NH.Birds for Saturday, December 12, 2009

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Time   quality of black oil sunflower seeds   hbreder(AT)comcast.net   7:18am   question   kathy dube   9:01am   Jeffries Ledge Pelagic tomorrow   Eric Masterson   12:55pm   Rye Screech-owl   Len Medlock    2:51pm   bald eagles   kathy dube   3:24pm   Pied-billed Grebes, Nashua   Chris Sheridan    6:33pm

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Subject: quality of black oil sunflower seeds
From: hbreder(AT)comcast.net
Date: 12 Dec 2009 7:18am

Here is an informative post on the quality of black oil sunflower seeds which 
I thought I pass along: http://www.birdchick.com/wp/2009/12/

Hilke Breder
Brattleboro


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Subject: question
From: "kathy dube" <kdube(AT)ncia.net>
Date: 12 Dec 2009 9:01am

I saw the Golden crowned sparrow in Orwell, Vt. the same day that Denny Abbott
and Davis Finch were there. I didn't record the date. If either of you can
help it would be much appreciated. Thanks, Kathy Dube


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Subject: Jeffries Ledge Pelagic tomorrow
From: "Eric Masterson" <emasterson(AT)plcnh.org>
Date: 12 Dec 2009 12:55pm

Birders:

On the fourth try, the weather has cooperated to enable the UNH Gulf
Challenger to make the trip to Jeffries Ledge tomorrow.   We leave 8am from
Portsmouth and return to dock by 2pm.  There are a couple of open spots, $75
pp.  We will be in NH and Mass waters.  Contact me offlist if interested.

 

Eric Masterson

Executive Director

Piscataquog Land Conservancy

www.plcnh.org

Phone: 487-3331


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Subject: Rye Screech-owl
From: Len Medlock <lenmedlock(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 12 Dec 2009 2:51pm

After yummy chowdah at Petey's in Rye, a brief trip up Rt 1A during a very
blustery ride yielded:

Eastern Screech-owl (gray) - 1 seen from Rt1A, 50 yards north of the entrance to
 Seacoast Science Center, on the right, sunning itself in a tree along the road.
 Using my car as a blind, I snapped a photo, leaving him to enjoy the remaining
rays of light:

http://www.pbase.com/lmedlock/image/120215602/original

The view from Pulpit Rocks was nice for 15 Purple Sandpipers and seals sunning
themselves.

Len Medlock
Exeter, NH


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Subject: bald eagles
From: "kathy dube" <kdube(AT)ncia.net>
Date: 12 Dec 2009 3:24pm

The "meat pile" in Dummer has fresh carcasses. The wind was strong and blowing
snow, 9 individual eagles, 4 immature and 5 adults. At least 30 ravens, a few
crows and a few small birds (best guess would be starlings) were seen too.
Kathy Dube


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Subject: Pied-billed Grebes, Nashua
From: Chris Sheridan <cmsbirds(AT)comcast.net>
Date: 12 Dec 2009 6:33pm

I stopped at Millyard Technology Park this afternoon, looking for Hoodies and
Goldeneyes.  Instead, I found three Pied-billed Grebes-two diving  in front of a
 little bridge on the opposite shore, one  swimming and diving with a flock of
Mallards.  I watched it for over 20 minutes as it swam, dove, and groomed itself
 as the dabblers moved up and down river. Some Canada Geese flew in, and joined
the group.

Eventually, the most of flock moved off down the river while the Grebe was
diving.  It emerged, looked around, and paddled off after a hen Mallard swimming
 upriver.

Seemed strange for a Grebe.  At one point I heard it calling--was it looking for
 the other Grebes? They are described as being solitary birds.

I also spotted a couple of White-tailed deer across the river. Not bad for
downtown Nashua...

I got a bunch of poor photos; a few here.

www.flickr.com/photos/42971731@N03/4179382223
www.flickr.com/photos/42971731@N03/4180138724
www.flickr.com/photos/42971731@N03/4180035578

Chris Sheridan
Nashua
cmsbirds at comcast net