[Bristol-Birds] Lots of Pine Siskins / Merlin in Bristol, VA

I am sending an email that Ron Carrico sent me on Tuesday (Feb 24, 2009).
The Pine Siskins mentioned are on his property in (southwest) Bristol, TN
[Sullivan County]. I had just helped him fill all his feeders and put up 2
new ones on Sunday.

Rob Biller
Elizabethton, TN

I had a bunch [of Pine Siskins] here today - - all the feeders were full of
Siskins!  I even added an old one that I repaired last night.  ...as many as
a dozen on one feeder!  Thistle feeder is already down to half full.  ...not
much else - - half dozen total goldfinches and a few chickadees, a downy,
and a couple of tits.  I had three or four little birds down next to the
lake; too far to tell for sure, but I think they were yellow-rumps.  ...had
a screech owl last night while I was hanging the new/old feeder.

Yesterday, on the way home from work, I was stopped on Commonwealth waiting
for the light on State Street when a Merlin flew down West State and turned
onto Commonwealth.  He did miss the traffic pattern a little as he flew over
my hood - - about 10 or 12 feet above the truck.  This was probably the best
look I have ever had of a flying Merlin.  You could see all the breast and
under-wing patterns as he casually flew over the truck (directly toward
me).  He continued on toward the library and the light changed...  It was
just like he had been to Domino's and decided to go back to the library for
some more research, obeying the speed limit and most of the traffic signals.


Ron Carrico
Bristol, TN

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