We counted 46 species this weekend, which, with the help of Friday’s hard
freeze-up and snow dusting, beat our previous best-ever for this early-February
weekend.
Two first-of-year Fox Sparrows appeared on Friday morning and disappeared
before the end of the day, along with most of the dusting of snow. Our
first-of-year Towhee followed the same pattern, on Friday.
I saw Rusty Blackbirds several times yesterday and again today. I also got a
look at a probable Brewer’s, yesterday, but couldn’t confirm it. We found a
flock of them, late this afternoon, on our way to the Rodger’s Road Harrier &
Short-eared Owl roost. Those Brewer’s were about 1.5 miles from the house, so
they missed the weekend list.
Other highlights included 30+ Sandhills, yesterday, that we got only because
Rickey Shive reported them passing the J. Ferguson Road transient ponds,
heading our way:-)
On Friday afternoon, Debby drove to the Trimble Road Owl roost and I stopped on
my way home from work, on Rodger’s Road, to see if we could get a total of SEOW
in the area. These two locations are about 1.7 miles apart (as the Harrier
flies). We each counted at least four SEOW. Debby went back down Trimble,
last evening, and I stayed here at the house, hoping to add SEOW to our weekend
list. I counted three from here, as they disbursed in this direction.
Finally, this evening, we both went to Rodger’s Road. We confirmed four SEOW,
several of which came to investigate a motion decoy that we set up. The real
fun was 45 Harriers gathering in the lovely twilight. Debby got one photo with
nine Harriers!
Finally, today is 45 days since the Great Horned Owl has been in the nest
cavity, in the pasture woodlot. We’re certain that she has little ones under
wing and eagerly look forward to seeing their fuzzy little heads in the next
few weeks.
On Friday, Debby got some really nice SEOW photos at the Trimble Road roost and
also many feeder birds, here at the house. I’ll link to those lists, below.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S102028277 ;
https://ebird.org/checklist/S102034965
Stephen (Steve) Tyson, Schochoh, Logan Co., KY
Species Name:
Canada Goose
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Sandhill Crane
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl
Short-eared Owl
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
White-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
European Starling
Northern Mockingbird
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
Cedar Waxwing
House Sparrow
American Pipit
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow (FOY)
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee (FOY)
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Rusty Blackbird
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal
