Reports from at Home and Away (1 Viewer)

[snowyowl]

What's a Fieldfare?

A Euroasian member of the thrush group. Breeds from Greenland to Siberia.
A definite vagrant around here. I'm going to try to goand look for it this afternoon.

 

[snowyowl]

Just to repeat what I posted in the Rare bird thread, I did see the Fieldfare this morning. Lifer. :-O :-O :-O

 

[amasara]

Got a picture? Congrats!! Don't know how to do the icons!! It has snowed overnight here and birds are busy - but it was 70F yesterday. My pup got stung around her mouth by bees in the deer corn!

 

[amasara]

? Is this bird a downey with dirty face and neck? Count the cardinals brightening up the landscape on a dreary day!!

 

[snowyowl]

? Is this bird a downey with dirty face and neck? Count the cardinals brightening up the landscape on a dreary day!!

Tough to be sure. I would need a better look att he bill plus a look at the tail feathers. I have a feeling that this is a Hairy.
You had better send the Cardinal pictures north to Tammie. I've never seen that many at a time. I'm still trying to find my first one here. I did check up on a sighting on Saturday but no luck.
It's election day so I'll be heading out to vote shortly.

 

[amasara]

Tough to be sure. I would need a better look att he bill plus a look at the tail feathers. I have a feeling that this is a Hairy.
You had better send the Cardinal pictures north to Tammie. I've never seen that many at a time. I'm still trying to find my first one here. I did check up on a sighting on Saturday but no luck.
It's election day so I'll be heading out to vote shortly.

Is this one any better - my first thought was sapsucker but the patterned back is more downey or hairy - not big enough for hairy. I seem to have lost Tammie's email.

 

[snowyowl]

Now it looks like a Downy.

 

[amasara]

Had a window hit today - scared the pup and myself! When I went to see - nothing on the patio and then a sharpie rose up from the back of the house tightly clinging to ? - it was large - suppose it was a dove - that should keep it full for awhile!

 

[snowyowl]

Snow bound today so I'm spending a lot of time looking out of the window. As I looked across the fields to some trees on the other side of the road, I saw three large birds sailing above and around the trees. I thought that they were three ravens until I saw a flash of white. I put binos on them and then the scope. It was two ravens mobbing a Rough-legged Hawk. The hawk kept dropping down almost to ground level then the ravens would chase it back up. After afew minutes the hawk disappeared and the ravens settled down in mthe top of one of the trees. Very exciting!

 

[GDC]

Were they fighting over food or did they just not want to share the area with the hawk?

 

[snowyowl]

Impossible to tell. Many birds, but especailly corvids, autiomatically mob hawks and owls whenever a chance presents. On the other hand, the way the hawk kept dropping towards the ground, it's possible that there was something there that it wanted.

 

[amasara]

If the weather gets any warmer down here - there will be NO spring blooms. My bedded rose bushes are already sprouting leaves!! BUt did see a pair of bluebirds last night near the bb box - maybe the birds know it will be an early spring. 1 inch of snow just doesn't satisfy me for winter!!

 

[amasara]

Saw the first grackle today - not very glad to see it except that means the red-wings will follow!! Heard "screaming" as I took the pup out to tie her up (my only solution as she's a bird catcher!) looked up and saw FOUR redtails soaring overhead in the blueist sky - diving at each other - assumed it was a mating thing!! Called neighbors kids to watch too! I'm troubled that I haven't seen any red-bellied wps this winter? and only one lone blue jay - we have had birds with West Nile virus - wonder if that got them?

 

[amasara]

Impossible to tell. Many birds, but especailly corvids, autiomatically mob hawks and owls whenever a chance presents. On the other hand, the way the hawk kept dropping towards the ground, it's possible that there was something there that it wanted.

Dan - just checking to see if you're OK - haven't seen any posts lately.

 

[snowyowl]

Dan - just checking to see if you're OK - haven't seen any posts lately.

Thanks, Sara. I'm fine. There hasn't been much new to say lately. I find that BF is quiet in general except for the conservation threads.
Yesterday I saw 3000 C. Geese on a small clear area of the river. They were packed in so closely that it made quite a sight. I'd like to think that they were a sign of spring but in fact they never went south this year. I'll post a picture later, probably on Reports from Home and Away just to keep the thread going.

 

[amasara]

Thanks, Sara. I'm fine. There hasn't been much new to say lately. I find that BF is quiet in general except for the conservation threads.
Yesterday I saw 3000 C. Geese on a small clear area of the river. They were packed in so closely that it made quite a sight. I'd like to think that they were a sign of spring but in fact they never went south this year. I'll post a picture later, probably on Reports from Home and Away just to keep the thread going.

Hi there! It does get lonesome on this site - wish BWD would start up the old Buzz Club again - thought there was some talk of that. You're right aside from a stray grackle coming in - not much new. Our C.Geese stay here year round too - think they've lost their migration map!

 

[snowyowl]

C. Geese

Hi Sara!
Here's a shot of part of the flock that I saw yesterday. I had to take three shots to include the whole flock.

 

[amasara]

While out feeding the deer this a.m. heard such a racket coming thru the tree tops on the back hillside - the deer were looking too - 3 pilieated wps chasing and calling! Timing is everything - can't wait for weather to warm up for good and get out the patio cushions and spend time outside!

 

[snowyowl]

While out feeding the deer this a.m. heard such a racket coming thru the tree tops on the back hillside - the deer were looking too - 3 pilieated wps chasing and calling! Timing is everything - can't wait for weather to warm up for good and get out the patio cushions and spend time outside!

Wow. I'm jealous. The best I've got is the first Grackle of the season. It just doesn't compare with Pileates.

 

[snowyowl]

Yesterday four grackles and two Red-winged Blackbirds flew into the maple beside the house. So far today there has been a grackle and a lone Red-wing at my feeders. I'm sure the numbers will build up quickly now.