Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Indiana Birding

Updated on Sunday, November 18 at 12:41 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.

Overcast, 39 to 41 degrees with light northeast breeze. With a bit 
better weather, we more than doubled last weeks count with 52 species. 
The list included --

Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double Crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Bufflehead
Hooded Merganser
Bald Eagle
Coopers Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Killdeer
Bonaparte�s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
American Robin
European Starling
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
American Tree Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Northern Cardinal
Red-winged Blackbird
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Bird walks begin each Sunday at 9am at the Nature Center, all are welcome.
-- 
John Ulmer

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

John Lawrence and I made our way out Greene/Sullivan Counties today to look for 
the Prairie Falcon and see the short-eared owl show.� We struck out on the 
Prairie Falcon.� We looked between 3:30-5:30 pm.� Before heading to Hawthorne, 
we wanted to stop by Beehunter Marsh to see if we could scare up any sparrows.� 
We stopped by the pond on SR 67 just south of Switz City to start things off.� 
Here are some highlights of our trip: 


Pond on SR 67:
Canada Goose-200
SNOW GOOSE-4 (3 white morph/1 blue morph)
ROSS' GOOSE-1 (hanging out with the SNGO.� At one point, the ROGO stood 
directly in front (profile) of the blue morph snow goose as John and I had it 
in scope view from within 200 yards.� With the ROGO infront of the SNGO, it was 
easy to see the size difference of the bird and the bill.� When the birds 
eventually flew, we had another chance to compare sizes, with the ROGO being 
noticeably smaller) 

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE-2

Beehunter Marsh:
Sharp-shinned Hawk-1
Red-tailed Hawk-4
ROUGH -LEGGED HAWK-4 (2 dark morph/2 light morph)
Northern Harrier-3 (2 males/1female)
UNIDENTIFIED RAPTOR-1 (in the process of evaluating photos with Lee S.)
Sandhill Crane-2
American Tree Sparrow- 30
White-crowned Sparrow-3
Indianapolis Audubon Group?- several

Hawthorne Mine:
American Kestrel-4
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK-5 (4 light/1 dark)
SHORT-EARED OWL-13 (all concentrated in the area south of drag line.� This was 
most likely and undercount.� Had we searched the south end, the numbers could 
have been huge as they were very active.� Several times, John and I noticed two 
individuals interacting and 'barking' at each other.� They were very vocal) 


Scott Evans & John Lawrence
Monroe County



Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Eagle Valley/Royalton Circle will hold it's count on Sunday, December 16th. For 
those available for pre-assignment, please contact current (resigning this 
year) compiler, Sue Arnold, falarn AT indy.net, . Thanks to those who have 
already contacted! 


Assignments on thee day will be mapped out at the Ornithology Center (old 
Nature Center) at Eagle Creek Park at 8:00am. There are many areas in the 
circle outside the park we would also like to cover. Those wishing to 
participate in the pitch-in lunch at 11:30am, can drop off food in the am at 
O.C., or bring it to the new Earth Discovery Center, where beloved curmudgeon 
Bud Starling will conduct the countdown and make any afternoon 
assignments/suggestions for target birds missed. 


I will be collecting the annual $5.00 fee for the maintenance of the database 
and generation of the CBC summaries. 


Rare bird forms can be printed out from the cbc Audubon site and will need to 
be filled out and turned in to me for any birds considered "out of 
range/season/rare". I will also have said forms and count forms (# of species, 
party hours, party distance, owling, on foot, by car, at feeders, yadda yadda) 
avail on the 16th, or by mail earlier. 


Thanks,
Big Sue

http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/pdf/rarebird.pdf

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

This morning Betsy and I made brief stops at Paynetown and Cutright on 
Lake Monroe - overcast, misty fog, and 43 degrees - very still. The 
highlights:

     Canada Goose - 12
     Mallard - 4
     Hooded Merganser - 2
     Common Loon - 35
     Turkey Vulture - 78
     BLACK VULTURE - 4
     Ring-billed Gull - 3
     Wilson's Snipe - 8
     Bald Eagle - 2 (adult)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Interesting that Bob just sent this message....

Lindsay and I have been trying to get in on the winter finch action, and this 
morning I found our first Pine Siskins (only 2) at our thistle feeder. I 
pointed 

them out to Lindsay, and then said... "now it's time for a redpoll." I wanted 
to 

hear the Pine Siskins call, so I got out our iPod that has the Stokes CDs on 
it, 

and I played the Pine Siskin track (which also has Common and Hoary Redpoll 
on it). As it was playing, a bird flew in and landed on our roof, approximately 

15 feet away.  I looked up, and was excited to find a Common Redpoll!  Why 
can't they all be that easy?

