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IN-BIRD for Monday, January 21, 2002
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Subject: Pigeon River FWA, 18 Jan 02
From: Jeff McCoy <jeffmccoy(AT)MAIL.FWI.COM>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 3:39am
Friday, 18 Jan. 02 - Ed Powers and I, after our appointment with the Michigan
Black-throated-gray Warbler, birded the Pigeon River Area the remainder of the
day with the following highlights: NORTHERN SHRIKE, COMMON SNIPE, BALD EAGLE,
and EASTERN TOWHEE. High temps were in the low 30's with moderate west winds
and mostly cloudy skies.
Our first stop was the Fawn River Fish Hatchery in Orland where we ticked off
our annual KILLDEER(5) and COMMON SNIPE(6) at this traditional over-wintering
site. The sun even peaked out long enough to get some decent digiscoped photos
of a pair of snipe sitting in the snow.
The Waterfowl Resting Area was completely frozen over and birdless so we
decided to drive around the immediate area searching for shrikes (one had been
reported here by Jim Haw several weeks ago). Eventually I happened to spot a
NORTHERN SHRIKE flying along the county line road adjacent to the Waterfowl
Resting Area. It perched briefly along the road for some digiscoped shots
before flying into the refuge area where we watched it hunt for a few more
minutes. As we were leaving Ed spotted a soaring raptor over the refuge that
turned out to be a 1st yr. BALD EAGLE (being harassed by two Red-tailed Hawks).
Open water on the river at the campground attracted good numbers of waterfowl,
mostly Canada Geese and Mallards, but (9) COMMON MERGANSERS as well. Well
hidden in the marsh on the far side were (4) SANDHILL CRANES.
Along the road west of the Curtis Creek Hatchery, we found a nice feeding flock
that included a rare (for northern Indiana) wintering EASTERN TOWHEE (male).
Other birds included:
Northern Flicker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Eastern Bluebird 8
Tufted Titmouse 3
White-breasted Nuthatch 2
White-throated Sparrow 5
Dark-eyed Junco 20
American Goldfinch 6
Finally, at around 4:30PM a check of the traditional winter Merlin staging area
was fruitless.
Good Birding,
Jeff McCoy
Columbia City, IN
jeffmccoy(AT)fwi.com
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Subject: Thank You
From: Patti Luchford <Justme5155(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 4:38am
Many thanks to all of you that helped my week off work so productive. I
didn't get to bird as much as I would have liked, but I thoroughly enjoyed
when I did go. I found several birds for my life list and was surprised at
the number of birds I did see considering the weather here of late. I know of
two places that I will be returning to on a regular basis.
Thanks again,
Patti Luchford
JustMe5155(AT)aol.com
Speedway, Indiana
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: RPOT correction
From: "David C. Chaffin" <Davchaffin(AT)AOL.COM>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 6:46am
Birders,
I saw the 2 Harl ducks at the jetty at New Buffalo, MI, not Mich City, IN.
David Chaffin
Cleveland TN
last pm in Naperville IL
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Subject: Lk. Lemon/Yellowwood-1/20
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 8:36am
We still have an ad. male YELLOW-B. SAPSUCKER and a BROWN CREEPER
coming to our feeders. Our high count for PINE SISKINS yesterday was
13 and there were 2 ad. male PURPLE FINCHES. We also had at least 2
different COOPER'S HAWKS (1a, 1i) attending the feeders.
At Yellowwood SF were an ad. RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (there was an
immature along Greenbrier Lane), 3 BROWN CREEPERS, 3 HERMIT THRUSHES,
a PURPLE FINCH (ad. male), and a WINTER WREN.
.....Jim & Susan
--
____________________
James D. Hengeveld jhengeve(AT)indiana.edu
Department of Biology 812-855-5353
1001 East 3rd Street
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN 47405
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Screech Owls
From: "David B. Lupke" <dblupke(AT)LUPKERICE.COM>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 11:15am
Saturday was such a perfect evening for owling that I decided to head to the
Lost Bridge area of Salamonie to try my luck. Temperature was in the low
20's, no wind, perfectly clear sky with amazing views of stars and planets,
and a moon that lighted the path so brightly there was no need for a
flashlight.
I started with Screech Owl. I played my tape for a moment with no response.
I walked one hundred yards and played the tape again and immediately had a
response. There was no need for additional tape playing because the
responding Screech set off two others and soon I had all three calling
around me. One sat very cooperatively on a pine bough and let me shine my
flashlight on him for some good binocular views.
