Bloomington-Birds-L for November 11-17, 2001

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   ELLH--11/10   Jim Hengeveld    Sun, 11 Nov 2001   8:32am   Fairfax Beach - Redpoll   Whitehead, Donald R   Sun, 11 Nov 2001   10:35am   Sandhill Cranes   Ross Brittain    Sun, 11 Nov 2001   10:32pm   LL-"snow" birds--11/11   Jim Hengeveld    Mon, 12 Nov 2001   8:46am   Lake Monroe   Whitehead, Donald R   Mon, 12 Nov 2001   9:31am   Black Scoters   Whitehead, Donald R   Mon, 12 Nov 2001   5:19pm   Red-throated Loon   Whitehead, Donald R   Tue, 13 Nov 2001   10:01am   feeder birds   Holly Grace Graef    Tue, 13 Nov 2001   6:50pm   Another Black Scoter   Whitehead, Donald R   Tue, 13 Nov 2001   8:22pm   LK. Lemon-11/13   Jim Hengeveld    Wed, 14 Nov 2001   1:31pm   Lake Monroe, Lake Lemon   Whitehead, Donald R   Wed, 14 Nov 2001   7:43pm   Muscatatuck bird trip   Cathy Meyer    Wed, 14 Nov 2001   10:35pm   Lake Monroe   Whitehead, Donald R   Thu, 15 Nov 2001   10:48am   Orleans Reservoir   Don Wiesler    Thu, 15 Nov 2001   2:36pm   Paynetown/Stillwater 11/15   michael clarke    Thu, 15 Nov 2001   2:48pm   FW: Orleans Reservoir   Greene, Terri B   Thu, 15 Nov 2001   4:09pm   Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count   Whitehead, Donald R   Thu, 15 Nov 2001   10:01pm   Tree Sparrows   Ross Brittain    Fri, 16 Nov 2001   1:52pm   Saw-Whet Owl   Ross Brittain    Sat, 17 Nov 2001   8:56am   cranes at Little Africa   Zeller, Tom S   Sat, 17 Nov 2001   11:18pm

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Subject: ELLH--11/10
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 11 Nov 2001 8:32am

 From the East Lake Lemon Hawkwatch (our deck) yesterday, we recorded
63 species, a nice November total.

Waterfowl et al. included:
   -9 Common Loons
   -2 Pied-b. Grebes
   -4 DC Cormorants
   -2 Wood Ducks
   -9 Mallards
   -8 Gadwall
   -7 Lesser Scaup
   -1 Bufflehead
   -2 Hooded Mergansers
   -10 Ruddy Ducks

On the flats:
   -25 Sandhill Cranes spent the night
   -23 Killdeer
   -1 Greater Yellowlegs
   -2 Dunlin
   -1 Least Sandpiper
   -12 Common Snipe

Raptors included:
   ~20 Turkey Vultures
   -3 Northern Harriers
   -2 Bald Eagles (1 ad., 1 1B)
   -7 Sharp-shinned Hawks
   -2 Cooper's Hawks
   -2 Red-shouldered Hawks
   -15 Red-tailed Hawks, including a bird that had a lot of Krider's
characteristics--entire head very light (including nape), very light
and bright undersides (there was a very narrow, discrete band on the
upper breast), upper side of tail white at base & red on lower half,
under side of tail very light pinkish, more extensive light
coloration on scapulars

At our feeders:
   -2 (fem.-type) Purple Finches
   -8 House Finches
   -91 PINE SISKINS (max. count, though there were surely over 100
birds in the group)
   ~30 Am. Goldfinches
   ~20 COMMON REDPOLLS!!-a small flock landed in the top of one of our
oaks, was there for ~2 minutes, and then left; they never came down
to our feeders

Other species included:
   -1 Yellow-b. Sapsucker-fly-by--there was also an ad. male at Little Africa
   -3 Horned Larks
   ~20 Cedar Waxwings

