Begin forwarded message: > From: "Carol Bretz" <[log in to unmask]> > Date: Mon Mar 02, 2009 01:14:53 PM US/Eastern > To: "'James Dolan'" <[log in to unmask]> > Subject: Birds seen in Bretz backyard on 02-28-09 and 03-01-09 > > New Waterford, Ohio – old DeLorme block 53B7NW > > 02-28-09 – 17 species - *2 Rusty Blackbirds (1st sighting in 2009), > Juncos, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Crows, Black Capped Chickadees, Titmice, > Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Goldfinches, *25+ Pine > Siskins, 2 *Red-winged Blackbirds, House Sparrows, *5 White-winged > Crossbills, (1st year juvenile, male, and 3 female feeding on hemlock > cones in the trees and on the grown), 1st year White-crowned Sparrow, > female House Finch, Mourning Doves . The Rusty Blackbirds feed at two > platform feeders that hang from my clothesline. The Red-winged > Blackbirds also feed at these platform feeders. > > On Saturday afternoon I ran errands and returned to New Waterford on > Creek Road, (Old DeLorme 53A6SE). After I crossed the bridge over Bull > Creek I observed a large (200+) mixed flock of about 50% RW Blackbirds, > 45% Starlings, and 5% Rusty Blackbirds in the cornfield on my left. > The field has wet areas and the birds were foraging in the corn > stubble. > > 03-01-09 – 21 species (Bretz backyard again) – *3 White-winged > Crossbills (two female and one male), *25+ Siskins, *Brown Creeper, > Titmice, BC Chickadees, Downy WP, Blue Jays, Cardinals, Goldfinches, > Mourning Doves, House Sparrows, *2 Rusty Blackbirds, *1 Brown-headed > Cowbird (1st sighting for 2009), Juncos, Crows, WB Nuthatch, *5 RW > Blackbirds, Song Sparrow, 1st Year WC Sparrow, House Finch pair, > starlings. Titmice pair was courting. > > The Crossbills are constantly on the move and hang upside down on the > Eastern Hemlock branches feeding on the cones and then move to the > ground to feed. Siskins will feed with them on the ground but prefer > the feeders with the hulled sunflower seed. The Crossbills first > arrived on February 15 and were observed by Jim Dolan and Jim & Becky > Kerr, and Bob & Denise Lane that p.m. There were 25+ present at > midafternoon. They were evident first thing on Monday morning (Feb > 16), but nowhere to be seen when I arrived home Monday afternoon. > There are a number of Eastern Hemlocks and Norway Spruces on my > property. These conifers are loaded with cones; perfect for these > northern visitors. The Crossbills and Siskins showed up back in the > late 1980’s. This is the first winter since then that I have observed > them in my New Waterford yard. > > I observed my first Turkey Vulture of 2009 in flight over my pines > about 6 p.m. on 02-25-09. Last spring I would often see up to 11 of > them perched in and near a large Black Locust first thing in the > morning in March and April. They often roosted in my pines at night > throughout the summer and fall, but I did not find evidence of nesting > in 2008. CFB > > > > > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ 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]