeder they they pulled down in the middle of the night. They have been bold enough to come up to the back door and trying to play with me cat. (Thank heavens there is piece of glass between the two of them.) I am at a loss of what to do. I've read one thing that says that nothing will keep them away. I've read other articles that say to try coyote urine to deter them. It would also deter the deer at the same time. :( I might have to bite the bullet and try the urine and hope the deer will forgive me.

One last note, I was reading on PABIRDS, the listserv for bird sightings in Pennsylvania, that Scotts had a recall on it's suet that contained peanuts. The nuts used came from the factory that was involved in the nationwide peanut recall. If you have any of this suet, please handle it carefully as you can be putting yourself and the animals in your life at risk. I would either throw it out or take it back where you purchased it for a refund.

Until next time... Happy Birding! ^v^

Just a year ago...

2009-01-14T22:26:00.003-05:00

Wow... I was sitting down watching the goldfinches and siskins at the feeders today and realized that it was a year ago today that I dear friend passed away. Leni Friedman's final days were spent watching the goldfinches at the feeders. Today, I had at least 30-40 birds all fighting for the thistle. I think It might have been Leni's way of saying "hi."

I still miss you friend. Thank you for todays gift.

I have my gift to you HERE.

Weird Cardinal

2009-01-13T10:41:00.005-05:00

So, this male cardinal shows up at the retired professer's birdfeeder...

Wait... it turned around... Now, it looks female!

Before you thing I'm crazy, this special bird really does exist. Here's a picture of the bird:

Here is a link to the article about the bird http://www.qctimes.com/articles/2009/01/07/news/local/doc4965657a5e239502780049.txt

with an explaination of the bird http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com/2009/01/i-just-received-coolest-bird-photo-ive.html
and
http://minnesotabirdnerd.blogspot.com/2009/01/gynandromorph-vs-hermaphrodite.html

Happy New Year!

2009-01-01T18:48:00.002-05:00

My first bird of the new year was also a recent lifer -- the Pine Siskin. Ü It was at the thistle feeder with a goldfinch.

Happt New Year, All!

New Lifer!

2008-12-28T18:32:00.003-05:00

I'll finish my story about my vacation birding another time, but I wanted to pass along a new lifer that got today.

I woke up around 9:30 today to Pine Siskins at the thistle feeders!!! I added two sock feeders to the tube feeder a couple days ago, and it worked on bring them in. :) They stayed there for a number of minutes before flying off.

I'm sure they will be back again.

2008-12-25T18:07:00.000-05:00

Weekly Wrap Up

2008-11-04T09:04:00.001-05:00

The past week has been rather exciting on the nature front.

The day before Halloween brought the first snow of the season as well as the first Junco. Fortunately, weather warmed up so I could stand outside an give out candy (and put up some Christmas lights. Ü) With this week being my vacation, I decided to take myself to North Park to see what was around.

I went to my usual out of the way spot -- what I lovingly call the serial killer hiding spot since it's soooo out of the way. I flushed a deer from the brush, but didn't see much else from there. I didn't even see a mallard in the area which was weird for the area.

I moved along to the other side of the area which is a one way road. I got a better view of the mudflats. There were several killdeer there in addition to one of the resident Great Blue Herons. The best part for me was watching a flock of birds under a pine tree feasting on something. I spotted a few White-breasted Nuthatches and a Red-bellied Woodpecker.

Stay Tuned For more........

Halloween Bird Watching - The Dark Side

2008-10-19T08:08:00.002-04:00

Bird watching is just about the most unobjectionable hobby in the world. With Halloween approaching, however, it is time to discuss the dark, dark, dark side of birding.

Bird watching enthusiasts are always looking for good spots to whip out the binoculars and visually hunt for a new life bird. There are really only two potential downsides to this for bird watchers.

What Are You Looking At?

For backyard birding, one runs the risk of neighbors thinking you are a pervert of some type trying to look in their windows with your binoculars. This can usually be overcome by spreading the word in the neighborhood that you’re an avid birder and the binoculars are not pointing at anyone’s windows. Really.

If this doesn’t work, invite the offended neighbors over to do some watching. They will either grow bored and leave or get hooked. Either way, you’ll benefit and no longer have to deal with negative gossip.

Buffy the Bird Watcher

Cemeteries! Not just for demons, vampires and Buffy the Vampire Slayer!

A nasty little secret in the bird watching world is the fact cemeteries are good places to bird watch. Generally, the cemetery is quite, has lots of trees and hunters typically aren’t bold enough to have a go at the fowl. In short, a perfect place for birds to congregate and you to watch.

Now, it goes without saying that bird watching in a cemetery requires a certain etiquette. First, the staff at the cemetery may have a "get the hell off the property" policy towards birding enthusiasts. This can quickly be overcome by explaining that uncle/aunt [look at closest grave stone] was an avid bird watcher and you are bringing their equipment in remembrance. A little wailing may help with senior staff, while cigarettes seem to be preferred by staff carrying shovels.

Having dealt with the staff, small mention should be made regarding actual funerals. If a dearly beloved is being interred, do not pursue your birding within site of the event! Doing so could result in serious physical injury, as funeral goers do not seem to react well to a person with binoculars staring in the direction of funeral and writing down things. Keep in mind emotions are justifiably high. This means they can outrun you.

Typically, most will cluck in dismay at the idea of bird watching in a cemetery. You may be doing so now. Ah, but as Halloween approaches and you’re dying for a new sighting, you just might start to feel differently.

After all, where else will you be able to finally see Vladious Vampirous in its natural habitat?

Rick Chapo is with NomadJournals.com makers of diary and writing journals for bird watching. Visit NomadJournalTrips.com to read more articles on bird watching and the great outdoors.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Chapo

Well... well... well...

2008-10-05T21:15:00.002-04:00

It was a long weekend moving my AOL journal to here, but it's finally done. Ü

Let me take a quick moment to introduce myself. I'm Shannon, also know as, Splatt, PaSplatt, and AvesBirder. I had a blog on AOL for a number of years until they decided to close it down at the end of October. I will be moving a couple more journals to Blogger in the near future. So, be on the look out for them. I started bird watching in my senior year of high school which piqued my interest in nature. I have been known to remember the weirdest facts when it comes to nature, and I'm not afraid to share them.

I love sharing my knowledge of nature and I plan on doing that here in addition to sharing some e-articles I find along the way.

Friday, May 16, 2008

2008-10-05T05:32:00.002-04:00

Friday, May 16, 2008
9:13:00 PM EDT

Visit to North Park

I went to North Park yesterday after it rained for several days. I actually had a nice time being in the park. I traveled all aver in search for the birds. My list is as follows in no particular order.

Wood Duck
Aix sponsa

Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos

Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
(heard only)

Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias

Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis

Killdeer
Charadrirrs vociferus

Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
(???)

Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura

Chimney Swift
Chaetura pelagica

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris

Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon

Red-bellied Woodpecker
Melanerpes carolinus
(heard only)

Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus

Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata

American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos

Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor

Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica

Black-capped Chickadee
Poecile atricapillus

Tufted Titmouse
Baeolophrus bicolor

House Wren
Troglodytes aedon

Eastern Bluebird
Sialia sialis
(Lifer!)

Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina

American Robin
Turdus migratorius

Gray Catbird
Dumetella carolinensis
(heard only)

Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos

European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris

Cedar Waxwing
Bombycilla cedrorum

Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia

Eastern Towhee
Pipilo erythrophthalmus

Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia

Northern Cardinal
Cardinalis cardinalis

Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus

Common Grackle
Quiscalus quiscula

Orchard Oriole
Icterus spurius

Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula

House Sparrow
Passer domesticus

(Total = 37)

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

2008-10-05T05:26:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
4:32:00 PM EST

Great Backyard Bird Count

Dont forget this weekend is the Great Backyard Bird Count! You can go to http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ to get more info on the event.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

2008-10-05T05:23:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, February 13, 2008
3:48:00 PM EST

Interesting Video

Here is a video that I ran across the Birdchick blog. (http://www.birdchick.com/blog.html) It's interesting to see a screech owl take on a sharpie. Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

2008-10-05T05:18:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, January 30, 2008
12:02:00 AM EST

Eyes on Birds

I found this photo on Webshots. It is a great photo of a Snowy Owl. The eyes are just so intense. I had to share it.

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

2008-10-04T23:34:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, January 15, 2008
9:23:00 PM EST

Lost a friend....
Yesterday, I got some very saddening news. My dear friend and leader of the AOL Birding Community, Kestrel923, passed away. She had suffered with cancer since last year. I have created a journal to share stories and pictures of this amazing woman.