.....Jim & Susan
--
____________________
Dr. James Hengeveld             jhengeve(AT)indiana.edu
Department of Biology           812-855-5353
1001 East 3rd Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405


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Subject: Fairfax Beach - Redpoll
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 11 Nov 2001 10:35am

Betsy and I made a trip to the Fairfax Beach area on Lake Monroe
(Monroe Co.) this morning (11/11) to look for the Harris' Sparrows
reported earlier this week. We had no candidates, despite a lot of
searching, pishing, and screech owl tapes. The highlights included:

     Common Loon - 5
     Pied-billed Grebe - 24
     Am. Coot - 170
     Lesser Scaup - 7
     Ring-billed Gull - 8
     Killdeer - 16
     Bald Eagle - 3 (1 adult, 1 subadult, 1 imm)
     Cooper's Hawk - 1
     Yellow-rumped Warbler - 2
     Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
     Swamp Sparrow - 4
     Song Sparrow - 5
     Am. Goldfinch - 8
     COMMON REDPOLL - 1 (flew over, low - calling frequently)


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Subject: Sandhill Cranes
From: Ross Brittain <Wbubton(AT)CS.COM>
Date: 11 Nov 2001 10:32pm

Hello All,
I was working on putting some Holiday lights up at the store this weekend
when I heard that unmistakable sound. I rushed in to let all the employees
and customers know about the cranes going by and we all ran out with the
binoculars from the cabinet and watched three distinct groups of Sandhill
Cranes pass over downtown Bloomington this afternoon about 3:15-3:30pm. All
totaled there were about 300 cranes. Only the second time I have seen cranes
from the store. We also had a bluebird migrating over the store yesterday.

Last night, Jaime and I went to do some owling in Yellowwood and a spot on
Friendship Road. We were very successful:
7 - Screech Owl (Eastern of course)
2 - Barred Owl
2 - Great Horned Owl -the great horned were at the lake in Yellowwood and
could be heard over a mile away. They definitely dominated the landscape and
made the possibility of more screeches or Saw-whets in the pine stands very
doubtful.

Happy birding,
Ross Brittain


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Subject: LL-"snow" birds--11/11
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 12 Nov 2001 8:46am

Yesterday (11/11), I did a short watch from our deck in the morning
and again, late in the afternoon.  Bluebirds, robins, and blackbirds
were on the move.  Other birds that I saw migrating included:

   -2 Horned Larks
   -18 Cedar Waxwings (perhaps local)
   -5 LAPLAND LONGSPURS
   -6 SNOW BUNTINGS
   ~25 Pine Siskins--we had only ~40 PISIs at our feeders yesterday,
down from the ~100 on Saturday

Waterfowl included:

   -2 SNOW GEESE (1a, 1i)--white morph birds that circled the east end
at 5:35 pm and then headed west; we did not see them on the main part
of the lake this morning
   -quite a few Wood Ducks are still roosting in the lotus at the east
end--I counted 27 yesterday evening
   -3 Gadwall
   -6 Hooded Mergansers
   -7 Ruddy Ducks

There was also an ad. male Purple Finch at our feeders.  The 2 Dunlin
and 1 Gr. Yellowlegs were still on the flats along with many Killdeer
and a dozen or so C. Snipe.

.....Jim & Susan
--
____________________
Dr. James Hengeveld             jhengeve(AT)indiana.edu
Department of Biology           812-855-5353
1001 East 3rd Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405


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Subject: Lake Monroe
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 12 Nov 2001 9:31am

Made my usual stop at Paynetown on Lake Monroe (Monroe Co.) this
morning (11/12). Beautiful morning - clear, still, 35 degrees - wispy
fog on surface of lake and significant heat distortion. Highlights
included:
     Common Loon - 32
     Canada Goose - 18
     Mallard - 8
     Black Duck - 1
     Great Blue Heron - 3
     Ring-billed Gull - 4
     Red-tailed Hawk - 1
     Cooper's Hawk - 1
     Purple Finch - 1 (flyover)


