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professor_pat
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« Reply #1395 on: January 30, 2012, 01:19:09 PM » |
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I heard that story about the Hawaii Snowy Owl - so very, very sad.
This weekend PatPartner and I are heading out to where many Snowies have been spotted! We'll be staying overnight in a B&B right by the prime location. Wish us luck!
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To me, forums are more of a relaxing period in which the poster can allow himself or himself to be lost in a sea of wonder.
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johnr
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« Reply #1396 on: January 30, 2012, 01:23:42 PM » |
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Anybody else benefitting from this year's southern invasion of Snowy Owls? We get an invasion every few years and this year appears to be good one. Many fine sightings on the coastal flats here. I'm hearing reports of other sightings throughout the U.S. I am! On Christmas Day, one flew right over the car on the way to Grandma's farm. Oooh...lucky you, EJB! You too, johnr! I keep looking for them, but no luck. A Yahoo news story reported that a snowy was sighted at an airport in Hawaii--but it was shot and killed because it was on a runway and, presumably, a hazard. Shooting a snowy owl/ That just HAS to be bad, bad karma. On a side note, I had some interesting mammal observations while doing my customary "birding while rowing" workout. I saw harbor seals (not unusual, I see those almost every row), a sea lion (much less common around here), two dolphins (also unusual so close to shore) and a family of river otters (very, very cute). |
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« Last Edit: January 30, 2012, 01:27:47 PM by johnr »
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"When I die, I hope it's in a committee meeting. The transition from life to death will be barely perceptible."
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professor_pat
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« Reply #1397 on: January 30, 2012, 01:39:50 PM » |
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Wow! Great sightings, Johnr! I've seen a river otter exactly once in my locality, although I believe they secretly live nearby. Would you be OK with my quoting this over in the wildlife thread?
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To me, forums are more of a relaxing period in which the poster can allow himself or himself to be lost in a sea of wonder.
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johnr
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« Reply #1398 on: January 30, 2012, 03:38:00 PM » |
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Wow! Great sightings, Johnr! I've seen a river otter exactly once in my locality, although I believe they secretly live nearby. Would you be OK with my quoting this over in the wildlife thread?
No problem. I didn't know that there was a wildlife thread! I think that you are probably correct regarding the river otters. Unless you spend a lot of time in the water, at night or early morning, you're not going to run across them that much. I own an old scow/barge that I keep tied up at the local marina. One year an otter took up residence on it. Well, not so much "residence", rather it was his favorite place to dine on the crabs he caught. Not only did he mess up my boat what with his sloppy eating, he took great offense at me actually wanting to use my boat on occasion. Whenever we would see each other, he would scold me for several seconds before begrudgingly sliding back into the water. Ok, back to birds. Barrows Goldeyes, a whole flock, this morning. |
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"When I die, I hope it's in a committee meeting. The transition from life to death will be barely perceptible."
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professor_pat
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« Reply #1399 on: January 30, 2012, 03:44:08 PM » |
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Here you go, johnr - the wildlife thread, with your observation as most recent down at the bottom. |
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To me, forums are more of a relaxing period in which the poster can allow himself or himself to be lost in a sea of wonder.
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gennimom
Somewhat Southern (Have I really posted that much?)
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 16,983
Let's get summer over with! Me want snow!
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« Reply #1400 on: January 30, 2012, 06:43:52 PM » |
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I was outside with the camera, watching the vultures when two very different birds joined them. I think they were northern goshawks. Unfortunately, I didn't see them until it was too late to take a picture.
DARN IT!
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...only after reading gm's post, my new mantra is "always listen to gennimom".
Monday reeks! - Garfield The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a person (or something like that). |
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treehugger1
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« Reply #1401 on: February 01, 2012, 11:48:27 AM » |
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I've been entertaining my parents for the last week, in part by introducing them to birding.
The various outings have yielded these additions to the life list: one kestrel a top a pine tree (pointed out by other birders), a flock of American avocets, no less than eight(!) reddish egrets, one solitary sandpiper, two purple gallinules and a bunch of yellow-bellied sapsuckers.
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« Last Edit: February 01, 2012, 11:48:49 AM by treehugger1 »
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Not a member of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. May we live long and not die out.