Please feel free to stop by and have a look: http://journals.aol.com/avesbirder/inmemoryofkes/

Monday, December 3, 2007

2008-10-04T23:33:00.000-04:00

Monday, December 3, 2007
7:44:00 PM EST

Here's Another Spin on the Cat Killing Birdwatcher

I spotted this on another journal and thought it was an interesting read:
Kill the Cat That Kills the Bird? http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/02/magazine/02cats-v--birds-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

Friday, November 30, 2007

2008-10-04T23:32:00.001-04:00

Friday, November 30, 200710:42:00 AM EST

Birdwatcher Who Killed Cat Flees Texas
GALVESTON, Texas (AP) - A prominent birdwatcher who went on trial for fatally shooting a cat said he left the state after someone shot at him.

You can read the rest of the story here...http://news.aol.com/story/_a/birdwatcher-who-killed-cat-flees-texas/n20071130094909990003?ecid=RSS0001

You know... while I do not agree with folks shooting at this yahoo, how could he think he wasn't going to get some sort of retribution from animals lovers? Poor baby... he should crawl into a cave and die if he can't take the heat.

Friday, November 16, 2007

2008-10-04T23:31:00.001-04:00

Friday, November 16, 2007
11:32:00 AM EST

You gotta see this!!!

YouTube - Danger Bird's Ride

Y'all must see this footage! when you look closely at the bird it is not caught or trapped in any way. It acts like a dolphin riding the surf waves of a boat.

Monday, September 10, 2007

2008-10-04T23:30:00.001-04:00

Monday, September 10, 2007
10:49:00 AM EDT

Nothing major happening

The past month has been rather quiet. I haven't been doing much birding lately; I've been too tired from work. There was one day that I did get out into the field. I was up early for a meeting at work and decided to stop at North Park on the way home. I don't know why I EVEN thought it ws going to be fun to drive around on a Sunday when half of Allegheny County was there, too. I was able to find some secluded places where the birds might have been hiding. The only places I could find was near the ice rink and nature center.

At the center, I did hear a ring-necked pheasant and a few blue jays. I think there might have been a hawk in the area they way there were carrying on. I went onto Marshall Island where I found the treats of the day. I spotted a catbird on the island itself. I tried to get a picture of it, but it was too elusive. The other bird was a Green Heron. I think it might be a lifer for me. I need to check my list. I've seen them in zoos before, so it was an easy ID. It was hanging out near the lake bank looking for fish. Eventually, after losing sight of the bird I decided to head to the ice rink to relocate the heron. I walked through the open gate to the far side of rink. To my surprise, I easily resighted the heron. I couldn't get a decent picture of the bird, but I was able to watch the bird for a number of minutes.

With fall just around the corner, I really need to get into a routine of refilling the feeders for winter. The goldfinches have been bringing thir young to the coneflowers and feeders in the backyard. I'm going to go to have to take inventory of the seed containers I have for the winter time.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

2008-10-04T23:29:00.001-04:00

Saturday, August 11, 2007
8:35:00 PM EDT

Power Outage

Well, it's been a long couple of days. A nasty set of storms came through Western Pennsylvania on Thursday knocking out the power. You never realize just how quiet things can be until everything goes out. My mother and I spent the days looking at the radio like it was going to move or something. LOL.

Being without the power did give me the opportunity to see nature in a different way. On the first full day without power was rather eventful. The deer were eating leaves and fruit from the downed trees in the neighborhood. Surprisingly, there were no sounds of chainsaws anywhere to scare the deer away. They just kept munching away in the front and back yard.

The birds were active, too. The cardinals could be heard in the front and backyard at the same time calling back to each other. It's a little noisy when trying to sleep at 5am. LOL I then could here the sounds of a woodpecker tapping on a tree. At that point, I had to find my iPod to try to get a few more hours of sleep. ;)

When I finally decided to get up, I could hear the blue jays hollering in the trees. It was different from their normal call. It was an alarm call. They were upset by something. I just figured it was my neighbor's cat until I spotted a Cooper's Hawk zooming through the trees! He landed in one of my pine trees, and allowed me to get a great view of him for a few minutes. Eventually, the blue jays terrorized him enough that he flew away.

The next morning, I was going through caffeine withdrawl since I left my coffee singles at work. (I could have at least heated a pot of water on my grill had I remembered.) Snowball was next to me licking my face trying to get me to wake up when she darted to the open window. I couldn't figure out what she was looking at until I heard "caw caw." She found a crow sitting on a tree branch right above her. She didn't take her eye off of it while the crow flew to it's buddies on a nearby telephone line.

Well, I'm off to watch the rest of the Steeler pre-season game before heading to bed. I still have some clean up to do around here. Hopefully it won't take forever. :)

Friday, July 6, 2007

2008-10-04T23:23:00.001-04:00

Friday, July 6, 2007
5:06:00 PM EDT

Moment of Zen

I refilled the pond this morning and tried to find a home for the ficus tree. It was really nice to hear the sounds of the birds and water on such a lovely day.

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

2008-10-04T23:22:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, May 30, 2007
10:18:00 PM EDT

Early Morning Birding

This morning was one of those days where I had to be up before the crack of dawn to get to work. It was one of those days where I knew the day was going to be long, so I needed to find something to jumpstart my day. The best I could do was water my hanging baskets.

Now, I bet you are wondering what this has to do with birding. Well, as I was outside watering my dahlias, I could hear the soft whinny call of a screech owl. :) It sounded like it was only one, but it was a pleasant sound to hear. I had to run back into the house to refill the container and could still clearly hear the owl. About 45 minutes later when I had to leave for work, my feathered friend was still there. I took the refilled container out to a hanging basket near my car and listened to the pleasant sound of the screech owl. The weird part was I also hear the first daylight bird of the morning - a cardinal. It was strange to hear that morning chorus.

As of right now, I popped my head outside and didn't hear the screecher. One of these days when I'm off, I'm going to have to get up early and sit outside to enjoy the morning sounds.

Wednesday, May 9, 2007

2008-10-04T23:21:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 9, 2007
8:59:00 PM EDT

Duck saver

I'm giving myself a new title - Duck Saver.

Yesterday at work, one of the managers was having lunch in his car and noticed that a mother Mallard and a number of ducklings were crossing the road in front of out store. Now, this area is bad enough for people, let alone ducks. I personally have almost been hit a few times just trying to get to my car. He noticed a family trying to save Mama and the babies and asked me to head out there to lend a hand. The gentleman had hold of Mama while we tried to rangle the babies. There was only a shopping cart nearby. Of course, it had a huge grate in the back of it. ::::shakes head:::: The ducklings were trying to get out of the back to get to Mama.

Behind the store is a drainage ditch. We decided to take the family back there before the duck family met their demise. The gentleman who had Mama took her down the ditch first. Mama kept her eye on us at all times. She wanted to make sure her babies were OK. We then took the ducklings down. (For a drainage ditch, this is a nice bird habitat... stream, trees, reeds, fish.) As soon as the ducklings hit the water in the ditch, they took off after Mama.

After work tomorrow, I'm going to have to take a look to see if I can spot Mama Duck and the ducklings. At the very least, this has to be a great place to watch for migrating birds.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

2008-10-04T23:20:00.002-04:00

Sunday, April 29, 2007
10:10:00 PM EDT

Spring Migration

Well, with migration is full swing, it's a great time to repost the species that should be passing through the area. Many of them are already here.

Broad-winged Hawk Mar 16 - Apr 30
Purple Martin Mar 16 - Apr 30
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Apr 1 - May 15
Barn Swallow Apr 1 - Apr 30
Eastern Kingbird Apr 1 - May 30
Red-eyed Vireo Apr 1 - May 30
Bobolink Apr 1 - May 30
Black-and-white Warbler Apr 1 - May 15
Northern Parula Apr 1 - May 15
Louisiana Waterthrush Apr 1 - Apr 30
Wood Thrush Apr 16 - May 30
Least Flycatcher Apr 16 - May 30
Baltimore Oriole Apr 16 - May 30
Indigo Bunting Apr 16 - May 30
Scarlet Tanager Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow Warbler Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 16 - May 15
Kentucky Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Ovenbird Apr 16 - May 30
Blue-winged Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Hooded Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Worm-eating Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Orchard Oriole Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow-billed Cuckoo May 1 - May 30
Common Nighthawk May 1 - Jun 15
Cliff Swallow May 1 - May 15
Swainson's Thrush May 1 - Jun 15
Olive-sided Flycatcher May 1 - May 30
Eastern Wood-Pewee May 1 - May 30
Warbling Vireo May 1 - May 30
Blue Grosbeak May 1 - May 15
Rose-breasted Grosbeak May 1 - May 15
American Redstart May 1 - May 30
Canada Warbler May 1 - May 30
Wilson's Warbler May 1 - May 30
Cerulean Warbler May 1 - May 30
Willow Flycatcher May 1 - May 30

Sunday, April 22, 2007

2008-10-04T23:20:00.001-04:00

Sunday, April 22, 2007
10:12:00 AM EDT

Cardinals!