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Subject: Black Scoters
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 12 Nov 2001 5:19pm

I have just returned from a late afternoon trip to Riddle Point on
Lake Lemon (Monroe County) and hasten to post some goodies. The best
birds were 4 Black Scoters (female/imm) on a direct line from the
campground at Riddle Point to the Bloomington Yacht Club on the south
shore of Lake Lemon. Our first Black Scoters this Fall. Also present
were:
     Common Loon - 12
     Horned Grebe - 2
     Pied-billed Grebe - 5
     Mallard - 6
     Ruddy Duck - 2
     Hooded Merganser - 4
     Bonaparte's Gull - 6
     Ring-billed Gull - 2


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Subject: Red-throated Loon
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 13 Nov 2001 10:01am

This morning (11/13) there was a Red-throated Loon off of Paynetown on
Lake Monroe (Monroe Co.). The bird was on the water with five Common
Loons off of the parking area for the marina. It was on a line with
the Boy Scout camp on the south shore, about 4/5 of the way across.
Also present:

     Common Loon - 32
     Ring-billed Gull - 8


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Subject: feeder birds
From: Holly Grace Graef <hgraef(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 13 Nov 2001 6:50pm

In the yard this evening, amongst the usual species, we had a flock of 10
White-throated Sparrows and a male Eastern Towhee (he had visited us on
Sunday as well).

Holly Graef
Northern Monroe Co.


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Subject: Another Black Scoter
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 13 Nov 2001 8:22pm

This evening (11/13) I stopped at Riddle Point on Lake Lemon (Monroe
Co.) where there had been 4 Black Scoters yesterday (they were gone
this morning). There was another Black Scoter (female/imm) about half
way from the campground at Riddle to the Bloomington Yacht Club. It wa
loosely associated with five mallards. Also present were 12 Common
Loons.


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Subject: LK. Lemon-11/13
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 14 Nov 2001 1:31pm

The BLACK SCOTER that Don Whitehead reported was present at dusk last
night off of Riddle Pt. on Lk. Lemon.  At the east end of the lake,
there was an early female COMMON MERGANSER, the earliest COME we have
seen in the B'ton area.

....Jim & Susan
--
____________________
Dr. James Hengeveld             jhengeve(AT)indiana.edu
Department of Biology           812-855-5353
1001 East 3rd Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405


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Subject: Lake Monroe, Lake Lemon
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 14 Nov 2001 7:43pm

I made stops at both Paynetown and Cutright on Lake Monroe (Monroe
Co.) this morning (11/14). A magnificent morning - clear, still, 40
degrees - wispy fog over lake and significant heat distortion. The
highlights were:

     Common Loon - 32
     Lesser Scaup - 6
     Ring-billed Gull - 4
     Hermit Thrush - 2 (responded to Screech Owl tape at Cutright)
     Eastern Bluebird - 20
     Am. Robin - hundreds
     Cedar Waxwing - 20
     White-thr. Sparrow - 2

Stopped at Riddle Point on Lake Lemon this afternoon (4:30 PM).
Present were:
     Common Loon - 28
     Pied-billed Grebe - 1
     Canada Goose - 250
     Mallard - 30
     Black Duck - 2
     Lesser Scaup - 20
     Hooded Merganser - 14
     Ring-billed Gull - 16
     Red-tailed Hawk -


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Subject: Muscatatuck bird trip
From: Cathy Meyer <arcpub(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 14 Nov 2001 10:35pm

Sassafras Audubon is sponsoring a trip to Muscatatuck National Wildlife
Refuge this Saturday. Anyone is welcome to come look for waterfowl and
other fall birds. Meet at the parking lot between Bloomingfoods and K-Mart
East at 8:30 AM and bring a lunch. We'll carpool to the refuge and return
mid-afternoon, with a possible stop at the Russell Stover Candy Outlet ;)
Questions? Call Cathy Meyer 339-8184.


