RI-RBA for December 2005

Messages are displayed in the order they were received.  Subject  From  Date   Time   RBA: Rhode Island, December 1, 2005   DLSaint(AT)aol.com   2 Dec 2005   1:21am   RBA: Rhode Island, December 8, 2005   DLSaint(AT)aol.com   8 Dec 2005   9:27pm   RBA: Rhode Island, December 15, 2005   DLSaint(AT)aol.com   15 Dec 2005   9:48pm   RBA: Rhode Island, December 22, 2005   DLSaint(AT)aol.com   22 Dec 2005   8:50pm   RBA: Rhode Island, December 29, 2005   DLSaint(AT)aol.com   29 Dec 2005   9:30pm

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Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, December 1, 2005
From: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
Date: 2 Dec 2005 1:21am

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- RBA
* Rhode Island
* Statewide 
* December 1, 2005
* RIRI0512.01

- Birds mentioned:
WESTERN KINGBIRD 
CACKLING GOOSE
LITTLE GULL 
KING EIDER
Common Eider
Common Tern
GLAUCOUS GULL 
EURASIAN WIGEON
BLACK-HEADED GULL 
American Golden Plover
Black-bellied Plover
Northern Shoveler 
Bonaparte's Gull
Yellow-breasted Chat
Brown Thrasher
Fox Sparrow
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Short-eared Owl
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

     date: December 1, 2005
     (401) 245-7500 ex- 55 
     to report: (401) 949-7301 or email to: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
     coverage: statewide
     compiled:  Janice St.Jean
     transcriber: Janice St.Jean (DLSaint(AT)aol.com)
     www.asri.org

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for December 1st, 
2005.  This report covers the period from November 26th to December 1st, and 
will be updated again on December 8th.

The WESTERN KINGBIRD continues along Atlantic Ave in Misquamicut. It has been 
fairly easy to find in the vicinity of house lots 430-437.  It perches on the 
wires and in the bushes behind the houses on the North side of the road.  It 
was reported every day from the 26th to the 29th.

On the 27th, 2 CACKLING GEESE were reported from the Flat River Reservoir in 
Coventry.  Both birds were standing on the ice next to Herring Gulls.  The 
birds were seen from Old Flat River Road, north of Route 117.  These birds were
not found after that day.

A first-winter LITTLE GULL was spotted flying low over the beach at Green 
Hill Beach in South Kingstown.  A drake KING EIDER continues to be seen here 
among the large flock of COMMON EIDER.  A female and another drake KING EIDER
were
in with a group of about 1200 COMMON EIDER off Central Beach, just east of 
Quonochontaug.  At Brenton Point in Newport, 1 female KING EIDER was reported on
the 28th. 

At Misquamicut, 2 COMMON TERN were sitting on the rocks off the beach on the 
26th, and 3 COMMON TERN were seen at Charlestown Breachway on the 27th.

On the 29th, 1 GLAUCOUS GULL was spotted in the East Providence Reservoir, 
and on the 26th, 2 EURASIAN WIGEON and 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL were seen at 
Watchemoket Cove in East Providence.  Another EURASIAN WIGEON was found at White
 Brook
in Carolina. 

At Third Beach restoration area in Middletown, on the 26th, 1 AMERICAN 
GOLDEN-PLOVER, 1 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, 1 NORTHERN SHOVELER and 6 BONAPARTE'S
GULL.

Along Ocean View Highway in Westerly, opposite the driveway for Misquamicut 
Club, 1 YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 1 BROWN THRASHER and 1 FOX SPARROW on the 27th.  
On the 26th, 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was present at the Misquamicut Golf 
Course visible form Ocean View Highway.

At St. Mary's Pond in Portsmouth, a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was observed 
on the 27th.

At Sachuest Point in Middletown, a SHORT-EARED OWL and an ORANGE-CROWNED 
WARBLER were seen this week.

Finally, YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported from Newport and at Avondale 
in Westerly.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers many walks and special field 
trips, some non-bird related, open to both members and non-members.  Call 
headquarters at 401-949-5454 for a copy of the Audubon Report.  

That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding!

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Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, December 8, 2005
From: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
Date: 8 Dec 2005 9:27pm

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- RBA
* Rhode Island
* Statewide 
* December 8, 2005
* RIRI0512.08

- Birds mentioned:
WESTERN KINGBIRD 
GOLDEN EAGLE
RED CROSSBILL 
Snow Bunting
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Tern
Red-necked Grebe
American Pipit
American Bittern 
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Razorbill
Tree Swallow
Northern Parula

     date: December 8, 2005
     (401) 245-7500 ex- 55 
     to report: (401) 949-7301 or email to: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
     coverage: statewide
     compiled:  Janice St.Jean
     transcriber: Janice St.Jean (DLSaint(AT)aol.com)
     www.asri.org

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for December 8th, 
2005.  This report covers the period from December 2nd to December 8th, and 
will be updated again on December 15.

