 |
|
|
|
|
MASSBIRD for Monday, May 19, 2008
[ Prev Day
| Next Day
| Calendar Month
| MASSBIRD Info
]
|
|
To use email addresses replace '(AT)' with '@'.
This is done to confuse the spam 'bots.
|
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: some recent atlas results in Essex County
From: "Jim Berry" <jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 12:20am
This is to report some interesting nest results in Ipswich and nearby towns
over the last week or so.
Horned owls were branching from two Ipswich nests about a week ago, one with
one young and one with two (blocks Ipswich 7 and 9).
5/6: Flickers and hairy woodpeckers were on nests in trees within a hundred
yards of each other at N.E. Biolabs, block Ips. 9; a suspected pileated nest
in the same area has not yet been discovered.
5/11: Red-bellied woodpeckers and house wrens were found nesting at the
same height in adjacent snags about 20 feet apart in Middleton, block
Reading 10. The woodpeckers were taking food to small young--small because
the adults went all the way into the cavity to feed them.
5/13: Cooper's hawks, whose nest was discovered in a white pine at Long
Hill in Beverly 4/17, were still at it; the female was either still
incubating or brooding small young (block Salem 7). Nearby in the orchard,
white-breasted nuthatches were taking food to young in a knothole nest in an
apple only 5.5 feet above the ground, the lowest nest of that species I have
ever seen.
5/15: On a scouting trip for the upcoming annual ECOC canoe trip on the
Ipswich River, three of us found a pair of yellow-throated vireos lining a
nearly complete nest alongside the river in a silver maple (block Ipswich
6).
5/17: Yesterday I found a rose-breasted grosbeak nest in a sapling along a
stream bed in Ipswich, block Ips. 8. The female was lining and shaping the
nest while the male accompanied her.
5/18: Today I found my most rewarding nest of the year so far, a hermit
thrush on four eggs in Willowdale State Forest, block Ips. 5. Despite
finding two hermit nests in the same area in 2006, I was unable to confirm
this species in any of my blocks last year, and it was confirmed in only one
block in the entire county. The sitting bird flushed within a few feet of
the trail I was on, and I was able to see the nest without leaving the
trail. This is how I found both hermit nests two years ago and a veery nest
last year. Ovenbirds often nest close to trails as well, so when a small
brown bird flushes from beside a trail when you walk by, you are very likely
near a nest of one of those three species. It's a great way to confirm
these ground-nesting species without having to leave your scent near the
nest. Just don't walk off the trail, and don't hang around more than a few
seconds in case blue jays, crows, or small mammals are watching you. Go
quite a way from the nest to record any notes or make any further
observations.
Jim Berry
Ipswich, Mass.
jim.berry3(AT)verizon.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Wompatuck Addition 5/19
From: stint98(AT)aol.com
Date: 19 May 2008 9:02am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
All,
I visited Wompatuck State Park in Hingham from 6:00 - 7:15 AM yesterday morning.
I do not have much to add to Eddie's great list, but there was also 1 CAPE MAY
WARBLER across from the Hooded Warbler at Gate 11.
Amazingly (to me, at least), in just 1.25 hours, I was able to find Cerulean
Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Hooded Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky
Warbler, and Cape May Warbler, all within a 2 mi stretch of road. Usually, any
one of those birds would make for a great day. I am glad to see this great spot
finally getting the attention (BBC/Charles Nims/SSBC) that it deserves.
For those who care to read on, I have also included a few miscellaneous items
below as post script.
Good birding,
Chris Dalton
stint98(AT)aol.com
Brookline, MA
Danger: Wild Domestic Dogs
The only downside to the day was being attacked and bitten by a group of four
dogs near Picture Pond (the owner came running after). I have heard similar
stories from birders here before, as people with less-socialized "pets" take
them to run free in this quiet part of the park, where there are fewer
people/pets for them to run into. When hiking alone in this area, it might make
sense to carry a heavy stick or other defense (I know Dennis Peacock took to
doing so after having a similar encounter).
Regular Visitor: Kentucky Warbler?
??? 3-4 years ago, Glen D'Entremont and the SSBC big day team found two Kentucky
Warblers in Wompatuck, one no more than 100 ft from where Eddie found the most
recent bird. In fact, not knowing about Eddie 's find on Saturday, I stopped at
this spot on Sunday hoping that Kentucky Warbler might be regular there (as
Hooded & Cerulean have become in their spots). Sure enough, some close listening
revealed a Kentucky song. I know that Kentucky Warbler is nearly annual in some
locations in MA (Beech Forest comes to mind), but given the proximity of the
two sightings 3-4 years apart, I can't help but wonder if Kentucky Warbler is
more regular in the park and mistaken at a distance for Ovenbird/Carolina Wren
(attenuation really disguises the song's characteristic richness).
??? If nothing else, it really speaks to Wompatuck's attractiveness to
traditionally more "southern" warblers. In my ~6 years birding in the park, I
have seen Hooded (>1, on territory, 3+ years going), Cerulean (only 1 on
territory, last two years), Prothonotary (1 on territory, many years ago), and
Kentucky (notes above). Also, I remember Acadian Flycatcher being annual here
several years ago, and have had second hand reports of Yellow-throated Warbler
on a few occasions. Is it just habitat (nice swamps & contiguous forest)?
Geography (further south & on the coast)? Something else? I'd be interested in
any ideas (even just speculation) off-list.
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: front yard birding, belmont
From: "Fred Bouchard" <frederickbouchard(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:18am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
hey, fellow-birders:
it was a delight to glimpse and hear a Great Crested Flycatcher in a
neighbor's tree
and even better -- to hear a Black Billed Cuckoo sound off repeatedly as i
went out for the morning paper.
these two birds 'in hand' were missed during an exhausting weekend
scampering around Cape Cod for birdathing.
fred b
--
frederickbouchard(AT)gmail.com
78 farnham st
belmont 02478 ma
617-484-6692
www.fredbouchard.com
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Westminster Birds 5/18
From: Tom Pirro <alurap(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:12am
Last evening there was 17 Semipalmated Plovers and 15 Least Sandpipers at
Crocker Pond in Westminster. The water level in the pond has been lowered for
repairs to the dam, that is by far the most Semi Plovers I have seen in the area
at once.
Tom Pirro
Westminster, Ma.
http://tpirro.blogspot.com/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Birdathon Update
From: Taber Allison <taberallison(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:50am
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Hello, everyone:
=20
I've enjoyed reading all the Birdathon reports over the weekend. Friday's =
weather made birding a challenge, but Saturday turned into a glorious day. =
Today I saw the male Ring-necked Pheasant at Nine-Acre Corner on my way to=
work that I missed in the rain on Friday night - beautiful.
