[bcbirdclub] Snipe - A new Yard Bird and others

From: "Roger Mayhorn" <rmayhorn@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: "BCBC Listserve" <bcbirdclub@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Sun, 3 May 2009 21:54:09 -0400
Hi All,
After the steady drizzle all morning the rain stopped for awhile and I stepped 
outside to see what the birds were doing. The Brown Thrashers, Catbirds, 
Red-bellied Woodpeckers and Downys were feeding on the peanutbutter suet. In 
the side yard the Pine Siskins, the Goldfinches, Mourning Doves, a couple of 
Redwings and a Cardinal were working on the sunflower seeds, while the Chipping 
Sparrows were feeding at the tube feeder holding white millet. Fourteen to 
sixteen hummingbirds were busy at the two nectar feeders in the front yard. 
Eastern Towhees were singing from the edge of the woods and the flute-like song 
of a Wood Thrush drifted from deeper within. The male of the pair of American 
Redstarts that seem to be nesting near the edge of the woods was singing and 
flitting about in a Black Locust tree. The female flew into a tree near me just 
long enough for a quick look before she was gone again.

As I walked into the backyard I heard the flurry of wings coming up from the 
ground and turned to see a bird that I first thought was a Woodcock flying 
away. As it banked to the right it gave me a side view and I saw that it was a 
snipe. I also had not heard the typical whistling of wings that the Woodcocks 
make. That was a new yardbird.

I made my way around the trail that runs from the yard along the woods' edge to 
the sounds of singing Song Sparrows, a singing male Scarlet Tanager and the 
song of a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak as it fed on fresh, green, tree buds. An 
Orchard Oriole sang from a distant tree. Farther along the trail I heard the 
rapid song of a Worm-eating Warbler and watched a Yellow-throated Vireo giving 
its simple, slightly rough, 3/8's song. Within a few yards of it was a 
White-eyed Vireo singing its short, measured notes. More distant from the trail 
the smoother and more complex song of the Red-eyed Vireo came from among the 
fresh leaves of an Oak tree. As the trail passed from the larger trees into my 
more open, overgrown field, I could hear the buzzing song of a male Blue-winged 
Warbler. Within a few seconds I was watching him through binoculars as he flew 
from one water laden blackberry cane to another. I watched as he turned his 
bill skyward and sang. I'm hoping he might make that field his nesting site. In 
the same field the unmistakable calls of a secretive, Yellow-breasted Chat 
could be heard coming from within the blackberry patch. A pair, sometimes two 
pairs, usually nest there. 
Tree Swallows were diving and turning over the field and a pair of Bluebirds 
were sitting near one of my Bluebird nest boxes. A male Yellow Warbler was 
singing from a maple tree, but during a chase flew down to a small locust bush 
long enough for me to get a couple of photos.

I then made my way down the trail that runs deeper into the woods. At least 
four Ovenbirds were singing and chasing each other, sometimes coming very close 
to me while in hot pursuit. A nearby male Hooded Warbler was singing only part 
of his song as if maybe he hadn't gotten into the full swing of the 
mating/nesting thing yet. I got a quick look as his yellow and a flash of white 
tail feathers, as he swooped down to find something near the forest floor. The 
high-pitched buzzing calls of a couple of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers could be heard 
in a tall tree overhead though I never saw them.

When I returned to the house I had counted 44 species, which was pretty good 
for a short, 30 minute walk. The complete list is below.
For those interested I have posted a few photos of some of the species in or 
near the yard in the last few days. 

http://www.pbase.com/mayhorn/spring_birds_2009

Roger Mayhorn
Compton Mt

American Crow 1
American Goldfinch 2 (1m, 1f)

American Redstart  3 (2m, 1f)
American Robin 4

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 2

Blue Jay 1

Blue-winged Warbler 1m

Brown-headed Cowbird 3m
Brown Thrasher 3

Carolina Chickadee 1

Carolina Wren 1

Chipping Sparrow 2
Downy Woodpecker 3 (1m, 2f)

Eastern Bluebird  3 (2m, 1f)

Eastern Towhee 3 (2m, 1f)

European Starling 4

Gray Catbird 2

Hairy Woodpecker 1 (feeding young)

Hooded Warbler 1m

House Finch 3m

Orchard Oriole 1m

Mourning Dove 5

Northern Cardinal 3 (2m, 1f) male feeding female

Northern Flicker 2

Ovenbird 4 ( chasing each other)

Pileated Woodpecker 1

Pine Siskin 4

Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 (1m, 1f)

Red-eyed Vireo 2

Red-winged Blackbird 2

Rose-breasted Grosbeak 1m

Ruby-throated Hummingbird 14

Scarlet Tanager 1m

Song Sparrow 3

Tree Swallow 2

Tufted Titmouse 2

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

White-eyed Vireo 1

Wilson's Snipe (First ever found on the property)

Wood Thrush 1

Worm-eating Warbler 1

Yellow-breasted Chat 1

Yellow-throated Vireo 1

Yellow Warbler 4 (2m, 2f)

 

Eastern Chipmunk 5

Eastern Gray Squirrel 2
[bcbirdclub] Snipe - A new Yard Bird and others

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