I had a nice show this morning. A male cardinal was outside on the deck sitting just above the pond singing his little heart out. Of course, I didn't have my camera handy. LOL! He was so loud I didn't need to open the window. In the background, a female cardinal was collecting grass for her nest.

If that isn't a sign of spring, I don't know what is. :)

Saturday, April 21, 2007

2008-10-04T23:17:00.001-04:00

Saturday, April 21, 2007
11:56:00 AM EDT

FINALLY Spring is here!

"April showers bring May flowers" is how the says goes. Well, April showers are not supposed to be SNOW showers! This weekend finally brings out the warmer weather.

Today I have the late shift at work, so I decided it was time to break out the pond. I took pictures when I originally got the pond. I did buy an additional pond pump for it thinking that a small feature might keep the mosquitoes at bay. Well, the Beckett pump/feature was terrible! It didn't do the job at all. :( I was very disappointed. I tried to put the pump in the main part of the pond, but it was just a trickle of water. I'm going to have to find a way without the use of those dunks or pellets to prevent a breeding ground. Right now, I'm thinking of just getting a small pump, smaller than what the Beckett kit had, just to keep the water moving. I can't put anything heavy on the sides because the pond is plastic. I'm up for suggestions as long as it doesn't crowd the pond and make it look smaller than it is.

My Little Preformed Pond

Sunday, April 8, 2007

2008-10-04T23:16:00.001-04:00

Sunday, April 8, 2007
9:57:00 AM EDT

New Yard Bird

(/(*'y'*)\) Happy Easter! (/(*'y'*)\)

This week brought a new yard bird - Wild Turkey! I spotted three of them towards the back end of my yard. At first, I was teasing my cat, Snowball, to "look at the doggies" only to realize they weren't dogs! LOL! I know there were two hens and one tom turkey. I was kind of surprised to see them in my yard. For all the years I've been at this house, I've never seen or heard them before. It's the perfect habitat for them. I'm going to have to find something they will like to eat to try to attract them to the yard again. I know the deer LOVE apples. I wonder what the turkeys will enjoy.

Wednesday, March 28, 2007

2008-10-04T23:15:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, March 28, 2007
9:29:00 PM EDT

Weird Happenings

The month of March has been a strange one. Between winter weather and 70 degree days, it's hard to know what to wear let alone what to do. The feeders have been active. I've even been being kind and let the starlings eat at the suet. I can hear red-bellied woodpeckers in nearby trees and spotted a downy woodpecker at the squirrel set block.

The most interesting sighting happened this evening, and it wasn't a bird. I was driving along a rural road that is rather wooded with a creek near by. I noticed little lizards running across the road! I'm guessing they were newts, but I'm not sure. I was driving a hair too fast with another car on my tail for me to get a good look. I've never seen them before, especially on the road. I wonder why they were on the road. Might it have been the warm, wet weather?

Monday, March 5, 2007

2008-10-04T23:14:00.002-04:00

Monday, March 5, 2007
10:08:00 AM EST

Spring is in the air!

Even though snow is on the ground, spring is in the air!

The colder temperatures have not been stopping the birds from starting to establish territories. As I was filling the empty feeders this morning, I could hear the cardinals singing in the trees. I had one bird in the tree above me and several calling back to him from trees further away. The chickadees were hollering at me to fill the feeders faster.

I've been hoping for the weather to break into warmer temps. I would really like to get out into the field, even to do some car birding. In the meantime, I have been beefing up AOL Birding Community Resources (http://takeoff.to/birdingcommunity/) especially the ID section.

Thursday, February 8, 2007

2008-10-04T23:14:00.001-04:00

Thursday, February 8, 2007
10:32:00 AM EST

Website Pimpin' and Feeder Happenings

First off, I have finally created a MySpace account to the AOL Birding Community and Resources. It's http://www.myspace.com/birdinglinks. I'm still working on it, and I freely admit I'm using the page as a way of getting the website out there. If you want to add me as a friend, please send me a request via MySpace.

The feeders have been a busy place over the past week due to the bitter cold temperatures. We were lucky yesterday to reach the double digits - 10 degrees F to be exact. The advantage is there is always something going on at the feeders. The juncos have been out in force. They have been eating out of the platform feeder (which is frozen to the ground, by the way) and from under the feeders. The starlings have also been visiting the feeders. They found the suet ball that I bought from a local butcher and obliterated it in no time. In these cold temperatures, I didn't have the heart to scare them away from the suet, even though there were fifteen of them.

A nice surprise was the return of the goldfinches. I had a small flock of about 7 visit the thistle feeder. They did get scared away from the feeder when the starlings visited, but them always returned. I keep hoping they bring a few more friends. So far, the only friends they have been bringing is the chickadees and carolina wrens.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

2008-10-04T23:12:00.000-04:00

Thursday, January 25, 2007
6:34:00 PM EST

Winter has Arrived!

Winter finally has it's hold on our area. Today we saw 1-3 inches of snow with blustry, blowing wind. When I go up this morning, the feeders were very active. I had several goldfinches at the feeder, and a few lovely cardinals at the sunflower feeder. The platform feeder was completely covered. One poor song sparrow was underneath the feeder looking for seeds, sheltered from the snowfall.

Throughout the day, the blowing snow created white out conditions. The birds seem to be unphased. A flock of mourning doves was under the sunflower feeder picking seeds. The 10 juncos that have frequented the yard aver the past few weeks were under the bushes picking at... something. :)

The next few days are supposed to be cold and snowy. Hopefully, it will bring more birds to the feeders.

Friday, January 5, 2007

2008-10-04T23:10:00.003-04:00

Friday, January 5, 2007
11:12:00 AM EST

National Bird Day

I just found out that today is National Bird Day! The day primarily revolves around pet birds, however wild birds are included, too. You can visit http://www.nationalbirdday.com/ for more information.

Tuesday, January 2, 2007

2008-10-04T23:10:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, January 2, 2007
8:47:00 AM EST

Happy New Year, Everyone!

My first bird sighting of the year was a Tufted Titmouse. I hoped it was anything but a house sparrow. :)

Sunday, December 31, 2006

2008-10-04T23:09:00.002-04:00

Sunday, December 31, 2006
11:27:00 AM EST

Western PA CBC and Goldfinches

Well, this weekend is the Western PA Christmas Bird Count, or CBC for short. There is and article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about it: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06365/750327-140.stm

The one thing that came across the birding listserv for PA is the lack of goldfinches. I thought it was just me. A number of birders have not been seeing them. I have the thistle feeder cleaned. It just needs to dry, be refilled, and put back outside. I'll let you know if I spot any goldfinches.

Monday, December 25, 2006

2008-10-04T23:08:00.001-04:00

Monday, December 25, 2006
5:10:00 PM EST

Merry Christmas All!

This Christmas has been a quiet day here in Pennsylvania. The day started bright and sunny with many birds at the feeders. The carolina wrens were happily feeding from the seed block I put out for the squirrels. The deer were eating the apples put out for them and the ears of corn for the squirrels. As I was standing outside this AM enjoying a cup of coffee, I heard Blue Jays, nuthatches, and house sparrows. I haven't seen the goldfinches in some time. I'm hoping they found some food somewhere since they aren't visiting my feeders.

I can say the bird bath has been a busy place. A lot of birds have been bathing in the warmer temperatures. The deer will even come down to take a drink now and again.

Speaking of temperatures, it is supposed to be turning colder tomorrow. It should be interesting since we are going to get snow, too. The "best" part is the forecasters have no idea how much snow we are going to be getting. In any event, it will be an interesting drive home tomorrow from work.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006

2008-10-04T23:07:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, October 31, 2006
9:24:00 PM EST

Halloween Sightings

It was a cool and rainy evening for the Trick or Treaters. I swear I heard a Blue Jay while I was outside giving out candy. I also got a pleasant surprise -- a Screech Owl was calling from a nearby tree.