The WESTERN KINGBIRD along Atlantic Ave in the Misquamicut section of 
Westerly was last reported on the 2nd.

A GOLDEN EAGLE was seen on December 3rd.  It was first spotted in the morning 
over the fields at Trustom Pond NWR.  It was identified by another birding 
group at East Beach in the late morning.  It was found a third time in the 
afternoon at which time it was photographed. The eagle was last heading west 
towards Misquamicut State Beach and was flying parallel to Atlantic Ave. It was
found again on the 6th in the same area.

On the 7th, 1 male RED CROSSBILL was found along the road between Second 
Beach and Third Beach in Middletown,  It was observed feeding in the bittersweet
across from the campground close to Second Beach.  Fifteen SNOW BUNTING were 
also seen nearby.

At Sachuest Point in Middletown on the 3rd, 1 COMMON YELLOWTHROAT and 1 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT.
 
At Roy Carpenter's Beach in Matunuck, 1 COMMON TERN and a RED-NECKED GREBE 
were reported on the 8th, and 30 AMERICAN PIPIT were seen on the 3rd.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was found at Trustom Pond on the 3rd.

At Fort Ninigret in Charlestown, 1 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER was reported 
several times this past week.

Six RAZORBILL were reported at Weekapaug, and 5 were found at Beavertail 
Point in Jamestown.

At Quonochontaug, 5 TREE SWALLOW on the 3rd, and 2 TREE SWALLOW were sighted 
in Matunuck on the 8th.

Finally, in a private yard in the Rumford section of East Providence, a 
NORTHERN PARULA was reported.

A recent report of a Northern Bobwhite near Moonstone started a discussion of 
the status of this species in Rhode Island. The last known viable population 
was thought to be the one at Ninigret NWR.  There was not one report of 
Bobwhite there this year.  There was a report of a Bobwhite in Cumberland in the
spring.  This is presumed not to be a wild bird.  Therefore, Northern Bobwhite
is
taken off the year's total number of species.  The yearly total now stands at 
316, with 5 new species reported in November.  The November total was 156.  
(Thanks to Dave Gumbley for the statistics)

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers many walks and special field 
trips, some non-bird related, open to both members and non-members.  Call 
headquarters at 401-949-5454 for a copy of the Audubon Report.  

That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding!

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Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, December 15, 2005
From: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
Date: 15 Dec 2005 9:48pm

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- RBA
* Rhode Island
* Statewide 
* December 15, 2005
* RIRI0512.15

- Birds mentioned:
WESTERN KINGBIRD 
American Kestrel 
Lapland Longspur
Horned Lark
Snow Bunting
GLAUCOUS GULL 
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Canvasback
Redhead
Snow Goose
Ring-necked Duck
American Black Duck
American Coot
Common Goldeneye
American Woodcock
Hermit Thrush
Field Sparrow
Brown Thrasher
"Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow
PALM WARBLER 
Winter Wren
House Wren
EURASIAN WIGEON
American Wigeon
Bald Eagle

     date: December 15, 2005
     (401) 245-7500 ex- 55 
     to report: (401) 949-7301 or email to: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
     coverage: statewide
     compiled:  Janice St.Jean
     transcriber: Janice St.Jean (DLSaint(AT)aol.com)
     www.asri.org

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for December 
15th, 2005.  This report covers the period from December 8th to December 15th,
and
will be updated again on December 22nd.

The WESTERN KINGBIRD along Atlantic Ave in the Misquamicut section of 
Westerly was relocated on the 10th and found again on the 11th.  It was first
seen
near the house at 428 Atlantic Ave. and then observed further along the road at
the #430-438 houses.  An AMERICAN KESTREL continues to be seen in this area. 
At Misquamicut Beach parking lot, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPUR were found on the 10th and
one continued to be see for a few subsequent days.  Also, 40 HORNED LARK and 
1 SNOW BUNTING.

At Carolina Management Area/Tuckahoe Farms corn stubble fields off Rt. 91, 90 
HORNED LARK, 3 SNOW BUNTING and 1 LAPLAND LONGSPUR were observed on the 10th.
 
On the 12th, a 1st-year GLAUCOUS GULL was sitting on the ice next to the open 
water at the East Providence Reservoir.

At Ninigret NWR, along the Grassy Point Trail, 1 adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED 
GULL and 1 immature BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON on the 10th.

