Hello Everyone, Can someone please advise me about a spotting scope? My husband purchased me one for a gift, but it seems to be intended for watching sporting events. I would only want to use it for watching birds. It has an 18x by 36x zoom and is made by Promaster. Would this be appropriate for watching birds at far distances? I'd appreciate your help. Thanks, Nancy Ortman OHIO-BIRDS automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]> wrote: There are 9 messages totalling 459 lines in this issue. Topics of the day: 1. Purple Finches, again (2) 2. Shaker Lakes NC 9/12 and 9/13 3. Orange-crowned Warbler Downtown Columbus 4. Miss Kite still there? 5. Kites have flown the coop 6. Purple Finches, - questions (2) 7. Buck Creek SP (Clark County) Caesar Creek SP (Warren County) Buff-breasted Sandpipers ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 01:25:41 -0400 From: Kenn Kaufman Subject: Purple Finches, again As I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago, Purple Finches are moving through northwestern Ohio in impressive numbers. Kim and I have seen / heard them just about everywhere that we've been outdoors in Ottawa County over the last few days. And I know that one highly skilled observer had small numbers flying over central Columbus a couple of days ago, so the flight isn't just confined to the northwest. These birds are very easy to overlook -- listen carefully for their callnotes, a metallic "pik," and watch for them at feeders, where they appear a little more chunky and short-tailed than the omnipresent House Finches (and with some plumage differences, of course -- check your field guide). This may be an exceptionally good flight year for Purple Finches and I hope that birders will keep notes on when / where they show up. Kenn Kaufman Rocky Ridge, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:05:48 -0400 From: ben fambrough Subject: Shaker Lakes NC 9/12 and 9/13 Migrants seen from the boardwalk this morning (9/13) at the Shaker Lakes Nature Center: A great day for flycatchers Yellow-bellied Olive-sided (I have at least one here annually in the fall) Empidonax--pretty confident about Willow (giving it's call note) Vireos Red-eyed Vireo Warblers Nashville (giving bursts of partial song) Chestnut-sided Black-throated Green Blackpoll Redstart Ovenbird Wilson's Thrushes Swainson's Birds banded yesterday (9/12) included many of the above: Yellow-bellied Flycatchers (2) Philadelphia Vireo Gray-cheeked Thrush Swainson's Thrush Scarlet Tanager (female) Northern Waterthrush (a recapture) Rose-breasted Grosbeaks Ruby-crowned Kinglet Ben Fambrough, un chef sans cuisine Cleveland Heights ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 10:44:28 -0400 From: Bruce Miller Subject: Orange-crowned Warbler Downtown Columbus At least I think so. He has been there 2 days now and I have had very cl= ose=20 looks, but without the aid of binoculars. He has been at the corner of W= all=20 St and Town. Town street is closed off there, so you have to come from R= ich=20 street and turn north on Wall street. The map below shows this as one way= =20 the other way, but it is a 2 way street. You can also turn on to Wall=20 street from Main st. If you happen to be downtown, please check him out and let me know if you= =20 confirm my ID. See google map link below http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=3DUTF8&hl=3Den&msa=3D0&ll=3D39.958397,-= 83.000003&spn=3D0.004704,0.008583&z=3D17&om=3D1&msid=3D107405215203362078= 063.00043a054104abfe36fd0 Bruce Miller Columbus, OH _________________________________________________________________ Gear up for Halo=AE 3 with free downloads and an exclusive offer.=20 http://gethalo3gear.com?ocid=3DSeptemberWLHalo3_MSNHMTxt_1 ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 11:24:57 -0400 From: =?windows-1252?Q?=3D=3Fwindows-1252=3FQ=3FMarilyn=5FRohr=3F=3D?= Subject: Miss Kite still there? Hi, I would like to head to the Hocking County golfcourse to see the Kites,=20= but it's a long drive from Chardon; could anyone confirm whether the Kite= s=20 are still in residence, or have moved on? Thanks, Marilyn Rohr Chardon, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:11:44 -0400 From: "McCormac, Jim" Subject: Kites have flown the coop Hi all, I just spoke with the manager of the Brass Ring golf course, home of our now famous Mississippi Kites. Apparently no one has seen the birds for over a week, and I would say they are long gone. The guys that work on the course daily know these birds well and have been good sources of information, and their lack of recent sightings would certainly seem to indicate the kites have headed south. It will be interesting to see whether they return to Ohio next May and nest again. Jim Jim McCormac Ohio Division of Wildlife 2045 Morse Rd., G-3 Columbus, Ohio 43229 614-265-6440 -----Original Message----- From: Ohio birds [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of =3D?windows-1252?Q?Marilyn_Rohr?=3D Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 11:25 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: [Ohio-birds] Miss Kite still there? Hi, I would like to head to the Hocking County golfcourse to see the Kites,=20 but it's a long drive from Chardon; could anyone confirm whether the Kites=20 are still in residence, or have moved on? Thanks, Marilyn Rohr Chardon, Ohio ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=3DOHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:20:23 -0400 From: Allen Chartier Subject: Re: Purple Finches, again I have had Purple Finches in several locations in southeastern Michigan (where they do not breed) in the past week or so; about the earlies I've had them in nearly 20 years. Allen Chartier [log in to unmask] 1442 West River Park Drive Inkster, MI 48141 Website: http://www.amazilia.net Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet =============================================== Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food. You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't. It just eats another hummingbird. ---Steven Wright ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kenn Kaufman" To: Sent: Thursday, September 13, 2007 1:25 AM Subject: [Ohio-birds] Purple Finches, again > As I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago, Purple Finches are moving > through northwestern Ohio in impressive numbers. Kim and I have seen / > heard them just about everywhere that we've been outdoors in Ottawa County > over the last few days. And I know that one highly skilled observer had > small numbers flying over central Columbus a couple of days ago, so the > flight isn't just confined to the northwest. These birds are very easy to > overlook -- listen carefully for their callnotes, a metallic "pik," and > watch for them at feeders, where they appear a little more chunky and > short-tailed than the omnipresent House Finches (and with some plumage > differences, of course -- check your field guide). This may be an > exceptionally good flight year for Purple Finches and I hope that birders > will keep notes on when / where they show up. > > Kenn Kaufman > Rocky Ridge, Ohio > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 14:46:03 -0400 From: "William H. Fissell" Subject: Re: Purple Finches, - questions Folks, I have been very interested by the reported purple finch sightings, as I have not been able to attract them to feeders, either in Ohio or SE Michigan, despite good numbers seen at nearby feeders on occasion. My feeder setup consists of two feeding stations about 100 feet apart, each with separate thistle, sunflower, millet and water supplies. The feeders usually attract house and goldfinches in good numbers, titmice, chickadees, nuthatches (though no red-breasted ones yet here in Ohio) cardinals, jays, chipping, song, and fox sparrows. The Brecksville yard list broke 50 this week with common nighthawks, and I just got here this year. Any special tips for attracting purple finches or pine siskins, two species I have always wanted and never gotten? I have a few Norway Spruces in with the silver maples. Also, does the appearance of red-breasted nuthatches and purple finches now imply anything about grosbeaks and crossbills later this winter? best, Bill ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:52:39 -0400 From: "Donald Morse, Jr." Subject: Re: Purple Finches, - questions I had seen a Purple Finch at the birdbath (completely ignoring the feeders) on Sept. 2nd (Clermont Co.). It was present for two days. I have not seen it since. Not many Cincinnati area records for early Sept. As for attracting Pine Siskins, I have had flocks as high as 150+ in my yard at one time. This is a large # I know for so far south. They (both siskins and purple finches) like water. Sometimes, they would come to the water and completely ignore the Nyjer seed. I think one big factor that is overlooked, is that there is a good number of native sweet gum trees around. I have seen them get at the seed balls of this tree. I also have white pine, Norway spruce and blue spruce (and some red and Scottish pines in the nearby woods). Red-breasted Nuthatch is still around. -- Donald Morse, Jr. New Richmond, OH http://users.adelphia.net/~morsedr/ On 9/13/07, William H. Fissell wrote: > > Folks, > > I have been very interested by the reported purple finch sightings, as I > have not been able to attract them to feeders, either in Ohio or SE > Michigan, despite good numbers seen at nearby feeders on occasion. My > feeder setup consists of two feeding stations about 100 feet apart, each > with separate thistle, sunflower, millet and water supplies. The > feeders usually attract house and goldfinches in good numbers, titmice, > chickadees, nuthatches (though no red-breasted ones yet here in Ohio) > cardinals, jays, chipping, song, and fox sparrows. The Brecksville yard > list broke 50 this week with common nighthawks, and I just got here this > year. > > Any special tips for attracting purple finches or pine siskins, two > species I have always wanted and never gotten? I have a few Norway > Spruces in with the silver maples. > > Also, does the appearance of red-breasted nuthatches and purple finches > now imply anything about grosbeaks and crossbills later this winter? > > best, > > Bill > > ______________________________________________________________________ > > Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. > Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. > Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at > www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. > > You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: > http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS > Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] > ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 21:20:43 -0400 From: Rick Asamoto Subject: Buck Creek SP (Clark County) Caesar Creek SP (Warren County) Buff-breasted Sandpipers There was a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the beach at Buck Creek State Park this evening along with 4 Least Sandpipers, 2 Caspian Terns, a few hundred Ring-billed Gulls, and 1 Herring Gull. Also, Shane Egleston called to let me know the Buff-breasted Sandpiper he found on Tuesday at the Caesar Creek beach was still there today. Rick Asamoto Miamisburg ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. You can join or leave the list, or change your options, at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/scripts/wa.exe?LIST=OHIO-BIRDS Send questions or comments about the list to: [log in to unmask] ------------------------------ End of OHIO-BIRDS Digest - 12 Sep 2007 to 13 Sep 2007 (#2007-255) ***************************************************************** --------------------------------- Catch up on fall's hot new shows on Yahoo! TV. Watch previews, get listings, and more! ______________________________________________________________________ Ohio-birds mailing list, a service of the Ohio Ornithological Society. Our thanks to Miami University for hosting this mailing list. Additional discussions can be found in our forums, at www.ohiobirds.org/forum/. 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