=20
Birdathon team leaders have been collecting lists from their many groups ar=
ound the state. This year, to make it easier for the Bird-a-thon team lead=
ers to submit complete and accurate reports we have gone to an on-line repo=
rting system, introduced a new system for checking lists, and given team le=
aders extra time to complete the team lists. To make sure we are accurate=
and to avoid posting erroneous tallies, we will post results for the speci=
es total awards (Brewster, Forbush and IBA awards) to MassBird by no later =
than Friday, May 23. The final decisions for all other prizes will be anno=
unced by June 2. =20
=20
I appreciate your patience. And, thanks to all who participated in the Bir=
d-a-thon each year!
=20
Taber Allison
Vice President
Conservation Science
Lincoln, MA
_________________________________________________________________
Keep your kids safer online with Windows Live Family Safety.
http://www.windowslive.com/family_safety/overview.html?ocid=3DTXT_TAGLM_WL_=
Refresh_family_safety_052008=
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Belated South Shore Bird-a-thon report
From: Charles Nims <cwnims(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:50am
> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
As I was out of state yesterday, I was not able to post what my group for
the Drumlin Farm=B9s team saw during the MAS Bird-a-thon. Kevin Godfrey,
Jim Moore, Kathy Rawdon and myself together birded the South Shore,
especially Wompatuck SP (Hingham), World=B9s End (Hingham) and Daniel Webster
WS (Marshfield) recording 120 species. As all are aware, the weather was
initially soggy, to put it mildly, turning to gorgeous by Saturday
afternoon. While we saw a lot of species, I am always surprised by how man=
y
we missed that were =B3expected=B2.
Following are some of the species we saw, arranged by category:
Warblers (20)
Blue-winged
Nashville
Northern Parula
Yellow
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
Cape May (World=B9s End)
Black-throated Blue
Yellow-rumped
Black-throated Green
Blackburnian
Pine
Blackpoll
Black-and-white
American Redstart
Worm-eating
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded
Wilson=B9s
Raptors
Turkey Vulture
Osprey=20
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel (2)
Peregrine Falcon
Great Horned Owl
Barred Owl
Herons\Egrets
Great Blue
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
LITTLE BLUE (World=B9s End)
Green
Black-crowned Night
Shorebirds
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Greater Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
American Woodcock
Wrens
Carolina
House
Winter
Marsh
Sparrows
Chipping
Field
Savannah
Sharp-tailed (3rd Cliff, Scituate)
Song
White-throated
White-crowned
Misc.
Great Cormorant
Wood Duck
Long-tailed Duck 6 (World=B9s End)
Least Tern
Least Flycatcher
Bobolink
Orchard Oriole
Charlie Nims
Norwell, MA
cwnims(AT)comcast.net
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Belated SS Bird-a-thon addition
From: Charles Nims <cwnims(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 10:22am
> This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
In my recent post about the Bird-a-thon, I omitted the Cerulean Warbler we
heard and saw at Wompatuck SP (Norwell). So our team had 21 warbler species
for the day.
Charlie Nims
Norwell, MA
cwnims(AT)comcast.net
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Savoy Mt., Florida, MA
From: "Jason D. Luscier" <jluscie(AT)uark.edu>
Date: 19 May 2008 11:08am
I birded Savoy Mountain State Park in Florida, MA (northwestern MA) this
morning. It was cold and windy . . . and believe it or not, there were a few
snow flurries. Bird activity was HIGH!! I saw 13 warbler species with GREAT,
LONG looks at each (a few species with GREAT abundance). Plus, I was afforded a
GREAT look at a Northern Goshawk. Below is a list of the highlights from my
morning:
Northern Goshawk (1)
Least Flycatcher
Philadelphia Vireo
Tree Swallow
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler (LOTS!)
Magnolia Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler (LOTS!)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler (LOTS!)
Blackburnian Warbler (LOTS!)
Pine Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Ovenbird
Common Yellowthroat
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
BEST!!
Jason D. Luscier
http://comp.uark.edu/~jluscie/
Dept. of Biological Sciences - SCEN 632
1 University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, AR 72701-1201
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Summer Tanager in Boston (Olmstead Park) etc.
From: "Marshall J. Iliff" <miliff(AT)aol.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 11:42am
Massbird,
This morning I stopped quickly in Olmstead Park, Boston, to check for
migrants and was immediately rewarded with an adult male SUMMER TANAGER.
Willow Pond Rd. (see Google Maps) cuts through the center of Olmstead Park
between the Jamiacaway and Pond Ave. I parked at about the midpoint and
entered by the sign that warns against a $1000 fine for dumping. Follow this
trail straight, taking care not to veer right after the small pond on the
left. After about 100 yards a fallen tree crosses the path--the tanager was
in the large oak directly overhead.
When I saw the bird it was silent but eventually it gave some "pit-a-tuck"
calls. My impression was that it was being very loyal to this large oak and
in 15 minutes of watching it, I only saw it leave once and then only
briefly. For the record, I got some photos.
Other migrants here included one Blue-winged, 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers, one
Am. Redstart, one Black-and-white, one Magnolia, and one Blackpoll.
Elsewhere this morning I had the following:
Revere Beach -- 1 Black Scoter, 5 Manx Shearwaters (flying together (!) just
off the jetties)
Snake Island -- 2 Am. Oystercatchers, 1 Eastern Willet
Deer Island -- 1 Piping Plover on Sandy Beach, 1 Northern Harrier over Logan
Airport, 1 Am. Oystercatcher
Revere Breakwaters -- 1 Red-necked Grebe
Good birding,
Marshall
--
-------------------------------------------------
Marshall J. Iliff
West Roxbury, MA
miliff AT aol.com
-------------------------------------------------
eBird/AKN Project Leader
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
http://www.ebird.org
http://www.avianknowledge.net
-------------------------------------------------
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Wompatuck Kentucky Warbler 5/19 YES
From: "Rob Finch" <sprucegrouse(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 12:16pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Massbirders,
For anyone wondering the Kentucky Warbler is still present at Gate 9 in =
Wompatuck State Park in Hingham. He is down the small trail right before =
Gate 9.