The day started out sunny. As I got up, I spotted the first Dark-eyed Junco of the season. I bought some seed for them, but I have to fix the platform feeder to put it out for them.

Friday, October 27, 2006

2008-10-04T22:54:00.001-04:00

Friday, October 27, 2006

12:00:00 AM EDT Vacation - Day 1

Thursday was the first day of my vacation. I don't plan on doing anything much except sleeping, get some yard work done, and birding. I started that list today by birding North Park – an Allegheny County park.

I got a late start to the day which gave it a chance to warm up. For a fall day, the temperatures have been unusually cool. I headed along one of the one way roads that gave a unique view of the park's huge lake. A Black-crowned heron was spotted on this road earlier in the year. I pulled into one of the parking lots and got a show. A Great Blue Heron took off from the area as I arrived, and a Belted Kingfisher was fishing on the far bank. For a little bird, he was making a huge splash. I watched him for couple of minutes until one of the many, many, many, many, many, many Canada Geese scared him off.

I drove a little further down the road where I saw something flitting in the trees. After a few minutes of searching, I discovered it was a Golden-crowned Kinglet. I stayed there a little longer since they are over looked the lake. The next thing I know a White-breasted Nuthatch was climbing down a tree. The next thing I know all hell broke loose! A pair of cardinals, a gang of Tufted Titmice, a couple of Carolina Wrens, a Blue Jay, and a Black-capped Chickadee were all making a fuss about something on the ground. I couldn't see what the fuss was all about as the brush was a bit too high. I decided it was time to move on.

I decided to head to the nature center. It’s an area that has a multitude of habitats. As soon as I parked the car, I noticed a bird flitting in the reeds of a stream. I’m not sure what the bird is other than I’m suspecting a White-eyed Vireo. I’m going to have to check the field guides to be sure what it was. I then headed into the trails. There were a number of trails that I could have followed but chose the flattest one. I started on the trail, and I flushed a Northern Flicker into a tree. The bird was rather calm for me being there. As I looked around trying to see if there were any other woodpeckers, I noticed the lovely fall foliage. I snapped a few pictures of the scenery. It was just too beautiful to pass up.

On the way home, I made two more stops. One was Marshall Island, where as a child, my parents would take me to feed the ducks and geese. I remember walking out onto the ice one cold winter day to feed them. The park administrators frown on that now as it attracted rats to the small island. It still has its benches where I sat for some time to try to find the Great Blue Heron again. Instead, I found a couple of American Coots hanging out with a small flock of Mallards.

The second stop was at the playground and boat house to see if anything special was there, and got a real treat! I spotted the usual flock of geese that you find all over the park and (finally) the Great Blue Heron! The bird was very cooperative. It spent 10-15 minutes hunting on the edges of a dam. I did get a few pictures of the heron although it was a bit far for my camera. Just when I didn’t think it could get any better, and of course while I was pulling away, the heron flew over to the near bank. The heron flew into the flock of geese, and of course the geese didn’t move. The heron spent a couple of minutes deciding where it wanted to reenter the water to hunt and gave me the time to snap even more pictures. When the bird ducked behind some brush on the bank, I decided it was time to finally head home.

Overall, I thought it was a great day. Not only did I find some great spots for birding in the spring, but I also had some great finds and great pictures.

The bird list for the day:
Northern Cardinal, Mourning Dove, American Crow, Blue Jay, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Carolina Wren, White-breasted Nuthatch, Belted Kingfisher, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Tufted Titmouse, Northern Flicker, American Coot, Mallard, White-eyed Vireo, Black-capped Chickadee, House Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Red-tail Hawk, Turkey Vulture

Blogger - North Park Fall ’06

Monday, October 23, 2006

2008-10-04T22:52:00.000-04:00

Monday, October 23, 2006
8:41:00 PM EDT

Well, I'll be....

It actually snowed today! Well, it flurried. It was just enough to get everyone's attention. The birds were active when I left the house. They are still eating the seed off of the ground. I'm going to have to put more seed out before leaving for work.

Sunday, October 22, 2006

2008-10-04T22:51:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 22, 2006
8:30:00 PM EDT

Fall is in the Air
Well, it's been a while since I posted anything, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been any activity.

I've been winterizing the yard in the midst of the falling leaves. The pond has been drained and put in the garage. The pump will have a winter home in a plastic storage container in the garage with the pond. I have been stocking up on seed and containers for the birds. I have a new storage bench outside which frees up some room inside the dining room.

The weather has been turning colder which has been bringing the birds to the feeders. We are expecting snow flurries over the next few days. (I'll believe it when I see it.) The birds have already emptied out the hopper feeder. I had it filled with safflower seed and they started knocking seed onto the ground to get to the sunflower seed. Well, they can eat off of the ground for the next couple of days. LOL!

I have vacation time coming up on Thursday. I'm thinking of taking myself to Moraine State Park to do some birding. Payday is Friday, so I can make the day of it. The leaves are really turning lovely colors. I should be able to get some great fall shots. There are still migrants coming through. I should be able to see something while I'm there.

As a side note, make sure you check out http://takeoff.to/birdingcommunity. It's the homepage for the Birding Forum on AOL. It has many resources that any North American birder can use. It also contains links to the chat room and message boards on AOL.

Thursday, August 3, 2006

2008-10-04T22:46:00.004-04:00

Thursday, August 3, 2006
5:54:00 PM EDT

What was I thinking?!?

I bought this the other day. I was thinking the birds would enjoy it, but I'm loving it more! The sounds is so soothing. I put it up this AM in the heat, but it was well worth it. I'm hoping it does attract the birds, but if it doesn't at least it will be a nice addition to the yard.

I've always wanted a pond. I've tried putting water hyacinths in a bird bath before with no luck. The poor little things just fried in the heat. This will give me the experience of a pond without the digging. I just wish it was deep enough for a lily. I may just have to get a few of those fake ones to keep myself happy. :O)

Friday, May 19, 2006

2008-10-04T22:46:00.001-04:00

Friday, May 19, 2006
9:04:00 PM EDT

It's been so wet...

How wet has it been?

It's been so wet that ducks have been swimming in parking lots and killdeer have been wading into puddles. Red-tail hawks have been sitting on church steeples getting daily baths. My bird bath has been over flowing from all the rain. I'm going to have to add another rock to it just so the birds don't drown in the water.
I'm hoping it will stop raining soon just so I can CUT MY GRASS! It's so tall that it will be a bear to cut.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

2008-10-04T22:44:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, May 10, 20069:03:00 AM EDT

I'm Back

OK... I'm back. I have decided not to abandon this journal. There has been too much going on in my life to let it go completely. So, let me try to bring this journal as up to date as possible.

The spring has been rather busy. Robins have been flocking to the yard in droves. It's not uncommon to have at least 4 in the yard at one time. The goldfinches have been flocking to the feeder, and so have the squirrels. I had to purchase a new feeder because the red squirrel ATE THROUGH the plastic feeder to get to the sunflower/thistle mix. Grrrrr.... I wasn't happy.

The cardinals have been busy as well. I've been watching a male claim his territory by singing in a tree. I haven't seen the female in a while, she must be sitting on eggs.

I'll keep posting, even if it's just a sentence blurb.

Friday, December 9, 2005

2008-10-04T22:43:00.000-04:00

Friday, December 9, 2005
8:39:00 PM EST

Misc. Stuff

As you may have noticed, I haven't made any journal entries for quite some time. I have been debating whether or not to abandon this journal because of the ad on top. It's a HUGE ad, and I feel it takes away from the journal. As a member of AOL who gave her time as a community leader and will become a paying member as of June 8, 2006, I feel it's wrong to have these ads forced onto paying members' journals. If it were an AIM member signing up for a free journal, then one might expect the ads, but it's rude, absurd, ignorant, and insensitive to have these ads on paying members' journals! I have archived all of my journal entries to this point, and will upload them to a Blogger journal soon. I will still keep The Beakly News journal that I started for the AOL Birding Community since it is part of the archive.

In the meantime, things have not slowed down in my yard. Winter is in full swing. There are about 3-4 inches of snow on the ground which fell overnight. The deer have been visiting daily and cleaning out the platform feeder. The squirrels don't even try to defend the feeder from them. They just run off. It doesn't keep any of the birds away, though. The goldfinches still visit the thistle feeder, and the wrens have been eating the suet and seed cakes. I've been filling the hopper feeder and hoping the deer don't find a way of emptying that out. The cardinals love that feeder.

I have one more "feeder" that I will put out with some peanuts and seed cakes for the birds and squirrels. It's a planter that I bought in the summer, and I thought would be perfect for them to destroy. Ü I just have to find a place to hang it.