I left this area after about 20 minutes of enjoying the calling birds and
tried another trail for Barred and Great Horned - no luck. I think that a
group of 'Coon Hunters with a large number of hounds eliminated my chances
of responses from these birds. The hounds did set off a couple of coyotes
that I enjoyed hearing.
Good Birding,
David Lupke
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Subject: Wintering TVs; BLVUs
From: Jim Hengeveld <jhengeve(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 2:14pm
Virtually every year, there is a period (roughly January) during
which there are no Turkey Vultures in the area. This winter has been
different. There hasn't been a period of more than a few days during
which I haven't seen at least one TV. This morning, I counted 24
Turkey Vultures, 5 in Monroe County and 19 in Lawrence County. Most
of the Lawrence Co. birds were seen from Co. Rd. 575 E, just south of
Heltonville. Also along this road were 2 Red-t. Hawks, 1 Rough-l.
Hawk and 2 Am. Kestrels.
At the base of Salem Rd. in Heltonville, 2 BLACK VULTURES flew up at
~10 am, appearing to be flying up from their nightly roost.
.....Jim
--
____________________
James D. 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: Re: Ivory-Billed
From: Judie Hansen <birdsong(AT)surf-ici.com>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 3:03pm
A friend of mine in Washington, DC, sent me this reference to the
Washington Post article today about the hunt for the ivory-billed
woodpecker. -- Judie Hansen
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12005-2002Jan20.html
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Subject: Harris' Sparrow (21-JAN-2002)
From: Darel Heitkamp <deheitka(AT)IUPUI.EDU>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 6:36pm
IN-BIRDERS
The Harris' Sparrow arrived at its routine location in Shelby County this
afternoon (21-JAN-2002) at 3:50 pm. The bird appeared after only 9 minutes
of waiting.
Darel
******************************************************************************
Darel E. Heitkamp, M.D.
Department of Radiology
Indiana University Medical Center
Indianapolis, IN
deheitka(AT)iupui.edu
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Subject: Golden Eagle at Hickory Ridge
From: Lee Sterrenburg <sterren(AT)INDIANA.EDU>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 7:05pm
January 21, 2002
This afternoon I decided to drive down and try for raptors in the fields
in northern Lawrence Co. I had not read Jim Hengeveld's posting from
today about Turkey Vultures and the two Black Vultures at Heltonville. I,
too, found a good number of Turkey Vultures: (11) in Lawrence Co. and (8)
in Monroe County. I was looking for Black Vultures but didn't find any.
After my fields foray, I drove to the Hickory Ridge fire tower in Hoosier
National Forest. I scaled the tower and did a 40 minute raptor watch
until cold feet drove me down. The highlight there was an immature GOLDEN
EAGLE.
Temp upper 30s to low 40s F; completely clear, but hazy; wind SW 15-18
mph. No snow cover.
Northern Lawrence County fields, as far south as the south end of
Groundhog Road below Heltonville, as far west as the Pleasant Run Church
on CR 200 E, and as far east as the field complex near Zelma on highway
58:
Turkey Vulture (11 - including five on Groundhog Road)
Red-tailed Hawk (11)
Rough-legged Hawk (4 - three light morph birds in view at once on
Groundhog Road, an ad male, an imm, and one unaged; and one dark morph ad
male in the fields west of the Gilgal Cemetery)
American Kestrel (13)
Horned Lark (1)
Eastern Bluebird (only 4)
From the Hickory Ridge Fire Tower, HNF, Monroe Co., 2:45-3:25 PM:
Turkey Vulture (5 - together in a kettle)
Bald Eagle (2 - one ad and one 2nd B)
Red-shouldered Hawk (1 -- an adult diving and stooping on the Golden
Eagle)
Red-tailed Hawk (6)
GOLDEN EAGLE (1 - imm)
The immature Golden Eagle soared over the ridge to the west of Hickory
Ridge for about eight minutes. The eagle had large white patches at the
base of the primaries on the underwing and small white patches at the base
of the primaries on the upperwing. The base of the tail was white.
On highway 446, north of Lake Monroe:
Turkey Vulture (3 - up in Bloomington, at the junction of highways 46 and
446)
RUFFED GROUSE (1)
The Ruffed Grouse had just been hit and killed by a car as I rounded a
bend. Feathers were still flying. I stopped and retrieved the remains
and tossed them to the side of the road. It was a handsome rufous morph
individual. I did not see the unfortunate grouse alive (not a Year List
bird). The location was about 150 yards north of Rush Ridge Road, which
leads east to Shawnee Bluffs. Ruffed Grouse has become a scarce species
locally.