Rob Finch
East Bridgewater
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Of Phalarope Bills and Oil Spills
From: Bob Secatore <olive_warbler(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 1:31pm
<table cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0' border='0' ><tr><td style='font:
inherit;'><DIV class=skipnavigation>I thought some members might find this
interesting:</DIV>
<DIV class=skipnavigation> </DIV>
<DIV class=skipnavigation><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/bird-beak-0515.html#startcontent"><FONT
color=#993333>Skip to content</FONT></A> </DIV>
<DIV id=topbar><A href="http://web.mit.edu/">massachusetts institute of
technology</A> </DIV>
<DIV id=header>
<H1><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/index.html"><FONT color=#993333>MIT
news</FONT></A> </H1>
<FORM id=search action=http://search.mit.edu/search method=get><INPUT
maxLength=255 size=15 name=q> <INPUT type=submit value=Go name=btnG> <INPUT
type=hidden value=mit name=site> <INPUT type=hidden value=mit name=client>
<INPUT type=hidden value=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/google-newsoffice-v4.xsl
name=proxystylesheet> <INPUT type=hidden value=xml_no_dtd name=output> <INPUT
type=hidden value=* name=getfields> <INPUT type=hidden value=i name=as_dt>
<INPUT type=hidden value=web.mit.edu/newsoffice name=as_sitesearch> <BR><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/search.html"><FONT color=#993333>advanced
search</FONT></A> </FORM></DIV>
<DIV id=middle>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD id=leftnav>
<DIV class=nav>
<H2><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/">news</A> </H2><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/recent.html">recent</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/research.html">research</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/campus.html">campus</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/topic/index.html">by topic</A> <A
href="http://events.mit.edu/">events</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/archive.html">archives</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/in-the-news.html">in the news</A>
<H2>subscribe</H2><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-podcasts.html">podcasts</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-enews.html">e-news</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/techtalk-info.html">tech talk</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-release.html">news releases</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-rss.html">rss feeds</A>
<H2>services</H2><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/images/index.html">request images</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/submit-news.html">submit news</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/promote-news.html">promote news</A> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/media-inquiries.html">media inquiries</A>
<H2>about us</H2><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/about.html">news office
info</A> <A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/about-mit.html">MIT
background</A> <A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/contact.html">contact</A>
<DIV id=logo><A href="http://web.mit.edu/"><IMG height=38 alt="MIT home"
src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/mitlogo.gif" width=73 border=0>
</A></DIV></DIV></TD>
<TD id=content><A id=startcontent name=startcontent></A>
<H1>MIT solves gravity-defying bird beak mystery</H1>
<H2>Shorebirds take advantage of surface tension to capture prey</H2>
<P class=authorinfo>Anne Trafton, News Office<BR>May 15, 2008</P>
<P>
<P>As Charles Darwin showed nearly 150 years ago, bird beaks are exquisitely
adapted to the birds' feeding strategy. A team of MIT mathematicians and
engineers has now explained exactly how some shorebirds use their long, thin
beaks to defy gravity and transport food into their mouths.</P>
<P>The phalarope, commonly found in western North America, takes advantage of
surface interactions between its beak and water droplets to propel bits of food
from the tip of its long beak to its mouth, the research team reports in the May
16 issue of Science.</P>
<P>These surface interactions depend on the chemical properties of the liquid
involved, so phalaropes and about 20 other birds species that use this mechanism
are extremely sensitive to anything that contaminates the water surface,
especially detergents or oil.</P>
<P>"Some species rely exclusively on this feeding mechanism, and so are
extremely vulnerable to oil spills," said John Bush, MIT associate professor of
applied mathematics and senior author of the paper.</P>
<P>Wildlife biologists have long noted the unusual feeding behavior of
phalaropes, which spin in circles on the water, creating a vortex that sweeps
small crustaceans up to the surface, just like tea leaves in a swirling tea
cup.</P>
<P>The birds peck at the surface, picking up millimetric droplets of water with
their prey trapped inside. Since the birds point their beaks downward during the
feeding process, gravity must be overcome to get those droplets from the tip of
the bird's long beak to its mouth. Until now, scientists have been puzzled as
to how that happens.</P>
<P>Scientists speculated that the feeding strategy depended on the drop's
surface tension. Surface tension normally dominates fluid systems that are small
relative to raindrops (for example, the world of insects), but it was not clear
how it could benefit shorebirds. A key observation was that in order to propel
the drop, the birds open and close their beaks in a tweezering motion.</P>
<P>To unravel the mystery, Bush teamed up with Manu Prakash, a graduate student
in MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, and David Quere, of the Ecole Polytechnique
in Paris, a visiting professor in MIT's math department at the time of the
study. They built a mechanical model of the phalarope beak that allowed them to
study the process in slow motion. </P>
<P>The process depends on a surface interaction known as contact angle
hysteresis, typically an impediment to drop motion on solids. For example,
raindrops stick to window panes due to contact angle hysteresis. In the case of
the bird beak, the time-dependent beak geometry couples with contact angle
hysteresis to propel the drop upward. </P>
<P>"This may be the first known example where droplet motion is enabled rather
than resisted by contact angle hysteresis," Bush said.</P>
<P>As the beak scissors open and shut, each movement propels the water droplet
one step closer to the bird's mouth. Specifically, when the beak closes, the
drop's leading edge proceeds toward the mouth, while the trailing edge stays
put. When the beak opens, the leading edge stays in place while the trailing
edge recedes toward the mouth.</P>
<P>In this stepwise ratcheting fashion, the drop travels along the beak at a
speed of about 1 meter per second. </P>
<P>The efficiency of the process, which the authors dub the "capillary ratchet,"
depends on the beak shape: Long, narrow beaks are best suited to this mode of
feeding. The study highlights the sensitivity of this mechanism to the opening
and closing angles of the beak: "Varying these angles by a few degrees can
change the drop speed by a factor of 10," Quere said.</P>
<P>The capillary ratchet also depends critically on the beak's wettability--a
measure of a liquid's tendency to bead up into droplets or spread out to wet its
surface. Oil is much more "wetting" than water, so if the beak is soaked in oil
from a spill, this process won't work. </P>
<P>The researchers note a potential application of nature's design: "We are
currently exploring microfluidic devices in which this mechanism could be
exploited for directed droplet transport, allowing for controlled stepwise
motion of microliter droplets," Prakash said.</P>
<P>The research was funded by the National Science Foundation, the Centre
National de la Recherche Scientifique (France) and MIT's Center for Bits and