Birds seen on Trustom Pond this week included: 16 CANVASBACK, 4 REDHEAD, 5 
SNOW GEESE, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK, 75 AMERICAN BLACK 
DUCK, 45 AMERICAN COOT and 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE.  Other birds around the 
refuge: 1 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 5 HERMIT THRUSH, 2 FIELD 
SPARROW and 1 BROWN THRASHER.  At the cut at Moonstone Beach, 1 "IPSWICH" 
SAVANNAH SPARROW.

On the 14th at Roy Carpenter's Beach in Matunuck, 3 PALM WARBLER and 65 
HORNED LARK.

A WINTER WREN was found in the camping area at Fisherman's Memorial in Point 
Judith on the 15th, and a HOUSE WREN was seen that day at Fort Getty in 
Jamestown.  Another HOUSE WREN was reported at Pardon Gray Preserve in
Tiverton.

At White Brook in Carolina 1 EURASIAN WIGEON continues with AMERICAN WIGEON.

Finally, a BALD EAGLE was spotted in the Adamsville section of Little 
Compton.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers many walks and special field 
trips, some non-bird related, open to both members and non-members.  Call 
headquarters at 401-949-5454 for a copy of the Audubon Report.  

That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding!

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Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, December 22, 2005
From: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
Date: 22 Dec 2005 8:50pm

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- RBA
* Rhode Island
* Statewide 
* December 22, 2005
* RIRI0512.22

- Birds mentioned:
GLAUCOUS GULL 
SNOWY OWL
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER 
Snowy Egret
NORTHERN SHRIKE 
TUNDRA SWAN
Bald Eagle
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE 
BLACK GUILLEMOT
Common Eider
Black Scoter
Surf Scoter
Razorbill
Long-tailed Duck
Yellow-breasted Chat
Horned Lark
Purple Sandpiper
Snow Bunting
Lapland Longspur
DOVEKIE
COMMON MURRE
GREAT SKUA

     date: December 22, 2005
     (401) 245-7500 ex- 55 
     to report: (401) 949-7301 or email to: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
     coverage: statewide
     compiled:  Janice St.Jean
     transcriber: Janice St.Jean (DLSaint(AT)aol.com)
     www.asri.org

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for December 
22nd, 2005.  This report covers the period from December 16th to December 22nd,
and will be updated again on December 29th.

One GLAUCOUS GULL was seen at the East Providence Reservoir on the 18th, and 
2 were seen there on the 19th.

There were several sightings of SNOWY OWL over the past week.  One was seen 
over Mud Pond in the Matunuck area on the 15th, and one was reported at Breton 
Point in Newport on the 19th.  A third sighting was from Briggs Beach in 
Little Compton.  Also at Briggs Marsh, 2 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER and 2 SNOWY
EGRET.
A NORTHERN SHRIKE was found on private property nearby.

Two TUNDRA SWAN and a BALD EAGLE were seen at the Flat River Reservoir in 
Coventry a week ago. The pond is now frozen, and the swans may move to the
river.
 Another BALD EAGLE was spotted near Tunk Hill Road on the Scituate Reservoir 
on the 19th.

On the 20th at Beavertail State Park in Jamestown, 1 male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE 
north of parking lot 4.

At Point Judith on the 20th, 1 BLACK GUILLEMOT was found.  Also, 6000 COMMON 
EIDER, 1000 BLACK SCOTER, 12 SURF SCOTER and 2 RAZORBILL.  The BLACK GUILLEMOT 
was seen again in the morning on the 21st along with 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK.  
Another BLACK GUILLEMOT was sighted at Watch Hill Lighthouse on the 18th.

A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was reported from Peace Dale on the 21st.

Along Route 2 near Heaton Orchard Road, a large flock of over 150 HORNED LARK 
were sighted on the 21st.

At Watch Hill lighthouse in Westerly, 4 RAZORBILL, 1 LONG-TAILED DUCK, 16 
PURPLE SANDPIPER and 21 SNOW BUNTING on the 20th.

Two LAPLAND LONGSPUR were found in the grassy area of the parking lot at 
Misquamicut beach on the 19th.

Finally, a birder working a lobster boat that went out 20 miles to the East 
reported several DOVEKIE, COMMON MURRE and a GREAT SKUA on the 15th.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers many walks and special field 
trips, some non-bird related, open to both members and non-members.  Call 
headquarters at 401-949-5454 for a copy of the Audubon Report.  

That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding!