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Subject: Lake Monroe
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 15 Nov 2001 10:48am

I visited Paynetown on Lake Monroe (Monroe Co.) this morning (11/15).
A "last" trip before Betsy and I head for Florida for a week. Once
again, beautiful conditions - clear, still, 44 degrees - light fog and
some heat distortion. Present were:

     Common Loon - 22
     Hooded Merganser - 1
     Cooper's Hawk - 1
     Cedar Waxwing - 20 (feeding on wild grapes in campground)
     American Robin - 350
     Purple Finch - 20 (feeding on white ash samaras in campground)
     EVENING GROSBEAK - 2 (flew over campground, calling


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Subject: Orleans Reservoir
From: Don Wiesler <Wieslerd(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 15 Nov 2001 2:36pm

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

----INCLUDING text/plain MIME SECTION----

Because of Ron McCullick's enthusiasm over the Orleans Reservoir, Helen =
and I arrived there ~9 a.m. yesterday. No horned larks. No geese, Canada =
or otherwise. No snow bunting that we could find. Ring-necks, a few =
coots, and one great blue heron were all there were in sight. =20

However: as we cruised nearby roads, the harriers we were advised to =
look out for obligingly showed up. Meadowlarks, singly or in pairs, also =
popped up now and then. I don't commonly find meadowlarks in fall in =
Monroe County. I wonder why there is the difference.=20

11 a.m.: let's give the reservoir another look. Heron was gone; but in =
its place were 4 pintails amongst the ring-necks. Two guys, two gals. It =
was worth the trip; we'll be back some day!

Don=20

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Subject: Paynetown/Stillwater 11/15
From: michael clarke <miclarke(AT)BLOOMINGTON.IN.US>
Date: 15 Nov 2001 2:48pm

Pretty quiet morning at both Paynetown and Stillwater marsh.  Fog
burned off a little later than usual.  Nothing terribly exciting to
report, but it was a nice morning nonetheless.
At Paynetown:
Common Loon- 10
Song Sparrow-2
American Robin- ~200 (they were all over the campground area and very
active)
Chipping Sparrow- 1 (near the bird feeder by the nature center, i think
this is supposed to be pretty late for these birds)
Belted Kingfisher
Ring-billed Gull-2
Great Blue Heron-1

A brief stop at Cutright looking for the pair of Hermit Thrush seen
by Don Whitehead yesterday.  No luck, but:
Ring-billed Gull-2
Bonaparte's Gull-1

At Friendship and Gross Rds.
Fox Sparrow- At least 10, many of them were singing.
Song Sparrow-3
Eastern Towhee-1

At Stillwater:
Ring-necked Duck- ~150
American Coot-50
American Wigeon-40
Wood Duck-2
Gadwall-2
Mallard-5
Song Sparrow-6
Eastern Bluebird- 20
Red-tailed Hawk-1


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Subject: FW: Orleans Reservoir
From: "Greene, Terri B" <tgreene(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 15 Nov 2001 4:09pm

We saw 5 or 6 meadowlarks fly up out of a pasture along Lee Phillips Rd. in
SW Monroe Co. this morning on our way to work . . . we usually see them on a
regular basis in the summer, but it did catch me offguard to see them today.
--Terri Greene

> ----------
> From:         Don Wiesler
> Reply To:     Don Wiesler
> Sent:         Thursday, November 15, 2001 2:36 PM
> To:   BLOOMINGTON-BIRDS-L(AT)LISTSERV.INDIANA.EDU
> Subject:      Orleans Reservoir
>
> Because of Ron McCullick's enthusiasm over the Orleans Reservoir, Helen
> and I arrived there ~9 a.m. yesterday. No horned larks. No geese, Canada
> or otherwise. No snow bunting that we could find. Ring-necks, a few coots,
> and one great blue heron were all there were in sight.
>
> However: as we cruised nearby roads, the harriers we were advised to look
> out for obligingly showed up. Meadowlarks, singly or in pairs, also popped
> up now and then. I don't commonly find meadowlarks in fall in Monroe
> County. I wonder why there is the difference.
>
> 11 a.m.: let's give the reservoir another look. Heron was gone; but in its
> place were 4 pintails amongst the ring-necks. Two guys, two gals. It was
> worth the trip; we'll be back some day!
>
> Don
>