Atoms.</P></TD>
<TD id=rightcol>
<H3>videos</H3>
<H4><A onclick="window.popup_player_1039 =
window.open('http://techtv.mit.edu/file/983/?skin=popup&file_type=flv','post_1039','toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,directories=no,resizable=yes,width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,'); return false;" href="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-MechanicalModelOfPhalaropeBeak272.flv" rel=enclosure><IMG src="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-MechanicalModelOfPhalaropeBeak272.flv.jpg" width=154></A> <BR><A onclick="window.popup_player_1039 = window.open('http://techtv.mit.edu/file/983/?skin=popup&file_type=flv','post_1039','toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,directories=no,resizable=yes,width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,'); return false;" href="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-MechanicalModelOfPhalaropeBeak272.flv" rel=enclosure><FONT color=#993333>Click To Play</FONT></A> </H4>
<DIV class=photoCredit>Video / Manu Prakash, MIT</DIV>
<DIV class=caption>This mechanical model of the phalarope beak, showing its
transport of a micro-liter droplet, helped MIT researchers discover how the bird
propels food upwards to its throat. Video taken at 2000 fps, slowed down to 30
fps. </DIV>
<P>
<H4><A onclick="window.popup_player_1035 =
window.open('http://techtv.mit.edu/file/979/?skin=popup&file_type=flv','post_1035','toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,directories=no,resizable=yes,width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,'); return false;" href="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-RedneckedPhalarope458.flv" rel=enclosure><IMG src="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-RedneckedPhalarope458.flv.jpg" width=152></A> <BR><A onclick="window.popup_player_1035 = window.open('http://techtv.mit.edu/file/979/?skin=popup&file_type=flv','post_1035','toolbar=no,scrollbars=no,directories=no,resizable=yes,width=360,height=305,top=20,left=20,location=no,menubar=no,status=yes,'); return false;" href="http://techtv.mit.edu/file/get/Newsoffice-RedneckedPhalarope458.flv" rel=enclosure><FONT color=#993333>Click To Play</FONT></A> </H4>
<DIV class=photoCredit>Video / Don DesJardin</DIV>
<DIV class=caption>Red-necked phalarope feeding behavior. MIT researchers have
shown how the birds defy gravity to move prey caught in the water upward from
their beaks into their throats. </DIV>
<P></P>
<DIV class=line> </DIV>
<H3>images</H3><IMG onmouseover="this.className='cursorChange';"
onclick="MM_openBrWindow('bird-beak-3-enlarged.html','','width=509,height=483,scrollbars=1')" height=115 alt=phalarope src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/bird-beak-3.jpg" width=154>
<DIV class=photoCredit>Photo / Rainey Schuler</DIV>
<DIV class=caption>MIT researchers have figured out how the phalarope, a
shorebird with a long, narrow beak, transports its food from the tip of its beak
to its mouth. Here the bird feeds by pecking at the water surface. <A
onclick="MM_openBrWindow('bird-beak-3-enlarged.html','','width=509,height=483,scrollbars=1')"><SPAN onmouseover="this.className='cursorChange';"><FONT color=#993333><STRONG>Enlarge image</STRONG> </FONT></SPAN></A><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
<P><FONT color=#993333></FONT></P></DIV><FONT color=#993333><IMG
onmouseover="this.className='cursorChange';"
onclick="MM_openBrWindow('bird-beak-enlarged.html','','width=509,height=483,scrollbars=1')" height=115 alt=phalarope src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/bird-beak.jpg" width=154></FONT>
<DIV class=photoCredit>Photo / Robert Lewis</DIV>
<DIV class=caption>MIT researchers found that phalaropes depend on a surface
interaction known as contact angle hysteresis to propel drops of water
containing prey upward to their throats. <A
onclick="MM_openBrWindow('bird-beak-enlarged.html','','width=509,height=483,scrollbars=1')"><SPAN onmouseover="this.className='cursorChange';"><FONT color=#993333><STRONG>Enlarge image</STRONG> </FONT></SPAN></A><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
<P><FONT color=#993333></FONT></P></DIV>
<DIV class=line> </DIV>
<H3>TOOLS</H3>
<P><IMG height=10 alt=printer
src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/print-article.gif" width=15> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/print/bird-beak-0515-print.html"><FONT
color=#993333>Print version</FONT></A> </P>
<P class=tools>
<FORM class=formspace name=storyPageForm
onsubmit="MM_openBrWindow('http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/email-popup.html','emailer','width=500, height=600');return false" action=http://web.mit.edu/bin/cgiemail/afs/athena.mit.edu/org/n/newsoffice/2008/email/bird-beak-0515-email.txt method=post><INPUT type=hidden value="MIT solves gravity-defying bird beak mystery" name=headline> <INPUT type=hidden value="May 15, 2008" name=pubDate> <NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT><BUTTON class=emailArticleButton onmouseover="this.className='emailArticleButtonChange';" onmouseout="this.className='emailArticleButton';" name=submit type=submit><IMG height=17 alt="" src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/email-article-blank.gif" width=85></BUTTON> <INPUT type=hidden value=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/email-success.html name=success> </FORM>
<P class=rss><IMG height=10 alt="add RSS"
src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/rss-feeds.gif" width=15> <A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-rss.html"><FONT color=#993333>RSS
feeds</FONT></A> </P>
<DIV class=line> </DIV>
<H3>CONTACT</H3>
<P>Elizabeth A. Thomson<BR>MIT News Office<BR>Phone: 617-258-5402<BR>E-mail: <A
href="mailto:thomson(AT)mit.edu"><FONT color=#993333>thomson(AT)mit.edu</FONT></A>
</P>
<DIV class=line> </DIV>
<H3>RELATED</H3>
<P>More: <A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/topic/environment.html"><FONT
color=#993333>Environment</FONT></A> </P>
<P>More: <A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/topic/mathematics.html"><FONT
color=#993333>Mathematics</FONT></A> </P>
<P>More: <A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/topic/physics.html"><FONT
color=#993333>Physics</FONT></A> </P>
<DIV class=line> </DIV>
<DIV class=todaynews>
<H3><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/"><FONT color=#0a65af>TODAY'S
NEWS</FONT></A> </H3>
<H4>
<SCRIPT language=Javascript>
<!--
// Array of day names
var dayNames = new Array("Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday",
"Thursday","Friday","Saturday");
// Array of month Names
var monthNames = new Array(
"January","February","March","April","May","June","July",
"August","September","October","November","December");
var now = new Date();
document.write(dayNames[now.getDay()] + ", " +
monthNames[now.getMonth()] + " " +
now.getDate() + ", " + now.getFullYear());
// -->
</SCRIPT>
Monday, May 19, 2008 </H4>
<SCRIPT language=JavaScript
src="http://rss.mit.edu/rss/feed2js.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fweb.mit.edu%2Fnewsoffice%2Fmitnews-rss.xml&chan=n&num=3&desc=0&date=n&targ=n" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>
<DIV class=rss_box>
<UL class=rss_items>
<LI class=rss_item><A class=rss_item
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/surfaces-0516.html" target=_self><FONT
color=#0a65af>Finding yields bacteria-resistant films</FONT></A>
<LI class=rss_item><A class=rss_item
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/fuel-cell-0516.html" target=_self><FONT
color=#0a65af>MIT creates new material for fuel cells</FONT></A>
<LI class=rss_item><A class=rss_item
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/100k-0516.html" target=_self><FONT
color=#0a65af>Contests reward energy, diagnosis
plans</FONT></A></LI></UL></DIV><NOSCRIPT></NOSCRIPT>
<P><FONT color=#0a65af></FONT></P></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></DIV>
<DIV id=footer>
<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0>
<TBODY>
<TR>