- End transcript

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Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, December 29, 2005
From: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
Date: 29 Dec 2005 9:30pm

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- RBA
* Rhode Island
* Statewide 
* December 29, 2005
* RIRI0512.29

- Birds mentioned:
REDWING 
American Robin
SNOWY OWL 
Northern Shoveler
Lapland Longspur
Horned Lark
Redhead
Snow Bunting
Bald Eagle
BARROW'S GOLDENEYE
TUNDRA SWAN 
GLAUCOUS GULL 
Canvasback
Pied-billed Grebe
BLACK-HEADED GULL
EURASIAN WIGEON
American Bittern
Razorbill
Red-necked Grebe
Long-tailed Duck
Purple Sandpiper
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Wild Turkey
Spotted Sandpiper
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
ICELAND GULL
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL
PILEATED WOODPECKER
Winter Wren
Yellow-breasted Chat
White-crowned Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird 
Baltimore Oriole
COMMON REDPOLL

     date: December 29, 2005
     (401) 245-7500 ex- 55 
     to report: (401) 949-7301 or email to: DLSaint(AT)aol.com
     coverage: statewide
     compiled:  Janice St.Jean
     transcriber: Janice St.Jean (DLSaint(AT)aol.com)
     www.asri.org

Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for December 
29th, 2005.  This report covers the period from December 23rd December 29th, and
will be updated again on January 5th.

A REDWING was discovered on the South Kingstown CBC on the 26th. The bird was 
singing a unique song which alerted a birder of it's presence.  It was seen 
in the trees along the bike path near the South Kingstown YMCA on Broad Rock 
Road.  It was loosely associating with a flock of about 400 AMERICAN ROBINS.  
The REDWING was found a second time on the 27th, about 2 3/4 miles up Broad Rock
Road from where originally sighted and was among several hundred AMERICAN 
ROBINS. Much diligent searching from many birders failed to turn up the bird 
after that day.

Two sightings of SNOWY OWL this week.  One owl was seen several times in the 
fields at Trustom Pond NWR.  This bird is best found by scanning from the 
beach at the end of Moonstone Beach Road, or by walking west along the beach to
the cut, and searching from there.  Another SNOWY OWL was sighted at Weekapaug,
atop the chimney of a house on Spring Ave. the last house on the oceanside 
before reaching the Weekapaug Yacht Club.  At the Weekapaug Breachway, 1 drake 
NORTHERN SHOVELER was seen on the 27th.

One LAPLAND LONGSPUR continues at Misquamicut State Beach parking lot in 
Westerly along with 30 HORNED LARK.

On the Southwest corner of Trustom Pond on the 27th, 2 drake REDHEAD were 
reported, also, along Moonstone Beach 1 SNOW BUNTING.  A BALD EAGLE was observed
in the vicinity on the same day.  On the 28th, off Moonstone Beach, 1 BARROW'S 
GOLDENEYE was found near the outlet of Card's Pond. 

The two TUNDRA SWAN in Coventry were seen by a birder in a canoe downstream 
from the Domenic's Pizza area along Route 3.  A single TUNDRA SWAN was 
discovered on the 26th at Wesquage Pond in Bonnet Shores, Narragansett.  This
bird has
been reliable in this spot for several days.

The second-winter GLAUCOUS GULL was reported from the East Providence 
Reservoir on the 24th and 25th.  On the 27th,  2 REDHEAD,  84 CANVASBACK and 1 
PIED-BILLED GREBE were found here. At Watchemocket Cove on the 28th, 1
BLACK-HEADED
GULL, and at the Crescent Ave. causeway in Riverside 1 EURASIAN WIGEON.

An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Succotash Marsh in Jerusalem on the 24th and 
26th.

At Point Judith on the 29th, 16 RAZORBILL, 1 RED-NECKED GREBE,  3 LONG-TAILED 
DUCK and 6 PURPLE SANDPIPER.

Finally, the South Kingstown Christmas Bird Count was held on the 26th.  
Highlights include: 3 RED-NECKED GREBE, 2 AMERICAN BITTERN, 1 BLACK-CROWNED 
NIGHT-HERON, 1 EURASIAN WIGEON, 6 NORTHERN SHOVELER, 113 WILD TURKEY, 1 SPOTTED
SANDPIPER, 2 WILSON'S SNIPE, 1 AMERICAN WOODCOCK, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL, 1 ICELAND
GULL, 3 LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL, 1 PILEATED WOODPECKER, 25 WINTER WREN, 1 
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, 9 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK, 2 RUSTY 
BLACKBIRD, 1 BALTIMORE ORIOLE 
and 5 COMMON REDPOLL.

The Audubon Society of Rhode Island offers many walks and special field 
trips, some non-bird related, open to both members and non-members.  Call 
headquarters at 401-949-5454 for a copy of the Audubon Report.  

That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding!

- End transcript

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