Scott Namestnik
North Liberty

On Sun, 18 Nov 2007 06:06:, Robert Huguenard 
 wrote:

>Hi,
>
>  Brigid and I have 54 Pine Siskins under and on our feeders this morning in 
North Liberty.
>
>  Bring on the Redpolls!
>
>Bob
>
>
>      
__________________________________________________________________
__________________
>Be a better pen pal.
>Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.  
http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/
>
>Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting?  Try the permanent archives & 
search interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Hi,

 Brigid and I have 54 Pine Siskins under and on our feeders this morning in 
North Liberty. 


  Bring on the Redpolls!

Bob


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better pen pal. 
Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. 
http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/ 


Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Around 8 am yesterday morning my father reported a single female Evening 
Grosbeak visiting his tray feeders. It unfortunately did not stay long and did 
not reappear. He has a rural property near Buck Creek in northeastern 
Tippecanoe County. I remember back in '72 when we had 75 evening grosbeaks at 
the feeders at the same time. I doubt we will recapture that, but I'd settle 
for just one on my feeders. 


Mark Arvin
West Lafayette, IN

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Another belated posting.

On Wednesday morning (November 14, 2007) after spending the night in  
Linton I went owling again for Northern Saw-whet Owls.  I tried along  
the wooded edges of Goose Pond FWA in Greene County.  No owls of any  
species vocalized.

Weather continued strange for doing NSWOs. Warm, overcast,  
temperature 61 F when I departed early to go owling.  More chorus  
frogs calling in the pre-dawn hours.  Later in the morning I had to  
brake for black snake crossing a road in Greene-Sullivan SF.

After owling I did a waterfowl watch from the Goose Pond FWA Unit GP9  
levee.  The main highlight was (1) continuing AMERICAN BITTERN.   
Shorebirds included (4) GREATER YELLOWLEGS still present.

The morning featured a large Common Grackle flight.  On two occasions  
lines stretched almost horizon to horizon.  My added up running tally  
came to an estimated (90,500) COMMON GRACKLES.  There were actually  
far more going by than my estimates got.  After making entries up to  
that number I stopped counting.  I estimated the smaller groups by  
500s or 1000s, and the two larger passing streams by 5000s.

While I was doing a raptor watch at GP12 in the afternoon a local  
resident stopped by to chat.  He said this summer and fall of 2007  
were the driest he has seen in his 63 years of living nearby and in  
hunting at Goose Pond back before 40 years ago.  He remarked that  
places have dried out this summer and fall that he�s never seen dry.

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT GP9, before and shortly after sunrise, from the  
eastern levee on CR 1400 W:
Wood Duck 6
Gadwall 2
Mallard 318
Northern Shoveler 7
Green-winged Teal 56
Hooded Merganser 1
RUDDY DUCK 2  (not a common species at GPFWA)
Northern Harrier 2 (1 ad male; 1 ad female)
Greater Yellowlegs 4 (in the air together; calling)
Lesser Yellowlegs 1 (flew in calling, landed on the close mudflats)
American Coot 29
Red-winged Blackbird 1500
Common Grackle 90,500 (as per above)

I then continued my exploration of dried out GPFWA wetlands, this  
time walking in GOOSE POND UNIT GP3 off of CR 1100 W, 8:15-10:15 AM.   
I did some photography of the dried out scene. A chief aim of the  
walk was to see what sparrow species might be present.  The common  
species Song Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows dominated:

Green-winged Teal 6 (flyovers)
Great Blue Heron 3
Killdeer 4
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Wilson�s Snipe 1
Northern Harrier 2 (1 ad female; 1 juv)
Red-bellied Woodpecker 1
Downy Woodpecker 1
Northern Flicker 3
Blue Jay 6
American Crow 6
Carolina Chickadee 1
Carolina Wren 4 (wooded ditch edges)
Eastern Bluebird 7
European Starling 15
American Tree Sparrow 5
CHIPPING SPARROW 1 (adult basic; still retained some rusty in cap;  
black line through eye; whitish stripe above eye; gray breast with no  
breast spot; no yellow lower mandible and biocolored bill as on ATSP;  
in mixed sparrow flock along riparian ditch; only the third GPFWA  
record)
Savannah Sparrow 12
Song Sparrow 64
Swamp Sparrow 57
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Northern Cardinal 1
Red-winged Blackbird 100
Common Grackle 1500
Brown-headed Cowbird 2

In mid afternoon a NW front arrived with winds gusting to 18-20 mph  
and rapidly falling temperature.  I spent 1 hr and 15 minutes doing a  
raptor watch from the south parking lot for GOOSE POND UNIT GP12  
along CR 1400 W. A pleasing array of raptors up in the wind but  
nothing rare:

Turkey Vulture 12 (high in view at once)
Bald Eagle 2 (adults)
Northern Harrier 3 (1 ad female; 2 juvs)
Cooper�s Hawk 1
Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 (adult)
Red-tailed Hawk 6 (high in the air at once, included the dark morph  
adult)
Rough-legged Hawk 2 (1 dark morph adult male; 1 dark morph sex and  
age not established; both in view at the same time)

The dark morph adult male Rough-legged Hawk was took the aesthetic  
prize.

