 |
|
|
|
|
NH.Birds for Monday, June 16, 2008
[ Prev Day
| Next Day
| Calendar Month
| NH.Birds Info
]
|
|
To use email addresses replace '(AT)' with '@'.
This is done to confuse the spam 'bots.
|
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: Mississippi Kite (a word of caution)
From: "Fred Benham" <fbenha1(AT)lsu.edu>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 4:17am
Hello all, Len is definitely correct that caution should be used around these
birds as with all potentially breeding birds. Even the most common and tame
birds could be forced to abandon a nest if they feel too threatened by human
presence. However, there is no need to worry about every day human activities
around the pair, if they do end up nesting. Mississippi Kites are common
breeders in many urban and suburban habitats in the Southeast. Living in Baton
Rouge for 4 years they were essentially a daily sighting from mid-march until
they all left by September. They go about their business without any care of the
human zoo going on around them. I've seen them go into roost tonight over rowdy
crawfish boils or carrying nesting material across major intersections. And
according to the Baton Rouge BBS route they are even increasing, which is
certainly not because Baton Rouge is getting any greener. It would be great if
these birds nested in NH, and even returned. Although I don'!
t know how likely this is considering they don't normally breed much north of
Virginia. It is incredible that two let alone one made it to NH!! It's a pity
I'm in Borneo and can't go see them myself, maybe they'll stick around for
another month until I get back.
Good birding,
Phred Benham
Grafton, NH (sometimes)
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Leonard Medlock" <lmedlock(AT)verizon.net>
> To: "New Hampshire Birds" <NH.Birds(AT)lists.unh.edu>
> Subject: Mississippi Kite (a word of caution)
> Date: Sun, 15 Jun 2008 19:25:20 -0500 (CDT)
>
>
> My apologies for the multiple posts, but I'm reminded by some
> responses I've received that the pair of kites may nest in the
> area. We all should exercise a little restraint and not disturb
> these visitors should they nest, wherever that may be.
>
> The photos I've posted were to document some extraordinary behavior
> of our visiting kites and to share that excitement with those who
> cannot make it to see them. Though my photo equipment makes them
> appear close, I observed them from a good distance and did not
> taunt them. I would be crushed to learn that they were disturbed
> for close photography. Please respect the birds and the
> neighborhood so that all can enjoy their brief visit.
>
> (this is my first, brief soujourn on the soap box, a role I'll
> gladly leave to someone else).
>
> Len Medlock
> Exeter, NH
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Re: mystery bird in swanzey
From: Julie Waters <julie(AT)riverartsproject.com>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 6:17am
At 11:23 PM -0400 6/15/08, PAMELA HUNT wrote:
>I think the bird in Julie's photos is actually a fledgling Chipping Sparrow.
>House Sparrow would not have as much streaking on the nape and a different
>pattern on the face. Savannah or Vesper are still possibilities, but the
>views are a bit tricky. What habitat was the little guy (or girl) hanging
>out in?
Ha. It was about thirty feet from a chipping sparrow nest :)
The eye ring is still throwing me off, though.
--julie
--
----------------------------------------------------------------------
julie(AT)riverartsproject.com http://juliewaters.com/
We've heard that a million monkeys at a million
keyboards could produce the Complete Works of
Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know
this is not true.
--Robert Wilensky
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mississippi Kite
From: "Aaronian, Richard S." <raaronian(AT)exeter.edu>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 10:58am
Went to Newmarket this morning to look for the Kite and ran into Tony and
Suzanne Federer and Anne Ablowich who were also looking for the bird. After
spending some time in the HS parking lot and playing fields, we walked down
the road toward the elementary school. We were joined by 8-10 others and a
number of passers-by.
Spent some tiime looking along Rt. 152 and I saw one iof the birds (the
female?) fly out of a maple, across the road and back into the maple very
quickly. Crossed the street and found it sitting in the tree, preening.
Shortly after, the male was seen and copulation took place. While I was there,
the female never moved and male remained somewhat hidden in the tree. Birds
were seen beginning at about 9 A.M.
Rich Aaronian
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mississippi Kites additional observations
From: AERART(AT)aol.com
Date: 16 Jun 2008 11:15am
We had the great pleasure Sunday, June 15, 2008, of being witness to
the Mississippi Kite pair copulating several times, and to the
carrying and positioning, by the male, of the first two twigs for
their potential nest.