<TD width=123><A href="http://web.mit.edu/"><FONT color=#993333>MIT
home</FONT></A> </TD>
<TD width=110><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/index.html"><FONT
color=#993333>news office</FONT></A> <BR><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/directions.html"><FONT color=#993333>room
11-400</FONT></A> </TD>
<TD width=180>77 massachusetts avenue <BR>cambridge, ma 02139-4307 </TD>
<TD width=143>617-253-2700<BR><A href="mailto:newsoffice(AT)mit.edu"><FONT
color=#993333>newsoffice(AT)mit.edu</FONT></A> </TD>
<TD width=154>
<DIV id=feed><A href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-rss.html"><IMG
height=14 alt="rss feed icon"
src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/rss-feed-icon.png" width=14><FONT
color=#993333> rss feeds </FONT></A><BR><A
href="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/subscribe-podcasts.html"><FONT
color=#993333><IMG height=14 alt="podcast icon"
src="http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/podcast-feed-icon.png" width=14> podcast
</FONT></A></DIV></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><FONT color=#993333><IMG height=1
alt=counter src="http://counter.mit.edu/tally" width=1></FONT> </DIV>
<SCRIPT type=text/javascript>
var sc_project=1252802;
var sc_invisible=1;
var sc_partition=11;
var sc_security="3e233978";
</SCRIPT>
<SCRIPT src="http://www.statcounter.com/counter/counter_xhtml.js"
type=text/javascript>
<noscript>
<div class="statcounter">
<a class="statcounter" href="http://www.statcounter.com/">
<img class="statcounter"
src="http://c12.statcounter.com/counter.php?sc_project=1252802&java=0&security=3e233978&invisible=1" alt="website hit counter" />
</a>
</div>
</noscript>
<br>
</body></html>
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: odd Rose-breasted Grosbeak(?) in Essex
From: Jim McCoy <jfmccoy(AT)hotmail.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 2:14pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
On Saturday during the Birdathon, Linda Pivacek and I encountered a mystery=
bird near the banks of Chebacco Lake in Essex. We believe it to be most l=
ikely a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (RBGR), because Linda had just heard =
a Rose-breasted call moments earlier, and because it conformed to the overa=
ll pattern. The problem was the coloration. This bird had a very tawny, al=
most reddish, back, wings, and head, instead of the rather flat brown that =
you'd expect, with yellowish-cream facial stripes in place of the usual whi=
te. The breast and flanks were whitish with rather heavy dark streaking th=
at extended all the way back through the belly. The tail was notched, and =
the overall shape was right for RBGR. Neither of us could come up with any=
other candidate, and we believe that's what it was, but the color looked s=
o wrong that we couldn't help but question ourselves. Has anyone else seen =
a RBGR that looked like this? Maybe it was on a really extreme diet that m=
ade it look this way, or maybe it was just a genetic anomaly... Jim McCoyMe=
lrose, MAjfmccoy(AT)hotmail.com=
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Deer Island, Belle Island Marsh & Winthrop Beach
(piping plovers)
From: Douglas Logan <dougsmassage(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 4:42pm
5/19/08 Monday 10:00am to 3:30pm
Deer Island: 10 to 12
Common Loon 1
Double crested Cormorant
Common Eider
Herring Gull
Grt Blacked Back Gull
Rock Dove
Barn Swallow
Rough-winged swallow
Mockingbird
Red-winged Blackbird
Grackle
Starling
Savannah sparrow
House Sparrow
Belle Island 12:15 - 2:00
Brant
Am Black Duck
Mallard
Herring Gull
Common Tern
Great Egret
Blk-crowned Night Heron
Greater Yellowlegs
Semipalmated sandpiper
Wilson's Phalarope
Osprey
Morning Dove
Turkey Vulture
Barn Swallow
Tree Swallow
Cedar Waxwings
Yellow Warbler
Red-winged Blackbird
Savannah Sparrow
Winthrop Beach 2:30 - 3:30
Common Loon
Red-throated Loon
Double-crested Cormorant
Surf Scoter
Common Eider
Herring Gull
Am. Oystercather 3
Ruddy Turnstone 3
Semipalmated Plover 20
Piping Plover 4
Semipalmated Sandpiper
House Sparrow
Doug Logan
Watertown, MA
dougsmassage(AT)yahoo.com
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Wilson's Phalarope - Marion
From: Ian Nisbet <icnisbet(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 4:56pm
There was a Wilson's Phalarope at Bird Island, Marion, this morning:
a female in breeding plumage. Also a Red Knot. The tern crew says
that both were present yesterday (18 May).
The tern web cam is now running at www.birdislandterns.org. It
currently shows a Common Tern sitting on a new clutch of eggs, so not
much will happen for the next three weeks.
Ian Nisbet
North Falmouth
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Pine Siskin - Mashpee
From: Mary Keleher <maryeak(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 4:56pm
While out in the back yard shooing away House Sparrows
from one of my nest boxes I heard the zreeee call of a
Pine Siskin. I went back in for the binoculars and
easily found the bird, which I've seen/heard on and
off all afternoon. It's been feeding on the thistle
and perched in the trees singing. I probably wouldn't
have noticed this bird if I didn't heard its distinct
call. A few photos at:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26056276@N07/sets/72157605143713684/
Location: Mashpee, Barnstable County, MA, US
Observation date: 5/19/08
Number of species: 67
Canada Goose 6
Mute Swan 11
Mallard 4
Red-breasted Merganser 1
Northern Bobwhite 1
Double-crested Cormorant 5
Osprey 6
Broad-winged Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Buteo sp. 1
Black-bellied Plover 23
Piping Plover 3
Greater Yellowlegs 1
Willet 4
Ruddy Turnstone 4
Sanderling 5
Least Sandpiper 4
Dunlin 3
Ring-billed Gull 1
Herring Gull X
Great Black-backed Gull 2
Least Tern 6
Common Tern 1
Mourning Dove 3
Chimney Swift 6
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 1
Belted Kingfisher 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 1
Eastern Phoebe 1
Great Crested Flycatcher 1
Warbling Vireo 2
Red-eyed Vireo 2
Blue Jay 4
American Crow 11
Fish Crow 1
Purple Martin 8
Tree Swallow 20
Barn Swallow 15
Black-capped Chickadee 15
Tufted Titmouse 6
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
Carolina Wren 2
American Robin 18
Gray Catbird 9
Northern Mockingbird 1
European Starling X
Cedar Waxwing 5
Yellow Warbler 5
Pine Warbler 6
Prairie Warbler 1
Ovenbird 4
Common Yellowthroat 10
Eastern Towhee 17
Chipping Sparrow 13
Savannah Sparrow 3
Song Sparrow 16
Northern Cardinal 8
Red-winged Blackbird 25
Common Grackle 15
Brown-headed Cowbird 3
Baltimore Oriole 7
House Finch 2
Pine Siskin 1
American Goldfinch 4
House Sparrow X
This report was generated automatically by eBird
v2(http://ebird.org)
Mary Keleher
Mashpee, MA
Cape Cod Bird Club
www.massbird.org/ccbc
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mt. Auburn 5/19/08
From: "Peter and Fay" <peterfay(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 7:40pm
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
Hi,
Bits from Mt. Auburn this morning. =20
Worm-eating warbler on the slope near Auburn Lake. Last seen with our =
backs to the feeders
Canada warbler on slope below Indian Ridge
Common nighthawk, shown to us by others, roosting in oak above Auburn, =
seen across from Indian Ridge.
Fay
=20
Peter and Fay Vale
Wakefield, MA
peterfay(AT)comcast.net
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Lincoln's Sparrow in Chelmsford (and other
sparrow sightings)
From: "Jonathan Center" <jbcenter(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 7:38pm
There was a LINCOLN'S SPARROW visiting underneath my feeding station late
afternoon today (May 19) in Chelmsford. This is the first time I have ever
seen one in the spring let alone coming to a bird feeding station. It is a
very subtle sparrow with its refined markings and slender build as compared
to other sparrows such as White-throats, White-crowned, or Fox. The first
thing I noticed on the bird was the gray eyebrow stripe and narrow eye ring.