Sunday, October 16, 2005

2008-10-04T22:40:00.000-04:00

Sunday, October 16, 2005
7:47:00 PM EDT

Dark-eyed Junco

I spotted the first junco of the season on Saturday. It was picking at seeds under the platform feeder. I looked around for any additional juncos, but didn't see any. I will have to keep my eyes open for more.

Saturday, October 15, 2005

2008-10-04T22:33:00.002-04:00

Saturday, October 15, 2005
9:53:00 AM EDT

A Memorial to My Bird Watching Buddy

I lost my dear cat, Amaretto, yesterday. I found her dead in our basement. I'm not sure what happened, but I know she didn't suffer at all. She would love to watch the birds at the feeders. Ocassionally, I would take her outside on our back deck so she could get a closer look at the birds. She would make little squeaking noises when she was excited by the birds.

To my little birding buddy, former chat co-host, original laptop, and friend...I will always love you. You will be missed but not forgotten.

Blogger - Amur

Saturday, September 17, 2005

2008-10-04T22:31:00.001-04:00

Saturday, September 17, 2005
10:43:00 AM EDT

OT: Another Deer Sighting

Living in Pennsylvania, it's kind of the deer capital of the the US. There are a lot, and do mean A LOT, of accidents caused by deer on PA roads. You can ask any PA resident about deer related accidents and they can rattle off at least 3 accidents they've heard, been involved in, or almost involved in in their lifetime here in Pennsylvania.

I had my "I almost hit a deer" story the other day. I left for work bright and early on Friday. Well, it was still very, very, very dark out. (That's what happens when you have to be at work at 5am.) I didn't even get off my street when I spotted A doe and fawn on the left side of the street. I slowed down to let them cross which "Mom" happily took advantage of. "Baby" just sat there. Eventually, "Baby" started across the street, then STOPPED right in the middle. LOL! It was a Kodak moment, but without the camera. Ü We stared right at each other. IT was a cute moment, but I really had to get to work. I turned the car hard left, and what does "Baby" do? She walks right back in front of the car. LOL! So, I turn the car hard right, and the same thing happens. Ü At least the second time, she was a little closer to "Mom" and decided the thing with the headlights was a bit to big to tangle with. She kept on walking towards Mom, but for a split second I thought she was going to dart back out in front of me. At the very least, I thought I'd have a new passenger. I slowly moved away from her, SLOWLY being the operative word, and went on my merry way.

In the midst of the morning, I'm just happy to see the deer. I haven't seen them for quite some time and have been worried that something might have happened to the herd. It's a good sign that I'm going to have to buy a feed block just for them.

Tuesday, August 30, 2005

2008-10-04T22:29:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, August 30, 2005
6:34:00 PM EDT

New Lifer!

I had to head into work this AM at about 4:30. It's weird having to go to work that early. It does give me the opportunity of seeing some animals that I don't normally get to see.

As I headed in, I spotted the usual raccoon family and doe crossing the road, but I also spotted and owl with a morsel in it's beak. After looking at the field guides, I decided the owl I saw was a long-eared owl. It was in the right habitat and the right size. I first thought it was a short-eared owl, but realized it was the wrong type of habitat. I then thought it might have been a Barred Owl, but the coloring was all wrong. After looking at a few more pictures, I settled on the long-eared owl.

It was a lovely bird to see on a gloomy, foggy morning.

Saturday, August 6, 2005

2008-10-04T22:27:00.000-04:00

Saturday, August 6, 2005
10:08:00 PM EDT

Surprise Visitors

I had a pleasant surprise a couple of days ago. A hummingbird was feasting away on one of my hosta plants! I was outside with a landscaper that was giving me an estimate on some tree trimming. As he was pulling away, I noticed the hummer at the hosta. It only stayed a short time.I'm going to have to get a hummer feeder. (I promised myself that I wouldn't get one unless I spotted one in my yard. Now, I don't have an excuse.)

As a side note, I had an odd experience tonight. I heard some rattling in our laundry room and started to blame the cats until I realized they were staring at me trying to figure out why I was hollering at them. I narrowed my search to the dryer vent and really didn't know what to expect. I grabbed a 5-gallon bucket and started taking apart of the vent. After dumping out the vent contents, I realized it was a baby bunny that made it's way inside. The poor little thing was so scared! I immediately took it out to the farthest end of my yard and let the bunny go. It quickly hopped off into the brush that I have for the birds.

Saturday, July 23, 2005

2008-10-04T22:20:00.002-04:00

Saturday, July 23, 2005
7:17:00 PM EDT

Fall Run Park

I found a new birding location for the fall and spring time. It's called Fall Run Park. It's a quaint park that is supposedly 98 acres. I don't know about that, but it looks like it has potential come migration. The key feature of the park is a lovely waterfall towards the back of the park... well worth the hike to get there. Along the way you walk over 7 bridges that cross a shallow stream. There are rocks placed in such a way that if you feel the need to get your feet wet it would be easy to do.

It's mostly woods, so I expected to see a lot of woodland birds along the way. Well, the Blue Jays had different plans. They kept hollering at something which made everyone scramble. Fortunately, it was a lovely walk to the waterfall anyway. I did come across on rock that was about the size of a truck that apparently slid down the hill at one time. I spent several minutes staring at the rock not believing anything can be so HUGE. As you can see by the pictures, there were several scenic areas, including the waterfall itself.

On the way back to the car is when most of the activity took place. I stumbled across a pair of cardinals that were very upset by my presence. After looking around, I realized why. About 20 feet above me was a nest. The parents kept an eye on me and trying to feed the chicks. I decided it was my time to go since they got more agitated the longer I stood there. A little farther down the path I could hear a few woodpeckers and spotted a flicker on a tree log. It spent a few moments looking for insects on the log. It must have been full of ants or something because the flicker spent a lot of time there.

As I was about to leave, I noticed there was a lot of bird activity. A robin was carrying nesting material deeper into the woods. Another robin sunned itself in a grassy spot near the road. A chipping sparrow was hopping in the grass, and eventually hopped into the brush. Along the roadway, afamily of song sparrows were looking for insects, too, before being scared off by a car driving by. One extra surprise was in a backyard as I was leaving the park. I noticed a hummingbird darting between two hummer feeders. I didn't have a lot of time to watch the bird since there was a car right behind me.

Overall, I can't wait until fall. I may not be able to ID the birds, but I will have fun looking for them.

Fall Run Park

Friday, July 1, 2005

2008-10-04T22:19:00.000-04:00

Friday, July 1, 20056:59:00 PM EDT

Hummingbird!

I had a nice surprise today as I was checking on my neighbor's cats.

I was in there sunroom when I spotted something buzzing outside thier window. After looking at it a second time, I realized it was a ruby-throated hummingbird! It was getting a drink off of the leaves. Eventually, it flew off into the trees. I hope the new plants I have in the front yard will attract the bird over to my place. I would love to see one on a regular basis.

Monday, June 20, 2005

2008-10-04T22:18:00.001-04:00

Monday, June 20, 2005
9:29:00 PM EDT

Update

My apologies for not posting any updates for a while, but my new job has been keeping me busy. In addition, AOL has discontinued the Volunteer Community Leader Program as of June 8, 2005 which I was a part of. I went by the name of HOST HBBY Flickr and was a chat host in the AOL Birding Community. I also am the webmaster of the AOL Birding Community Weblinks pages that had to be moved from that screen name to another. It took time to do. Fortunately, it's been quiet when it come to backyard birding, or any other birding for that matter. LOL.

In the meantime, I've been working on my garden. I finally got around to planting the perennials in my front garden bed. I bought foxglove and purple coneflower. They will look sharp when they fill out.

Friday, May 20, 2005

2008-10-04T21:57:00.001-04:00

Friday, May 20, 200510:07:00 AM EDT

Delaware Birding Trip

Well, this past month has been exciting with getting a new job and a recent birding trip to Lewes, DE. I have created a photo album of the trip. Yahoo! Photos - Delaware Birding Trip - May 2005 Enjoy!

Tuesday, April 19, 2005

2008-10-04T21:55:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, April 19, 20058:32:00 PM EDT

Migrants

I just came inside from enjoying a lovely evening on the back deck. I spotted the first brown-headed cowbird of the year. It was a male and 2 females. I also spotted a junco under the feeders. A couple of mallards flew over head at duck. I wonder where they were headed. A male cardinal was also chasing a robin around the yard for some reason, and a flicker pair also were hanging around the yards in the trees.