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barred_owl
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« Reply #1402 on: February 05, 2012, 01:13:50 AM » |
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I just found out that within the last 30-45 days, a Snowy Owl was spotted only a couple of miles from here! Mr. Owl and I are heading out tomorrow to see if it's still around. FWIW, I found out about that particular sighting via eBird. You can click on their map of the world, zoom in to your area and see markers for sightings between October-December 2011. Just the world map, though, gives a good first impression of what this particular irruption looks like in North America, at least. |
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...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
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professor_pat
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« Reply #1403 on: February 05, 2012, 09:07:36 AM » |
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Just got back from a glorious trip to see the snowies! They are so exquisitely beautiful: glowing white with those amazing yellow eyes, full of character. I'd been so impressed with the photos I kept seeing via my various birding contacts, but discovered when I got there that they're so relatively calm (and folks were actually very respectful) that basically all you have to do is walk up and point your camera and click and you'll get great pictures. I'll post some in the next few days for y'all. What a great way to spend time.
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To me, forums are more of a relaxing period in which the poster can allow himself or himself to be lost in a sea of wonder.
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treehugger1
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« Reply #1404 on: February 09, 2012, 01:32:47 PM » |
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I heard that story about the Hawaii Snowy Owl - so very, very sad.
This weekend PatPartner and I are heading out to where many Snowies have been spotted! We'll be staying overnight in a B&B right by the prime location. Wish us luck!
I was wondering if the snowy owl -- before it's untimely demise -- somehow took the plane to Hawaii. Does anyone know? A stowaway story would be almost more believable than that of either a very heroic or very lost owl. FWIW, I found out about that particular sighting via eBird. You can click on their map of the world, zoom in to your area and see markers for sightings between October-December 2011. Just the world map, though, gives a good first impression of what this particular irruption looks like in North America, at least. Cool. I discovered ebird this week and am already addicted. |
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Not a member of the Voluntary Human Extinction Movement. May we live long and not die out.
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pollinate
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« Reply #1405 on: February 16, 2012, 10:21:52 AM » |
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Looking forward to the Snowy pics, P_P!
I was able to get home a bit early yesterday to play in the yard. That would have been fun by itself, but I also had at least three male bluebirds chasing and singing at each other up in the trees. I do hope that one of my houses attracts a pair!
A pair of Downy WP's were also courting, the Mourning doves are getting noisy, too.
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While "against stupidity, even the gods themselves contend in vain" may be true,
it is not reason for us to just give up and let the stupid run this world.
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barred_owl
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« Reply #1406 on: February 16, 2012, 10:05:33 PM » |
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Wow, bluebirds already?! Cool, pollinate!
We have at least one male cardinal that's started singing already, too. Seems early, this far north. Daylength factors in, as always, but I can't help but think that this really mild winter we've had is part of the equation, too.
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...I can't help rooting for the underdog underbird. |
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anakin
Most snarkily lightsabered
Member-Moderator
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,478
Goes to 11
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« Reply #1407 on: February 16, 2012, 10:13:51 PM » |
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Wow, bluebirds already, pollinate? Did they have full breeding plumage? Here in Mountainville, some of the purple finches are starting to look a little dusky about the head. Oh, yay!
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Dr. Anakin sits high and mightily in her office while she condemns students to lives of misery and drudgery, washing out their husbands' underwear in filthy water. In addition, she is a horrible teacher. She welcomes you to Introduction to Biology!
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pollinate
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« Reply #1408 on: February 18, 2012, 12:37:52 PM » |
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The one Bluebird who stopped by the birdbath didn't seem particularly splendid. They also haven't done that again, so it may have just been practice - triggered, perhaps, by the first lovely day after a cold snap? I did recently see a Goldfinch who was obviously starting to molt into breeding plumage - he was in that mottled stage.
In other news, a Song Sparrow spent part of the morning foraging in the yard with a mixed group of Mourning doves, Chipping & White-throated Sparrows. This was my first sighting this winter, so I'm pleased.
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While "against stupidity, even the gods themselves contend in vain" may be true,
it is not reason for us to just give up and let the stupid run this world.
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johnr
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« Reply #1409 on: February 28, 2012, 11:50:46 AM » |
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Varied Thrushes are calling it up like crazy around here right now.
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"When I die, I hope it's in a committee meeting. The transition from life to death will be barely perceptible."
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