When it turned around I observed fine streaks (finer than a Song) on the
breast and flanks and a suggestion of stick pin mark. There was also pale
buff on these areas as well as on the malar area. The crown stripes were
reddish brown and the fawn colored back was streaked in black. A very nice
sighting.
There also seems to be more WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW sightings this spring than
I can recall. I alone have seen (Three) on May 7 on Plum Island; (One) on
May 13 at Great Meadows NWR, Concord; and (One) on May 15 on Plum Island.
Indecently, I observed One or Two GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on Birdathon Saturday
May 17 at Turner's Falls Airport. These were seen from airport's visitor
parking area. One was perched on a post at very close range. There were
several Savannah Sparrows at this location also.
My birding partner for the day wanted to go on the airport property which
seemed inactive at the time. I told him NOT to unless you wanted to get
arrested! All municipal airports are strictly off limits ever since 9-11.
Jonathan Center
jbcenter(AT)comcast.net
Chelmsford
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Ceruleans - Skinner State Park, Hadley
From: "Greg Dysart" <dysart(AT)volume3.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 8:44pm
Monday May 19, 08
Skinner State Park, Hadley and
Quabbin Reservoir South
The Cerulean Warblers reported earlier this month by James P. Smith were
seen today.
I saw 2 males and a female with the help of a couple of birders on the
mountain today.
The birds may be observed from the Main Building's first parking area on the
mountain top.
Also had
Turkey Vulture
Yellow-throated Vireo
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Scarlet Tanager
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Baltimore Oriole
Went home via Quabbin's Southern Area and saw 3 Scarlet Tanager's in one
spot.
The Ravens have once again nested in the Spillway where I saw 3 large young
Ravens still on the nest.
I placed photos of the Yellow throated Vireo, Scarlet Tangers and the
Ceruleans on my webpage.
Great day to be out birding.
Greg Dysart
http://volume3.com/birds.html
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Manomet 5/19/08, and 5/18 P'Town add-on - Summer
Tanager
From: Ian Davies <goshawk227(AT)earthlink.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 8:40pm
I spent most of the day today (0600-1700) at MBO banding. We had a
bunch of new arrivals, my first Canada and Blackpoll Warblers there
this year, and a Willow Flycatcher was nice as well.
Also, now that I am back up in Medford, I have listened to recordings
of Summer Tanager, and have determined that I did indeed hear one
singing at the very back end of Beech Forest yesterday. The very back
end where the boardwalk leads off into the deepest beeches. Also
possibly another at High Head, but not sure about that one.
Sorry for the lateness of this update, but I did not have access to
recordings.
Highlights from today below.
Beech Forest, Provincetown 5/18/08:
Summer Tanager 1m singing
1 additional species..
Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences 5/19 (0600-1700):
Common Eider (Atlantic) 15
Red-breasted Merganser 40
Double-crested Cormorant 110
Great Cormorant 6 juvs
Spotted Sandpiper 4
Common Tern 15
Sterna sp. 180 - Feeding offshore, I was without binocs at the
time. Everything heard was Common.
Ruby-throated Hummingbird 2
Belted Kingfisher 1
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 4
Willow Flycatcher 1
Empidonax sp. 1 - Traill's
Eastern Phoebe 4
Great Crested Flycatcher 6
Eastern Kingbird 8
White-eyed Vireo 1ad
Red-eyed Vireo 1
Fish Crow 27 - Some migrants perhaps? I've never had this many
residents here before.
Bank Swallow 30
House Wren 5
Cedar Waxwing 3
Nashville Warbler 1
Yellow Warbler 11
Magnolia Warbler 5
Black-throated Blue Warbler 1
Pine Warbler 1
Blackpoll Warbler 9
American Redstart 2
Ovenbird 6
Common Yellowthroat 8
Canada Warbler 1
Swamp Sparrow 1
White-throated Sparrow 6
33 species
Bartlett Pond - my house 5/19 (0555):
Bobolink 1m singing (Yard bird #147)
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
Good birding,
Ian Davies
Medford, MA
goshawk227(AT)earthlink.net
www.pbase.com/daviesphoto
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Plum Island; Sunday, 18 May 2008.
From: Richard Heil <rsheil(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 8:26pm
SUNDAY, 18 MAY 2008:
PLUM ISLAND (0505-1445 hrs.)
Including Hellcat (0515-0715) and Lot One Migration Watch (0730-1100,
1330-1445).
Weather: Mostly clear, clouds in PM, WSW-WNW 10-20 mph, 51-68F
Richard S. Heil
West winds pushed a strong diurnal movement to the coast and a
classic North Shore coastal migration of daytime migrants that
featured swifts, hummingbirds, jays, kingbirds, swallows, bobolinks,
and goldfinches ensued. Steve Mirick, observing just six miles to
the north at Seabrook, New Hampshire, not surprisingly, had a flight
of very similar composition and numbers (his post to NH Birds copied
below). I wish I had started earlier instead of spending the first
two hours of daylight on the Hellcat trails, since I know in
retrospect that I missed many hundreds of migrants that must have
passed prior to my arrival at Lot One at 0730. Look for rare
warblers, or count swallows and goldfinches? By 0730 I had easily
decided on the latter.
'Pale-bellied' Brant (6)
Canada Goose (12)
Mute Swan (5)
Gadwall (14)
Mallard (12)
Green-winged Teal (1m.)
Common Eider (1m.)
Surf Scoter (2)
White-winged Scoter (42)
Black Scoter (25)
Oldsquaw (310)
Red-breasted Merganser (1m.)
Common Loon (4): 1 migrating.
Double-crested Cormorant (207 migrating)
Least Bittern (2): Calling, North Pool marsh.
Great Blue Heron (2): 1 migrating.
Great Egret (15)
Snowy Egret (12)
Glossy Ibis (1)
Osprey (10)
Bald Eagle (1-4th yr.)
Northern Harrier (4): 1-1st yr. m., 3f.
Red-tailed Hawk (3)
American Kestrel (4 migrating)
Merlin (1 migrating)
Peregrine Falcon (3)
Virginia Rail (3)-North Pool.
Sora (1-North Pool.
Black-bellied Plover (23)
Semipalmated Plover (51)
Killdeer (3)
Spotted Sandpiper (3)-Bill Forward Pool.
Solitary Sandpiper (4 migrating)
Greater Yellowlegs (14)
Eastern Willet (25+)
Lesser Yellowlegs (9)
Ruddy Turnstone (6)
Semipalmated Sandpiper (17)
Least Sandpiper (160+)
Dunlin (80)
Short-billed Dowitcher (1)
Ring-billed Gull (8)
Herring Gull (50+)
Great Black-backed Gull (9)
Least Tern (5)
Common Tern (72)
Sterna sp. (60+): Distant, offshore flocks.
Rock Pigeon (8)
Mourning Dove (12)
Black-billed Cuckoo (2)-Hellcat.
