FreeLists / birdky / [birdky] Painted Bunting

[David Roemer <dlroemer@xxxxxxxxx>]

Mark Bennett called and reported that the Painted
Bunting was easily located again today.  I spent about
5 hours with it yesterday, and was able to obtain a
few fair quality photos.  I will be glad to send a
couple if anyone is interested in seeing what this
bird looks like.  

For those who may be going to see the bird, here are
some tips on locating it. 

The bird is frequenting an area along 94 just
southwest of the intersection of Hwy 94 and 1282. 
There are a couple of areas at the intersection where
you may park.  Due to lighting, afternoon viewing will
be better from the road, and morning viewing better
from the adjacent field.  You may access the field
from the gravel lane into the Long Point Unit of
Reelfoot.  The bird has apparently set up a territory
where the short scrubby area under the power line
meets the taller trees approximately 100 yards from
the intersection.  It frequently circles this area,
stopping and singing at various points, including the
overhead wire.  It also chases the male Indigo
Buntings away.

The best way to locate this bird is to wait patiently
50 yards or so from where the shorter vegetation meets
the taller, more wooded area.  It is often found by
listening for its song, which is more warbling and
with phrases not paired like in Indigo.  It sounds
like a cross between an Indigo Bunting and a Blue
Grosbeak to me.  

As Brainard has suggested, it would probably be a good
idea not to use a tape for this bird, and it really is
not necessary.  The wait between appearances is seldom
more than 10-15 minutes, so please do not chase it if
it moves away.  Hopefully everyone who would like to
see this bird will have the opportunity.  Take a
spotting scope if you have one, the close-up views are
fabulous.

On the way home yesterday, I observed a Mississippi
Kite along Natcher Parkway near the Ohio/Butler County
line.

Dave

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