The branch the two have chosen for their nest site is fairly narrow, and the
male
had some difficulty with convincing the 2nd twig to stay in position
beside the branch. The female was watching intently from a few feet away
as if approving his placement of the twig. Apparently either the twig
wouldn't stay in place, or she wasn't happy with it, because he flew off
with the twig, into the tree across the street. He returned moments later,
with the same twig, presented it to her, and when she returned it to him,
he then put it into place, successfully on his second attempt.
Interestingly, as evidenced by the photo posted by Leonard Medlock of the
male
carrying the second stick, the kite is choosing twigs with curving side
branches to
help with locking the twigs into place.
We also witnessed the male being territorial.
While we were in the area, a Cooper's Hawk flew by a couple of times
carrying prey
(traveling north to south from over the High School fields area toward the
Elementary
school). The second time the Cooper's Hawk passed too closely to
the kite's selected tree, so the male kite swooped after the Cooper's Hawk
and chased
it from the area.
The Mississippi Kite and the Cooper's Hawk are similar in size.
The nesting tree is a large (we believe) Sugar Maple tree,
near to or on the back of the
property of # 233 South Main Street, Newmarket ( Route 152).
A good vantage point for viewing
their chosen nesting tree is from across 152 by a white fence.
The tree can also be viewed from
Pond Street which is a small deadend road just south of the high school.
Although the pair look very similar, the male does have a lighter
gray head and darker tail, and the female is more overall the same
color of mid-gray. She has more bulk to her, as well.
Please respect the landowners of Newmarket (who so far have been
extremely enthusiastic about having these beautiful birds nearby! I can't
remember
how many times George lifted up the local children so they could see the
kites again and again through our scope. )
George and Andrea Robbins
Pittsfield
**************Vote for your city's best dining and nightlife. City's Best
2008. (http://citysbest.aol.com?ncid=aolacg00050000000102)
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Mt Washington & Pondicherry
From: "Clifford Seifer" <clifdisc(AT)gmail.com>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 12:05pm
Lance Tanino, my son Colin and I birded Mount Washington and
Pondicherry Saturday.
Highlights from Mount Washington:
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 2 (Heard only)
Boreal Chickadee 1 (Heard and brief look at one crossing road)
Winter Wren 2
BICKNELL'S THRUSH 2. The first was heard calling (not singing)
about 1/2 way up the mountain in the large pulloff by the dirt and
gravel patch. It was from this same spot that we had the
Yellow-bellied Flycatchers and Boreal Chickadee. The second Thrush
was seen briefly flying across the road juts a little ways further up
the Mountain
American Pipit 4 (Courtship flight song heard but not seen)
Blackpoll Warbler 5+
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) 2
Highlights from Pondicherry:
Green-winged Teal 1
Common Loon 3 -- Including a chick riding on its mother's back
Great Blue Heron 2
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 4
Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted) 1
Alder Flycatcher 2
Least Flycatcher 2
Blue-headed Vireo 1
Common Raven 2
Red-breasted Nuthatch 1
Marsh Wren 1
Swainson's Thrush 2
Cedar Waxwing 13
Nashville Warbler 8
Northern Parula 2
Chestnut-sided Warbler 4
Magnolia Warbler 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler 7
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) 3
Black-throated Green Warbler 1
Black-and-white Warbler 2
American Redstart 2
Ovenbird 3
Common Yellowthroat 6
Canada Warbler 2
Swamp Sparrow 2
White-throated Sparrow 4
Pine Siskin 3
Thanks to all who responded with excellent information on the Nancy
Pond Trail -- Time constraints and hot, muggy weather prevented us
from hiking the trail Saturday but we are planning to return for
another visit at some point in the future!
-- Cliff Seifer
Keene NH
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Durham breeding birds
From: Kurk Dorsey <kd(AT)cisunix.unh.edu>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 12:05pm
Birders
I've been poking around the greater Fogg Dr metro area in Durham the last
couple of days (from the marsh out back to Woodridge Drive). The most
interesting bird was a Blue-winged Warbler with
a pair of blurry yellow wing bars along Meserve Dr. Both today and
yesterday I heard a song that reminded me of the Brewster's I had last
month (as if my memory is that good!), so I suspect there's some
Golden-wing DNA floating around Durham.
Saw the following carrying food:
Swamp Sparrow
Ovenbird
Wood Thrush
Yellowthroat
Rose-breasted Grosbeak--directly feeding a fledgling!