--Lee Sterrenburg
Bloomington
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Subject: Harris Sparrow
From: Fred and Billie Rakestraw <ferakest(AT)RTCOL.COM>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 7:26pm
I had to wait two hours, but finally got a good look at the sparrow at =
2:15 this afternoon, Jan. 21.
Billie Rakestraw
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Subject: Not an egg
From: Ervin and/or Lois Rockhill <rockhill(AT)indy.net>
Date: 21 Jan 2002 8:04pm
Last week I posted a robin egg story that must now be more fully explained.
The egg description was accurate for a walk-by sighting but the
identification was wrong. The object I saw in passing on the bike trail in
Anderson was seen again a few days ago and more fully observed. What was
left of the broken blue shell was now a greenish color and the egg yolkish
part had absorbed into the asphalt leaving an oily looking aura around the
center of the object. A small piece of the 'shell' remained and I found it
to be strangely rubbery when I handled it. I remained puzzeled that day but
then two days later when I walked further down the trail, I saw other egg
looking objects embedded in the left-over snow. These were very round
objects - a characteristic not noticed before and they were various colors.
Some were oozing a yolk-like substance but the substance varied in color
from object to object. I pushed one around with my toe and squished it to
find the heavy liquid easily expelled. Finally, I found the courage to pick
one up and smish it between my fingers. A neon colored orange squirted out.
It was only after walking on for some minutes thinking 'bubble bath balls'
that the true identity popped into my mind - I believe they were paint balls
from paint ball guns! And- the first time ever seen and identified by me on
the bike trail! I'm sure most of you suspected something other than a
robin's egg....sorry!
[ << | >> | ^^ ]
Subject: Goose Pond, Hawthorn Mine, Dugger
From: whitehea(AT)INDIANA.EDU
Date: 21 Jan 2002 8:08pm
this morning Bob Kissel and I birded the Goose Pond lowland south of
Linton, the Hawthorn Mine, and the Dugger Wildlife Area. The Goose
Pond lowland is very different than last year, as there was little
cultivation, hence there is virtually no habitat for Longspurs and
Snow Buntings, but superb habitat for raptors and sparrows. The
highlights of the morning included:
Goose Pond lowland:
Rough-legged Hawk - 5 ( 3 dark, 2 light)
Red-tailed Hawk - 7
Northern Harier - 12 (3 adult male, 4 adult female, 5 imm)
Am. Kestrel - 7
Cooper's Hawk - 1 (imm)
Horned Lark - 50
Am. Tree Sparrow - 70
White-crowned Sparrow - 40
Savannah Sparrow - 1
Song Sparrow - 4
Eastern Meadowlark - 4
Hawthorn Mine:
Canada Goose - 200
Mallard - 8
Redhead - 3
Rough-legged Hawk - 11 (6 dark, 5 light)
Red-tailed Hawk - 9
Northern Harrier - 15 (3 adult males, 2 adult females, 10 imm)
Sharp-shinned Hawk - 1
Am. Kestrel - 8
Horned Lark - 80
Eastern Meadowlark - 20
Red-winged Blackbird - 1
Dugger:
Canada Goose - 900
Mallard - 1200
Black Duck - 40
Am. Wigeon - 2
No. Shoveler - 2
Co. Goldeneye - 1
Lesser Scaup - 2
Ring-necked Duck - 12
Ruddy Duck - 1
Hooded Merganser - 8
Ring-billed Gull - 20
Rough-legged Hawk - 5(4 light, 1 dark)
Red-tailed Hawk - 5
No. Harrier - 8
Am. Kestrel - 3
Bald Eagle - 1 (adult)
Great Blue Heron - 1
Horned Lark - 40
Am. Tree Sparrow - 12
E. Meadowlark - 12
Sullivan Sewage Ponds:
Lesser Scaup - 20
Co. Goldeneye - 16
No. Shoveler - 20
Gadwall - 20
Mallard - 30
Black Duck - 10
No sign of any Short-eared Owls at either Hawthorn or Dugger. It would
be well worth trying the Goose Pond lowlands for Short-ears, as the
habitat has changed dramatically and looks good for all raptors
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