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Subject: Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count
From: "Whitehead, Donald  R." <whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 15 Nov 2001 10:01pm

A quick reminder to anyone interested that the Lake Monroe CBC will be
held on Saturday, Dec. 15. We would welcome anyone interested in
participating. Give me a buzz (812-339-1782) or an e-mail and I would
be happy to provide additional information and assign you to a team.
Hope to see you on the 15th.


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Subject: Tree Sparrows
From: Ross Brittain <Wbubton(AT)CS.COM>
Date: 16 Nov 2001 1:52pm

Hello All,
Since Don is gone now I thought I would get out this morning to do some
birding in his place. Actually the fact that I had a day off has more to do
with it. Postings are of species other than the usual chickadees, titmice,
cardinals, jays, etc. that I saw everywhere.

Paynetown:
18 - Common Loon
1 - Hooded Merganser
4 - Mallard
10 - Bluebird
5 - Killdeer
1 - Red-headed Woodpecker
2 - Bonaparte's Gull
3 - Ring-billed Gull
5 - Great Blue Heron

Pine Grove:
3 - Hooded Merganser
2 - Pie-billed Grebe
1 - Kingfisher
A lot of ducks in the far distance that were unrecognizable, but probably the
same things I saw at Stillwater

Stillwater:
200+ - Ring-necked Ducks
10 - Am. Wigeon
100+ - Coots
2 - Lesser Scaup
12 - Bluebird
5 - Song Sparrow

Bottom Road:
2 - Red-tailed Hawk
2 - Harrier (both adult males)
50 - Common Snipe
20 - Killdeer
2 - Great Blue Heron
1 - American Kestrel
5 - Turkey Vulture
6 - AM. TREE SPARROW (my first of the winter)
4 - Song Sparrow

Flatwoods:
1 - Swamp Sparrow
5 - AM. TREE SPARROW
3 - Song Sparrow
1 - Fox Sparrow
Not a single hawk, which is very odd for Flatwoods

Butterflies:
4 - Clouded Sulphur
1 - Buckeye
1 - Monarch (a long journey ahead!)

Happy Birding,
Ross Brittain


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Subject: Saw-Whet Owl
From: Ross Brittain <Wbubton(AT)CS.COM>
Date: 17 Nov 2001 8:56am

Hello All,
Last night I played a hunch and actually got lucky. In anticipation of
creating our Saw-Whet Owl banding project here in south-central Indiana I
have started scouting for potential Saw-whet habitat. One of the spots is
rather close to my home: the edge of Griffy and the IU Golf Course. There is
a nice stand of pines along the edge of the woods on the Golf Course side and
a nice stand of cedar on the Griffy side. Thus, I decided to try there last
night about 11pm and had success.

1- Saw-whet Owl (responding to broadcast call with a series of three
"barks.")

The owl was position in the tree line that runs along the east side of Hinkle
Road by the Golf Course. It most probably came from the woods and pines along
the edge of the course. However, it may also have been a migrant passing
through the area and I just got the timing right (this is the middle of
saw-whet migration.) I just played the saw-whet and screech owl calls and
only the saw-whet responded.

Also in the yard yesterday:
2 - Pine Siskins (at the feeders)
1 - N. Flicker (eating Dogwood berries)

Happy birding,
Ross Brittain


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Subject: cranes at Little Africa
From: "Zeller, Tom S" <zeller(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 17 Nov 2001 11:18pm

Satudary evening, as the sun sank behind the hills, 6 sandhills flew in
without a sound made a momentary circular survey of the mudflats and settled
in for the night.