Most of the following were heard, not seen, but presumably nesting:
Flicker
Pileated
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Kingbird
Pewee
Great-crested Flycatcher
Marsh Wren
Warbling Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Veery
Pine Warbler
Redstart
Yellow Warbler
Black-and-White Warbler
Scarlet Tanager
Indigo Bunting
Baltimore Oriole
plus the common local dudes
Now all the neighborhood needs is an extremely lost southern species: I
nominate Bachman's Warbler--dream big!
Kurk Dorsey
Durham
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Cannon Mt 6/14/08
From: "Eddison, Debra - Conway, NH" <debra.eddison(AT)nh.usda.gov>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 12:35pm
On Saturday 6/14/08 Leslie Bergum & I headed up Cannon Mt. with dreams
of Bicknell's dancing in our heads.... No such luck. But we did have a
wonderful, fun filled day viewing the following:
a very large male black bear, grazing away on the ski trails of Cannon
Mt.
several Winter Wrens
many Black Poll Warblers, we had a very nice look at only one, perched
in the top of a spruce
White Throated sparrows
Dark Eyed junco
a few Yellow Rumped Warblers
Dave Govatski 0
* many tiger swallowtails flitting about
* Not a single red squirrel heard or seen
The following were in bloom:
Mt. Cranberry
Blueberry
Serviceberry
Rhodora
gold-thread
Debra Eddison
Soil Conservationist
Federal Women's Program Manager
Natural Resources Conservation Service
73 Main Street, P.O. Box 533
Conway, NH 03818
PH (603)-447-2771 X101
FX (603)-447-8945
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Brentwood, East Kingston and Newmarket
From: d.skillman(AT)comcast.net
Date: 16 Jun 2008 6:54pm
Some belated posts and Mississippi Kite photos from this morning:
Brentwood Mitigation Area (primarily an ode hunt with Warren Trested) - Friday:
Hooded Merganser with 5 chicks - 1st pond
Common Grackle
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Tree Swallow
Warbling VireoPurple Finch
A. Goldfinch
Brown Thrasher
Yellow Warbler
C. Yellowthroat
Ovenbird
Prairie Warbler
A. Robin
Willow Flycatcher
E. Kingbird
N. Cardinal
B. C. Chickadee
N. Flicker
G.B. Heron (many young - 8 young in two nests closest to the trail)
http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/98793937
Pied-billed Grebe
Baltimore Oriole
Red-eyed Vireo
E. Towhee
Veery
Turkey Vulture
Tufted Titmouse
Brentwood Odes start at: http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/98572801
East Kingston birds (home):
Wild Turkey
Great Crested Flycatcher
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Ruby-throated Hummingbird (plus a foy Clearwing Hummingbird Moth)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
B.C. Chickadee
E. Phoebe (on 2nd brood of the year)
N. Cardinal
Veery
Red-eyed Vireo
Black-throated Green Warbler
Pileated Woodpecker
Scarlet Tanager
Broad-winged Hawk
Today in Newmarket with Debby Skillman:
Mississippi Kite pair in large tree at house on Rt. 152 between middle school
and elementary school. http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/98782972 and
http://www.pbase.com/dennissk/image/98783620
Also drove by the Brookside Audubon sanctuary in south Hampton where the heron
rookery was overflowing with adults and young Great Blue Herons.
Dennis Skillman
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: CT Lakes Trip
From: "Sandy" <slmolloy(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 7:57pm
I spent Friday through Sunday in the Connecticut Lakes region with the
Massachusetts Audubon Society. The trip was led by Bill Gette with help
from Nancy Soulette and Brooke Stevens. Approximately 88 species were seen
or heard. Below are highlights.
Target birds:
Wilson's snipe - a great look at one perched up on a post
Black-backed woodpecker - great views of a female bird
Olive-sided flycatcher - views from all angles
Philadelphia vireo - glimpses only
Gray jay - great views of several birds
Boreal chickadee
Winter wren - great close-up view of a singing bird
Lincoln's sparrow - heard only
Missed: Mourning warbler, in spite of several attempts at several locations.