Over all it was a nice evening on the deck.

Sunday, April 10, 2005

2008-10-04T21:29:00.001-04:00

Sunday, April 10, 2005
10:39:00 PM EDT
GOLD finches

It was a lovely day to sit on the deck and bird watch, so that's exactly what I did. The goldfinches were all over the place in the trees, but only a couple came to the feeder. I got some lovely pictures of a male goldfinch as you can see here.

Blogger - Goldfinches

Wednesday, March 30, 2005

2008-10-04T21:27:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, March 30, 2005
9:55:00 PM EST

Lovely Day in the Neighborhood

It was an absolutely beautiful day. All the birds were singing and there wasn't a cloud in the sky. The temperature was around 72. I was able to sit out on the back deck for a while today and watch the birds at the feeders. It was mostly chickadees and goldfinches... and I do mean GOLD. They are finally getting their color again. The finches spent a good amount of time at the thistle feeder. It was a nice change of pace since I spent the past several days in bed with the flu.

This evening I took advantage of the nice weather and did a little star gazing Orion and the Big Dipper were in full view. I was hoping for an owl to fly by, but didn't see one.

Sunday, March 27, 2005

2008-10-04T21:16:00.000-04:00

Sunday, March 27, 2005 10:17:00 PM EST

Good-bye Winter!

As a final tribute to this past season, I'll wrangled a couple of pictures I took back in February. These are pictures of my backyard. In spring, I move my feeders to the top of the hill and to the left of the tree stump in the second picture. (It's towards the back center of the picture and covered in snow in case you can't spot it immediately.) It's just too steep of a hill to traverse during the winter as you can see. I'll move the feeders down to the bottom of the hill when I hear of the snowfall in my area. I'm already planning how I want to layout the feeders up on the hill. Yes... I'm that nitpicky about placement.

Blogger - Snowy Backyard

Wednesday, March 23, 2005

2008-10-04T20:52:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, March 23, 20055:53:00 PM EST

Crow Mobbing a Hawk... with pictures!

I woke up to an interesting sight this morning. Since I wasn't feeling well, I was making tea instead of my usual cup of coffee and heard a small flock of crows going nuts outside. I decided step outside to see what was going on. After looking around, I noticed a hawk sitting in the tree. I managed to get a few pictures of the incident before the hawk flew off and joined a couple of friends in the area. I believe the bird I got pictures of was a male Red-tailed Hawk because another, bigger hawk flew by. Females are usually larger than the males.

Blogger - Hawk Mob

Monday, March 21, 2005

2008-10-04T20:49:00.000-04:00

Monday, March 21, 20052:31:00 PM EST
Spring Migration List

With migration well under way, I was curious as to what birds arrive in Pennsylvania and when. A friend of mine unknowningly help me with my search. He sent me a site to eNature.com where there have a spring migration site. So, I clicked on the link for the Northeast and came up with the following list of birds:

Broad-winged Hawk Mar 16 - Apr 30
Purple Martin Mar 16 - Apr 30
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Apr 1 - May 15
Barn Swallow Apr 1 - Apr 30
Eastern Kingbird Apr 1 - May 30
Red-eyed Vireo Apr 1 - May 30
Bobolink Apr 1 - May 30
Black-and-white Warbler Apr 1 - May 15
Northern Parula Apr 1 - May 15
Louisiana Waterthrush Apr 1 - Apr 30
Wood Thrush Apr 16 - May 30
Least Flycatcher Apr 16 - May 30
Baltimore Oriole Apr 16 - May 30
Indigo Bunting Apr 16 - May 30
Scarlet Tanager Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow Warbler Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow-breasted Chat Apr 16 - May 15
Kentucky Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Ovenbird Apr 16 - May 30
Blue-winged Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Hooded Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Worm-eating Warbler Apr 16 - May 15
Orchard Oriole Apr 16 - May 30
Yellow-billed Cuckoo May 1 - May 30
Common Nighthawk May 1 - Jun 15
Cliff Swallow May 1 - May 15
Swainson's Thrush May 1 - Jun 15
Olive-sided Flycatcher May 1 - May 30
Eastern Wood-Pewee May 1 - May 30
Warbling Vireo May 1 - May 30
Blue Grosbeak May 1 - May 15
Rose-breasted Grosbeak May 1 - May 15
American Redstart May 1 - May 30
Canada Warbler May 1 - May 30
Wilson's Warbler May 1 - May 30
Cerulean Warbler May 1 - May 30
Willow Flycatcher May 1 - May 30
I know this can't be a complete list, but it a good start at a reference

Friday, March 18, 2005

2008-10-04T20:46:00.000-04:00

Friday, March 18, 20057:09:00 PM EST

Spring is definitely in the air!

I heard the first red-winged blackbird of the season while visiting a neighbor in a nursing home. I also spotted a couple of geese while I was there. They were hanging out near a huge pond on the property.

This afternoon while I was shopping, I saw a small kettle of turkey vultures circling over a parking lot. It was a lovely sunny day around 50 degrees and not a cloud in the sky.

Tuesday, March 15, 2005

2008-10-04T20:44:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, March 15, 20056:44:00 PM EST

Recent Sightings

The past couple of days have brought sightings that say spring is arounf the corner. As I was out shopping, yesterday I saw the first turkey vulture of the year flying over a local shopping center. He was low enough to see his red head. When I came home, I spotted a small flock of grackles flying over the house. This afternoon I heard a cardinal singing at the top of it's lungs. The cold weather has turned a little warmer... melted the snow from the ground. I'm thinking about putting the bird bath outside tomorrow for the migrating birds to find.

Sunday, February 27, 2005

2008-10-04T20:43:00.000-04:00

Sunday, February 27, 20054:47:00 PM EST

Changing weather

The weather is going to turn nasty over night. How nasty? Well... the forecasters don't even know yet. I have all the feeders full which is good since all the birds are visiting. The birds always seem to know when a storm is coming. I had ALL the regulars including a male red-bellied woodpecker at the front feeder and a small flock of goldfinches at the thistle. I didn't fill the platform feeder since it was likely to be covered tomorrow. I didn't want to put seed out then it be covered with 6 inches of snow.

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

2008-10-04T20:41:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, February 15, 20058:20:00 PM EST

Brief Birding

It was a lovely winter day. Temps in the low 60s.

I managed to do a little birding today after visiting a friend. I went to the local park near it's lake. I stopped at the former duck feeding area and spotted quite a few Mallards and Canada Geese. Most of the lake was still frozen over, but there was a few open spots for the waterfowl to hang out. I also spotted a Great Blue Heron on the far shore hunting for fish on the ice. The House Sparrow and Crows were in full force eating something on the ice. My guess is probably corn that someone threw out for the ducks.

Sunday, February 13, 2005

2008-10-04T20:38:00.000-04:00

Sunday, February 13, 20054:04:00 PM EST

Popcorn

I attempted to make some popcorn for myself this afternoon. The microwave I used is not popcorn-friendly. ;) It made the basement stink to high heaven. I decided to throw it out outside under the feeders. A couple of hours after making it, I heard some cawing outside my window. It was a crow getting a mouthful of popcorn before flying off to a nearby tree. I hope he brings more crow friends with him because there's a lot more popcorn under the tree. ;-)

Friday, February 11, 2005

2008-10-04T20:36:00.000-04:00

Friday, February 11, 20054:40:00 PM EST

Hawk Watch

I just had a great experience in my backyard. A young female Cooper's Hawk was hunting from the wood pile we have near the feeders. I was making myself an early dinner when I spotted her there. I have to admit I debated on running for my camera. I'm glad I didn't bcause she flew off a short time later.

I wonder if this is the same bird that was hanging around in December.

Thursday, February 10, 2005

2008-10-04T20:35:00.000-04:00

Thursday, February 10, 20056:43:00 PM EST

Reality Check

My cat passed away today. She had fatty liver disease and lost a significant amout of weight in addition to stopped eating. As the snow was falling and the birds were at the feeders, I sat remembering how she would watch as the cardinals and chickadees would dart in and out of the tree getting seeds from the feeders. The birds at the feeders did the same thing today. The cardinals were feasting at the sunflower feeder and the woodpeckers was hanging on the suet feeder. The red squirrel made a pig out of himself at the platform feeder while he feasted on the nuts and seeds there.

Tuesday, February 8, 2005

2008-10-04T20:32:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, February 8, 200510:47:00 AM EST

Life...

My apologies for not posting anything for quite sometime. Life has been very busy over the past month. I've been caring for an elderly neighbor that fell last week and I've been dealing with a sick cat.