Great Horned Owl (2): Ad. and at least one young at nest.
Chimney Swift (48 migrating)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (29 migrating)
Great Crested Flycatcher (1)
Eastern Kingbird (34): 12 migrating.
Blue Jay (83 migrating)
American Crow (4)
Purple Martin (15)
Tree Swallow (775 migrating)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2 migrating)
Bank Swallow (85 migrating)
Cliff Swallow (13 migrating)
Barn Swallow (157 migrating)
swallow sp. (150 migrating): Many went very high in the afternoon.
Black-capped Chickadee (4)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)-Hellcat.
Marsh Wren (20+)
Veery (4)-Hellcat.
American Robin (25+)
Gray Catbird (35+)
Northern Mockingbird (1)
Brown Thrasher (6)
European Starling (12)
American Pipit (4 migrating): Very uncommon and sporadic spring
migrant in Essex County.
Cedar Waxwing (14 migrating)
Nashville Warbler (1)
Northern Parula (7)
Yellow Warbler (45)
Chestnut-sided Warbler (1)
Magnolia Warbler (16): 3 migrating high over Lot One
Cape May Warbler (1m): Singing in Dune Loop Red Cedars early A.M.
Black-throated Blue Warbler (15; 13m., 2f.): One male migrating high
over Lot One.
Yellow-rumped Warbler (3)
Black-throated Green Warbler (3)
Blackburnian Warbler (1m.)
Black-and-white Warbler (2)
American Redstart (14): One male migrating high over Lot One.
Ovenbird (1)
Northern Waterthrush (4)
Common Yellowthroat (23)
Wilson's Warbler (5)
warbler sp. (12+): Migrating high over Lot One.
Scarlet Tanager (1m.)-Hellcat.
Eastern Towhee (15+)
Field Sparrow (4)
Savannah Sparrow (14)
Song Sparrow (10)
Swamp Sparrow (4)
White-throated Sparrow (2)
White-crowned Sparrow (2): both Z. l. leucophrys.
Northern Cardinal (4)
Bobolink (36): 13 migrating.
Red-winged Blackbird (25)
Common Grackle (35)
Brown-headed Cowbird (22)
Orchard Oriole (3): 1ad. m., 1 imm. m., 1f.: All around Lot One
'midden dunes' and behind rest rooms, at various times.
Baltimore Oriole (6)
Purple Finch (7)
House Finch (6)
Pine Siskin (4 migrating) ... with goldfinches.
American Goldfinch (1057 migrating): Observable spring goldfinch
migration, of this magnitude, prior to its discovery here on Plum
Island, was to my knowledge an unknown phenomenon here in New England
(and perhaps anywhere), although it undoubtedly occurred unseen and
unrecognized. Veit & Petersen in "Birds of Massachusetts", having
apparently no such existing published migratory counts to review at
the time (1993), wrote of American Goldfinch, that "defining periods
of migration and migratory peaks is difficult." We realize now that
these large diurnal movements are a regular feature along the coast
at Plum Island (and extending at least into coastal NH as Steve
Mirick has this year discovered). If anyone knows whether comparable
goldfinch migration has been observed elsewhere in spring (NJ, Great
Lakes region?), I'd be interested in learning of it. One thousand
plus goldfinch days during periods of W or SW winds in mid to late
May at Plum Island is not too unusual. My maximum to date is of 2415
on 11 May 2008.
House Sparrow (10)
--111 species.
Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil(AT)comcast.net
This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)
-------------------------------------------------------
Jane and I have found a new fun thing to do in Spring. Count
migrating birds along the coast! Although it is likely there have
been some casual counts of migrating birds in the past, I don't think
these spring counts have been fully documented in New
Hampshire. Loads of fun! And very challenging.
Today was a great morning with a mild front passing last night and
leaving moderately strong West to Southwest winds and lots of birds
moving again. We started at Fantini's Parking lot for about 1/2 of
the time, but we finished the migration count along the boardwalk
access to Seabrook Beach from Lawrence Street. There are some
benches at the top of the dunes which make for a nice vantage
point. Particularly with the sunny conditions when it is MUCH easier
to look to the west with the sun at your back. Map as shown:
http://tiny.cc/f31HA
Once again, the American Goldfinches stole the show. Started slow,
but then just exploded for a while. Majority appeared to fly down
the streets of Seabrook (Atlantic Avenue) rather than venturing east
over the beach or west over the marsh. Possibly using the houses as
a partial wind break? Swallows tended to follow the coastal
dunes. Also very neat to witness kingbird and Bobolinks migrating as
well as hummingbirds.
Time - 6:30 AM - 10:00 AM (3.5 hours). Slowed by 9:30 AM.
Winds - WSW - 15-20 mph
Sky - Partly Cloudy early, then mostly sunny
Temp - 57F - 65F
All of the following birds were counted moving north
------------------------------------------------------
Common Loon - 5
Double-crested Cormorant - 24
Turkey Vulture - 2. Late migrants? Or wind blown locals?
Osprey - 3
Northern Harrier - 1 late female.
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 4
Cooper's Hawk - 1
Merlin - 2. No Kestrels.
Solitary Sandpiper - 1. One flew overhead calling
Shorebird sp. - 140+. Possibly/probably not migrating? Not clear
whether we had shorebird migration this morning or wandering peeps at low tide.
Chimney Swift - 73. Nice numbers of swifts migrating. Some moving
in flocks of Goldfinches!
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 15. Very cool migration of hummingbirds.
All single birds.
Eastern Kingbird - 15. Very cool diurnal migration of
Kingbirds. Most singly or in pairs. One group of 4.
Blue Jay - 121. A few nice flocks. Largest of about 23. Most about 5 to 15.
American Crow - 3 possible late migrants.
Tree Swallow - 150. Ballpark estimate of swallow composition and
numbers. Unfortunately, accurate numbers not kept.
Bank Swallow - 45
Cliff Swallow - 2
Barn Swallow - 75
Cedar Waxwing - 4. 2 groups of two moving north.
Bobolink - 15. (All males) Very cool diurnal migration of Bobolinks.
Some singing as they flew overhead! Mostly 1 or 2 birds at a time.
Red-winged Blackbird - 30. (22 females & 8 males)
Common Grackle - 30.
PINE SISKIN - 4. Possibly more, but many of the goldfinches moving
early before we moved to dunes were backlit not identifiable.
American Goldfinch - 1,270 (!!!!) Flocks ranging from a few birds to
largest flock of 83. Most about 10 to 30 birds.
Steve & Jane Mirick
Bradford, MA
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Goldfinch count date correction
From: Richard Heil <rsheil(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:22pm
I incorrectly wrote the wrong date for the maximum Plum I. American
Goldfinch count of 2415. The correct date is 11 May 2004.