Warblers:
Nashville
Northern parula
Yellow
Chestnut-sided
Magnolia
Black-throated blue
Black-throated green
Blackburnian
Yellow-rumped
Blackpoll
Black-and-white
American redstart
Ovenbird
Common yellowthroat
Prairie (at a rest stop on the drive up)
Other interesting avian sights:
A pair of red-shouldered hawks engaged in aerial courtship
A loon on a nest
Mammals:
Woodchuck - several
Eastern chipmunk
Snowshoe hare
White-tailed deer
Black bear - a mother and two cubs on Cannon Mt
Moose - at least 18 sightings of at least 10 individuals, including a group
of three believed to be a mother, a yearling female and a very young calf
Sandy
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Kites again
From: John Williams <john(AT)2young.us>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 8:01pm
Jody and I joined the growing number of pilgrims to Newmarket and
were rewarded with quality views of both birds including a
copulation, just before 2 PM. Life sighting, and our 6th Kite species
of the year (Three in Spain, two in Florida.... ah retirement is great!)
John R Williams
Rumney
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Bittern and Gannets on Seacoast and those 2 Kites
From: tbbirds(AT)comcast.net (Terry Bronson)
Date: 16 Jun 2008 8:59pm
I spent the morning on the Seacoast until 11:15 or so, when
the rains began, though they turned out to be short-lived.
After lunch, I went to Epping, then to Newmarket for the
you-know-whats. Highlights:
American Bittern--1 in Hampton Marsh behind Little Jack's
Restaurant, past the large pan and in a line with the Route
101 bridge. Skulking along in its horizontal posture, but it
occasionally stood up in full view. Always a wonderful bird!
Northern Gannet--21, all sub-adults except for 2. 10 off Rye
Ledge just north of the North Hampton town line, another 11
off Seal Rocks in Rye. Generally not visible with the naked
eye, but decent views in a scope. Out towards the Isles of
Shoals, but moving south/southwest. 3 plunge dives seen.
Mississippi Kite--both birds present and accounted for from
4:45-5:00 pm off Pond Lane between the High School and
the elementary school. Copulation observed. Boy, these are
randy birds! Found by a group from the Brookline Bird Club,
on its way back from a weekend trip to Maine. Thanks to them.
Willet--13, at least, in Hampton Marsh behind Little Jack's
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow--3 behind Little Jack's
Mute Swan--2 adults, 4 cygnets behind Little Jack's. Been
there at least a week according to a passerby.
White-winged Scoter--1 male at Rye Ledge
Common Eider--38 adults at Rye Ledge, 9 adults & 6 young
at Concord Point, 11 adults & 19 young at Seal Rocks
Double-crested Cormorant--66 at Rye Ledge, 85 at Concord
Point, at least 25 scattered elsewhere
Common Tern--4 behind Little Jack's including 1 on a nest,
apparently, 6 at Concord Point, 5 at Seal Rocks, 7 at Pulpit Rocks
Bonaparte's Gull--2 in non-breeding plumage at Seal Rocks
Green Heron--1 flyby at Pulpit Rocks
Great Black-backed Gull--1 banded bird at Rye Ledge. White
on black on left leg, #163, I think. Will report to Patuxent.
Ovenbird--9 along rail trail off Mast Road in Epping
Nashville Warbler--1 along rail trail, carrying food, very near
where our team found 1 during the Birdathon
Black-and-white Warbler--1 along rail trail
Black-throated Green Warbler--1 heard along Mast Road
Hermit Thrush--2 heard along rail trail
Veery---2 along rail trail, including 1 that nearly landed on my cap
Misses:
Despite 1 hour and 40 minutes at Little Jack's, no Seaside Sparrow
Laughing Gull
Roseate Tern
Arctic Tern
Yellow-billed Cuckoo (at Mast Road)
--
Terry Bronson
Hampton Falls, NH
tbbirds(AT)comcast.net
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Kite tonite
From: "David Deifik" <David.Deifik(AT)verizon.net>
Date: 16 Jun 2008 10:15pm
I managed to get to Newmarket this evening ahead of the rain to try for the
Kites.
I arrived at about 6:15 and was soon joined by Rob Woodward. After a few
minutes of waiting on Pond St., one kite flew out of the big maple and
perched on a dead poplar nearby. It was soon joined by it's mate. I didn't
have my camera with me, but a very kind neighbor lent me hers for the
digiscoped image that can be found at the following site:
http://home.comcast.net/~smirick/photos/MIKI-DD.jpg
Thanks to Steve for setting it up and tweaking the image.
David Deifik
Nashua
|
|
|
|
BIRDxxxx
US:NewEngland
CTBIRD
NH.BIRDS