A couple of birding notes...The birds have started to sing with the warmer weather we've been having. The birds haven't been coming to the feeders as much because of the temps. However, robins have been in full force lately all over the place. It seems that everywhere I turn there are more and more robins. I don't care what that stupid groundhog says, Spring is around the corner.

Monday, January 17, 2005

2008-10-04T20:26:00.000-04:00

Monday, January 17, 200510:18:00 AM EST

Cold and Cardinals

Two inches of snow fell within the past 24 hours. It's a winter wonderland outside right now. As I still here in my basement, I'm looking at a male cardinal in a neighbor's yard. He's as pretty as a postcard. :)

Tuesday, January 11, 2005

2008-10-04T20:12:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, January 11, 200512:34:00 PM EST

Warm Weather

Let me have a reality check for a quick moment... It's January and it's near 60 degrees?
It's really weird weather. I should not be able to comfortablely sit on my back deck in the middle of winter and bird watch. The titmice and chickadees have been visiting the feeder in the front yard. I swear I heard a cardinal singing the other day. Right now, I heard a small flock of jay that must have found a hawk. :)

The weather is supposed to turn colder in a few days. I know that will bring the birds to the feeders. I'm also going to be putting the bird bath back outside tomorrow. I brought it in to clean it, and haven't put it back out yet.

Sunday, January 2, 2005

2008-10-04T20:11:00.000-04:00

Sunday, January 2, 20058:46:00 PM EST
First Bird of 2005

Happy New Year!

Believe it or not, I got my first bird of the year today. It was a American Crow. I spotted the bird as I was sitting on my back deck this afternoon. A pair of them flew into some nearby trees.
As for sitting on the back deck...I can't get over this weather! It was in the 50s again today. It's supposed to rain over the next few days, but who cares with this great weather.

Friday, December 31, 2004

2008-10-03T23:10:00.001-04:00

Friday, December 31, 20049:06:00 PM EST
Last day of 2004

The last day of the year came and went with a BEAUTIFUL day. Temperatures were around 60 degrees. (Yes, you read that right...60.) A downy woodpecker was happily feeding at the suet sandwich just before dusk which make that the last bird sighting of the year. At for nature sightings, three does were flushed from a neighbor's yard. Once they settled down, they fed and cleaned each other.

I hope my first bird sighting tomorrow isn't a house sparrow.

Monday, December 20, 2004

2008-10-03T23:09:00.001-04:00

Monday, December 20, 20048:02:00 AM EST
Snow and cold

Can someone PLEASE turn up the heat? I'm freezin'.

It's been snowing on and off for the past 24 hours. The only bird I spotted yesterday was a crow. I swear he must have been out flying just to keep warm. The temperature this morning is one degree. I don't even see the birds at the feeders. It's just so cold. The bird bath is one big ice cube. I had to chip the ice off the fountain and add hot water use to melt the rest of the ice in the bath. The bath heater was heating the water up just enough to keep the water moving.

Monday, December 13, 2004

2008-10-03T23:08:00.001-04:00

Monday, December 13, 20045:30:00 PM EST
Cemetary and Snow

I revisited the cemetary with a friend. It's better than I expected. I even got some pictures of some of the grave markers. Yeah, morbid... I know, but the more I drove around the cemetary I realized that it would be a perfect spot for bird watching. My friend agreed. He could imagine all the birds that would flock there during the spring months. We didn't spot anything while we were there, then again, we were there mid-afternoon when the birds really weren't active. There were snow flurries all around us.

Speaking of snow, we had the first good sticking snow of the year. We have anywhere from a dusting to an 1/2 inch of snow on the ground and decks. I was surprised that I didn't see any birds are the feeders. All was quiet.

Friday, December 10, 2004

2008-10-03T23:06:00.002-04:00

Friday, December 10, 20049:27:00 PM EST
Recent Sightings

The deer have still been cleaning out the feeders everytime I put food out. They haven't even touched the salt block in the back of the yard. I don't know why.

A neat treat yesterday was a Cooper's Hawk sitting in a tree. She sat there for a good ten minutes and let a friend and I get great looks at her. The odd thing about the sighting was the crows or jays did not notice her until she flew off. At that point, the jays went crazy.

I also found a potential good birding spot a couple of days ago. There's a cemetary about a mile from my home that is rather old. It was there when I first moved into the area when I was very young. Towards the back of the cemetary is a very wooded area that would be great for woodpeckers, warblers, thrushes, and other birds. The gravestones in the back date back to the 1800s. It's a lovely place for gravestone rubbings if you're into that kind of thing. I'm going to head back out there with a friend tomorrow to see if we can find anything.

Monday, December 6, 2004

2008-10-03T23:06:00.001-04:00

Monday, December 6, 200410:39:00 AM EST
Misc. Stuff

Not much has been happening lately. I did purchase a new digital camera so I could take pictures of the back yard. I did manage to get a few good pictures of some of the birds in my yard.

The deer have been eating me out of house and home. Everytime I fill a feeder, they empty right out. I need to try to find a way to keep them at bay. They are really tearing up the hill side and drank the bird bath dry.

Friday, November 26, 2004

2008-10-03T23:04:00.000-04:00

Friday, November 26, 20046:20:00 PM EST
More Crows

First, an off topic message:Let me welcome my friends from JimmyVincent.com. Feel free to take a look around, and enjoy yourself.

And now for the birds:The morning started out very sunny and beautiful, if you don't mind freezing temperatures. There was little argument at the feeder between a red squirrel and a blue jay over the peanuts that I threw out this morning. I'm glad I put the heater in the bath a couple days ago. It was so frosty this morning that I would have been dealing with a chunk of ice otherwise.

In the afternoon, another large flock of crows few by the house. I was sitting on the couch and spotted the never ending stream of crows. I have to admit I don't have a count of the birds, but if you told me it was about the same about as a couple of days ago, I wouldn't be surprised.

I don't have any takers on the salt block in the backyard as of yet. I may have to move it further away from the house. I'm not going to be able to move it too far unless I put it in a neighbors yard. :D.

Thursday, November 25, 2004

2008-10-03T23:03:00.000-04:00

Thursday, November 25, 20048:06:00 PM EST
First Snow

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

The first snow of the season fell today. I didn't stick to the ground, but it's sure icy out there on the decks. I plugged the bird bath heater in last night in anticipation of the colder temps. I put some bird seed out for the birds in the hopper feeder because it was the only one I could reach. I had a pair of cardinals, a junco, a song and white-throated sparrow, and a few house sparrows show up. Tomorrow, I'm going to put out a block of suet, assuming that I can safely get to the feeders. While I didn't see any chickadees ot titmice, I'm sure they stopped by. Tonight is too cold of a night not to stock up on some food.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

2008-10-03T23:02:00.000-04:00

Tuesday, November 23, 20048:42:00 PM EST
Crows! Crows! Crows!

As I was sitting outside on the back deck today, I watch a mass migration of crows. I must have counted at least 75 crows within a 5 minute period. It was a constant stream of crows. There was an initial group of 50 or so, then the others filtered by after that calling as they went. On thing I did notice about the crows is each seemed to have a different caw as they called. Some were higher in pitch than others.

Before the crows, I went shoping for a few supplies. I bought a salt block for the deer hoping to keep them from the feeders. I also bought a bird bath heater. With the temperatures going into the high 20s Thanksgiving Day and the weekend, I figured it was about time. Snow is on it's way.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

2008-10-03T23:01:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, November 10, 200410:48:00 AM EST
First Frost

The first frost of the season happened last night. It was weird having to find the ice scraper to scrape the car windows this morning.

We sealed the back deck last night. The birds actually got used to us being out there spraying. The Juncos and first year White-throated Sparrows were hanging around the platform feeder eating the cheap bird seed (thankfully) that I bought by mistake.

Friday, November 5, 2004

2008-10-03T22:59:00.000-04:00

Friday, November 5, 20046:49:00 PM EST
Turning Colder

I spotted the first two white-throated sparrows of the season today at the feeders. They were hanging around with the juncos. With the very cold weather we've have over the past couple of days, I'd be suprised if we don't have snow heading our way very soon.