Richard S. Heil
S. Peabody, MA
rsheil(AT)comcast.net
>American Goldfinch (1057 migrating): Observable spring goldfinch
>migration, of this magnitude, prior to its discovery here on Plum
>Island, was to my knowledge an unknown phenomenon here in New
>England (and perhaps anywhere), although it undoubtedly occurred
>unseen and unrecognized. Veit & Petersen in "Birds of
>Massachusetts", having apparently no such existing published
>migratory counts to review at the time (1993), wrote of American
>Goldfinch, that "defining periods of migration and migratory peaks
>is difficult." We realize now that these large diurnal movements
>are a regular feature along the coast at Plum Island (and extending
>at least into coastal NH as Steve Mirick has this year
>discovered). If anyone knows whether comparable goldfinch migration
>has been observed elsewhere in spring (NJ, Great Lakes region?), I'd
>be interested in learning of it. One thousand plus goldfinch days
>during periods of W or SW winds in mid to late May at Plum Island is
>not too unusual. My maximum to date is of 2415 on 11 May 2008.
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: CT Report 05/19/2008
From: Roy Harvey <rmharvey(AT)snet.net>
Date: 19 May 2008 9:28pm
Note: Dennis Varza is conducting a survey of Connecticut birders to
find out where they do their birding. Or, to be more precise, Dennis
is TRYING to do the survey. He has not received a very full response.
If you bird in CT, which would seem to apply to most people on this
list, please take a few minutes to respond to Dennis. Details can be
found at:
http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctbirds_lists.ctbirding.org/Week-of-Mon-20080512/007447.html
Thanks!
From Frank Mantlik:
5/19 - Naugatuck, Hunter MT Rd., Naugatuck SF -- CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
still seen and heard singing 8am in field near end of road.
GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH along forest road (road to left at SF sign.
From Tony Tortora:
5/19 - Westbrook, Farm -- First year Blue Grosbeak.
From Paul Cianfaglione and Brian Toal:
5/19 - West Hartford, Route 44 powerlines -- 1 ALDER FLYCATCHER, 1
BREWSTER'S WARBLER, 1 PURPLE FINCH.
From Ernie Harris:
5/19 - Bolton backyard -- 6:45Am-7;45AM, WILSON'S WARBLER.
From Steve Broker:
05/19 - Woodbridge, West Rock Ridge State Park -- confirmation
this morning that the West Rock COMMON RAVEN pair has now fledged 4
young.
From Bob Bitondi:
5/19 - Chaplin, Pumpkin Hill Rd, McQuade Marsh -- CERULEAN WARBLER.
From Robert Dixon:
5/18 - Sterling yard -- YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO, PURPLE MARTIN, COMMON
NIGHTHAWK (2 vocal flyovers), WHIP-POOR-WILL, PURPLE FINCH.
From Carol and Jim Zipp
5/18 - Hamden yard -- OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. Only seen for a few
minutes calling from tree in front yard and then not again.
From Ted Gilman:
5/18 - Greenwich, Audubon Fairchild Garden -- COMMON NIGHTHAWK flying
over about 7:15PM; also LAWRENCE'S WARBLER in central meadow.
From Dave Rosgen:
5/19 - Litchfield, White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Museum Area) -- 1
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 2 Purple Finches.
From Dave Rosgen:
5/18 - Winchester, 121 Laurel Way (Rosgen Wildlife Sanctuary) - 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 2 Purple Finches.
Rt. 202 & Hart Dr. -- 1 Common Nighthawk
Litchfield, Town Farm Rd. -- 7 male Bobolinks displaying
From Dave Rosgen, w/ Kathy Hall:
5/18 - Litchfield, White's Woods Rd. (White Memorial's Little Pond
Boardwalk) -- 1 AMERICAN BITTERN calling, 1 Virginia Rail calling.
(Little Pond Trail) -- 3 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 3 Brown Creepers.
White Hall Rd. (White Memorial's Mattatuck Trail @ Chickadee Bridge)
-- 1 Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1 LINCOLN'S SPARROW, 1 WHITE-CROWNED
SPARROW, 1 Purple Finch.
(Interpretive Trail) -- 1 Brown Creeper.
(Museum Area) -- 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER
From Dave Rosgen, w/ Kathy Hall, Anthony & Bethany Zemba, et. al.:
5/18 - Litchfield, Webster Rd. (White Memorial's Catlin Woods) -- 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, 4 Blackburnian Warblers
Morris, E. Shore Rd., just south of Sandy Beach -- 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH
Anderson Rd. (Anderson Farm) -- 1 Bobolink.
From Kathy Hall, w/ Anthony & Bethany Zemba, Dave Zomick, et. al.:
5/18 - Litchfield, (Mill Field Trail) -- 1 Alder Flycatcher
(Lake Trail) -- 1 Black Vulture, 3 WILSON'S WARBLERS.
(Windmill Hill Trail) -- 1 YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO
From Mike Doyle:
5/18 - Litchfield, S. Lake St. (White Memorial's Little Pond
Boardwalk) - 1 Virginia Rail, 1 Solitary Sandpiper, 1 Marsh Wren.
White's Woods Rd. (White Memorial's Old Camp Townsend) -- 1 SWAINSON'S
THRUSH
**********************************************************************
This CTDailyReport list is sponsored by the Connecticut Ornithological
Association (COA). It is primarily meant to meet the informational
needs of the active CT birder. Any other use requires written
authorization from the board of directors of the COA.
**********************************************************************
Visit the COA web site at http://www.ctbirding.org
Reports should be sent to CTBirdReport(AT)ftml.net. Reports should
include sender's name, date, location of sightings and species of note
at each location. Reporting Guidelines are available at:
http://www.ctbirding.org/ecommittee.htm#reporting
To change your subscription options, or unsubscribe, please visit
http://lists.ctbirding.org/mailman/listinfo/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org
Archives of these reports may be found at either of these locations:
http://www.virtualbirder.com/bmail/ctbird/latest.html
http://lists.ctbirding.org/pipermail/ctdailyreport_lists.ctbirding.org/
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Marine Science Center, Nahant, 19 May
From: gwilym jones <gwilstrong(AT)rcn.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 10:28pm
Massachusetts, Essex County, Nahant, East Point, Northeastern
University, Marine Science Center
19 May 2008
partly cloudy, 62ûF, wind to 8.6 mph
Gwil Jones, Sean Kent
Ring-necked Pheasant
Double-crested Cormorant
Turkey Vulture
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Mourning Dove
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Wren
House Wren
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 along just south of Solarium
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Black and White Warbler
American Redstart
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Canada Warbler
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Red Fox
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Oriole eating sunflower hearts
From: Tom Murray <tmurray74(AT)yahoo.com>
Date: 19 May 2008 11:04pm
----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----
I didn't realize that Orioles and Catbirds would regularly go to feeders for
sunflower hearts. This past week I've had both as regular visitors to the
feeders. Is this a common behavior?
Here's a couple pictures of the Baltimore Oriole
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/97357909
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/97357910
and the Gray Catbird
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/97037009
http://www.pbase.com/tmurray74/image/97037010
Tom Murray
Groton, Ma.
----DELETED text/html MIME SECTION----
|
|
|
|
BIRDxxxx
US:NewEngland
CTBIRD
MASSBIRD