Wednesday, November 3, 2004

2008-10-03T22:57:00.002-04:00

Wednesday, November 3, 2004
3:54:00 PM EST

Backyard pig

Mom woke me up from a nap this afternoon to show me a deer feasting from the recently cleaned platform feeder. I had put out some seed and nuts in the feeder for the squirrels. I inadverently bought a seed mix that I thought was mostly nuts and sunflower seeds only to find out it had a lot of millet and mile in it. The deer ate everything! Then, it took a long drink from the bird bath. Afterward, it started to head to the regular Sky Cafe until I scared it off. There was enough seed in the platform feeder, so I felt it had enough. The birds didn't seem to mind the huge intruder. They kept coming to the feeders as the doe was there.

Saturday, October 23, 2004

2008-10-03T22:55:00.002-04:00

Saturday, October 23, 2004
11:41:00 PM EDT

Day of birds

I had a day full of birds. I spent the day working outside on the back deck While at home, I spotted 3 Morning Doves, 3 Chickadees, 3 Titmice, 1 House Finch, 4 House Sparrows, 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2 red-tailed hawks, 1 Turkey Vulture, 1 White-Breasted Nuthatch, and the FIRST Dark-eyed Junco of the season.

This afternoon as I was heading into the zoo for an event, I stopped to pick up dinner and peeked at the creek near by. The only thing that was there was a flock of about 6-8 Mallards hanging out in the creek falls. I also spotted 8 Canada Geese as they were flying in formation over head.

Friday, October 22, 2004

2008-10-03T22:53:00.000-04:00

Friday, October 22, 200411:10:00 PM EDT
More Backyard Birding

Today was an interesting day in the backyard. I bought another thistle feeder for the finches. It's called a rainbow feeder. The only thing that's rainbow is the perching. The perching comes in different colors. Hopefully, having the second feeder will bring more finches to the feeder. While I was sitting out on the back deck, I got a GREAT view of a Red-tailed Hawk. It flew just above the tree tops low enough where you can see the spotting on the chest and tail. It would have been a great view if the sun was out.

Monday, October 11, 2004

2008-10-03T22:52:00.000-04:00

Monday, October 11, 20047:50:00 PM EDT
The Big Sit
Sunday Oct. 9 was The Big Sit. The basic premise of this birding event is to sit within a 17ft. circle and count as many bird that you see within a 24 hour period. I spent most of the day under the new overhang watching the birds. For watching the birds most of the day, I came up with a nice list:
Mourning Dove (1)
Downy Woodpecker (1)
Blue Jay (1)
American Crow (24)
Black-capped Chickadee (3)
Tufted Titmouse (1)
White-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Carolina Wren (1)
Song Sparrow (1)
Northern Cardinal (2)
American Goldfinch (10)
House Sparrow (8)

My only regret for this event was Saturday was the better day to bird watch than Sunday. I had red-bellied woodpeckers, more nuhatches and cardinals, and the house finches were there, too. Hopefully, when I get the platform feeder cleaned then put back out, I'll get some more visitors.

By the way, I did decide to splurge and get the feeder pole from Home Depot. It's turning out to be the best money I every spent. It will be very useful come spring time when I move the feeder pole further out into the yard. :)

Wednesday, October 6, 2004

2008-10-03T22:51:00.001-04:00

Wednesday, October 6, 20049:16:00 PM EDT
Backyard Birdwatching

Well, I have a lot of time on my hands since I was let go from my job Sunday. I've been doing a lot of bird watching from my back deck. It's actually been very relaxing.

The temperatures have really dropped overnight... close to freezing. The birds have really been coming to the feeders in the mornings. I spotted the first white-breasted nuthatch of the season at the sunflower feeder. It was funny to watch the nuthatch hanging off of the feeder while a titmouse flew in and trying to scare it away. :) I also spotted three red-tailed hawks flying overhead what I was outside this morning. One of them flew close to the ground, screaming as it was flying. The sunny, blue sky really showed off the red tail.

Friday, September 24, 2004

2008-10-03T22:49:00.000-04:00

Friday, September 24, 20049:03:00 PM EDT
Birds and Hurricanes

This past week has been crazy with the clean up from the remnants of Hurricane Ivan. I haven't really been doing much birding since I've been spending my time in my basement ripping up carpet. The all day rain that happened a week ago created devastating flooding conditions all over Western PA. Many people locally are without homes and cars because of the flooding. I've driven through many areas this past week, and it's heart breaking to see all the personal possessions lying in dumpsters and along the side of the road.

Anyhow, back to the birds.....During breaks, I've been sitting out on my back deck watching the feeders. The goldfinches are coming in droves along with the chickadees. I spotted a female Downy Woodpecker at a seed block that I bought a couple days ago. The chickadees are being little bullies at the feeders. There have been three of them have been darting from tree to tree to feeders staking their claim. I also spotted a couple of Chimney Swifts heading south tonight as a few leaves fell from the trees. Fall is certainly here.

I'm thinking about getting another feeder pole to replace the one that the lawn guy mowed over a month ago. I found a nice one at Home Depot that has four arms for feeders. Next payday I'm going to pick it up. :)

Saturday, September 11, 2004zh

2008-10-03T22:48:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 11, 20046:23:00 PM EDT
Quiet Day

When I woke up this morning, I sat on the back deck and had some coffee. The goldfinches, house finches, and chickadees were jockying for position on the thistle feeder. The weather has been cooler in the mornings. I'm going to have to think about bringing the Sky Cafe feeder down from the far end of the yard until the steps are built.

I am also noticing the goldfinches are starting to molt into their winter plumage. I'll miss their golden plumage.

Saturday, September 4, 2004

2008-10-03T22:47:00.000-04:00

Saturday, September 4, 20049:14:00 PM EDT
Inadvertent Car Birding

I had several interesting sightings today on my travels.

The first sighting was as I was heading out for the day. A couple of crows were getting picked on by a Cooper's Hawk. I don't know what the crows were after but apparently the hawk wanted it, too.

The next sighting was a kettle of Turkey Vultures near one of the highways. There was a group of three of them. Once again, I didn't have any good pull off areas to watch them for a bit.

Lastly, the chimney swifts were out and about tonight. I wish they would hang out a little closer to the house to eat some of those insects. I was getting bit up as I was sitting out on the back deck under our new overhang.

Sunday, August 29, 2004

2008-10-03T22:46:00.000-04:00

Sunday, August 29, 20049:14:00 PM EDT
Evening Sightings and New Yard List Bird

Some friends of mine are building an overhang on our back deck to try to protect the back door from the elements (i.e. - rain and snow.) As I was sitting outside helping them, I added a new bird to my yard list - a common nighthawk! It must have been looking for insects to get ready for migration. While I was out there I spotted a couple of chimney swifts hawking for insects, too.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

2008-10-03T22:44:00.000-04:00

Wednesday, August 25, 20046:30:00 PM EDT

Waterfowl Migration

As I was pulling into work today, I spotted about 100 Canada Geese flying and honking into the lake nearby. They spent most of the day there hanging out in the water and island. I wonder if this is a signal that the waterfowl migration has just started.

Saturday, August 14, 2004

2008-10-03T22:43:00.000-04:00

Saturday, August 14, 200410:07:00 PM EDT
Bats and Birds

I had a pleasant evenning tonight. I went to a picnic at work, and as we were all leaving, we noticed a number of bats flying overhead. This is the first time I've seen bats flying around work. Shortly there after, a common nighthawk flew overhead looking for insects hanging around the lights.

I also stopped by the zoo today and saw the ducklings at the log ride. They are so big! There are six of them with mom. My only concern for them is, like most ducks, they follow anything that moves. As I walked towards them to get a closer look at them, they came running towards me. One good thing is when I walked them back towards mom, they went right to her. I just hope their fearless approach of people goes away or they may not survive.

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

2008-10-03T22:41:00.001-04:00

Tuesday, August 10, 2004
7:06:00 AM EDT

The bird bath

And now for the post for this morning.... LOL!

I bought a new pump for the bird bath fountain not too long ago. I decided that it was time to change the pump because it wasn't flowing like it should. I'm glad I did, because as soon as I changed the pump, I noticed a lot of gunk, including skeeter larvae coming out of the foutain itself. The pump is a powerful one, so I shouldn't have to worry about mosquitoes hanging out.

I did have a nice surprise when I went back inside, though. A male cardinal and a chickadee came to check out the fountain as soon as they felt safe.

Tuesday, August 10, 2004

2008-10-03T22:40:00.002-04:00

Tuesday, August 10, 20047:00:00 AM EDT

New bird to add to the yard list

I tried posting this last night, but my computer kept freezing....

As I was sitting on my back deck having dinner, I added a new bird to my yard list! A Chimney Swift was looking for insects in the tree tops over a neighbor's house before it swooped over my house. I don't know if it got anything because as quicky as he came, he left.