--Lee Sterrenburg
Bloomington














  
Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

A belated posting.

On Tuesday morning (November 13 2007) I assisted with waterfowl  
survey at Goose Pond FWA in Greene County in the morning.  I did  
Goose Pond Unit GP9.

Highlights from the waterfowl survey were (1) continuing AMERICAN  
BITTERN and (2) RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.  Tuesday�s sighting is only  
the second record for RBME in the property database. Red-breasted  
Merganser has been a scarce species so far in the shallow water  
wetlands of GPFWA.

Later I continued my walking explorations in some of the dried out  
wetland units at GPFWA.  On Tuesday afternoon I checked inside  
Beehunter Marsh Unit BH4. The only highlights there were (4) SHORT- 
EARED OWLS flushed from the grass.

Weather: fog and mist early, temperature from mid-50s F early up to  
low 60s F late afternoon and evening.  Winds calm much of the time  
with occasional periods to 5 mph from various directions.   In the  
evening while owling continued warm, mist turning to light rain,  
chorus frogs calling, and crickets chirping.

GOOSE POND FWA UNIT GP9.  Waterfowl survey from the eastern levee  
7:15 to 8:30 AM, a walk inside the wetland with hip boots 9:20-11:30  
AM, and a drive-by visit in the evening after doing Hawthorn Mine at  
sunset:

SNOW GOOSE 2 (a flock flew over calling after dark in the evening  
while I was owling along CR 1475; I could not tell how many, but at  
least 2; they flew over GP9 and sounded like they landed; they were  
not present in GP9 when I returned at first light next AM)
Canada Goose 11
Gadwall 8
American Wigeon 2
American Black Duck 5
Mallard 233
Northern Shoveler 7
Green-winged Teal 195
Hooded Merganser 3
Red-breasted Merganser 2
mallard X domestic duck 2
AMERICAN BITTERN 1 (flushed from the wetland, flew far away and  
landed up in the big bluestem prairie)
Great Blue Heron 14
Northern Harrier 5 (1 ad male; 1 ad female; 3 juvs flying together)
Rough-legged Hawk 1 (ad female light morph)
American Coot 54
Killdeer 68 (in 3 large flocks)
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Dunlin 5
Wilson�s Snipe 7
Ring-billed Gull 1
SHORT-EARED OWL 1 (flying over big bluestem at 6:05 PM)
Pileated Woodpecker 1 (calling from adjacent GSSF)
American Crow 16
Carolina Wren 1
European Starling 2
American Tree Sparrow 3
Savannah Sparrow 13
Song Sparrow 12
Swamp Sparrow 33
Red-winged Blackbird 27
Common Grackle 650
American Goldfinch 90

GOOSE POND UNIT GP5N, along CR 200 S:
Blue Jay 53 (in a flock flying south)

BEEHUNTER MARSH UNIT BH4.  A walk in the dried out middle of the  
wetland impoundment, 2:30-3:40 PM.  Very few birds:
Northern Bobwhite 5
Northern Harrier 2 (1 ad female, 1 juv)
Killdeer 3
Least Sandpiper 1
Wilson�s Snipe 1
SHORT-EARED OWL 4
European Starling 170 (hawking insects on the wing, swallow-like)
Savannah Sparrow 17
Song Sparrow 3
Swamp Sparrow 5
White-crowned Sparrow 1
American Goldfinch 2

Results from the afternoon and evening with the Prairie Flacon and  
Short-eared Owls at Hawthorn Mine and the Northern Saw-whet Owl in  
Greene-Sullivan SF have been posted previously.

--Lee Sterrenburg
Bloomington








  
Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

As previously reported, the (1) juvenile PRAIRIE FALCON was at the  
north end of Hawthorn Mine in Sullivan County the evening of Tuesday  
November 13.

The PRFA and some of the (9) SHORT-EARED OWLS present engaged in  
interesting interspecies interactions.  This posting has details on  
the interactions.

Weather: low 60s F, overcast, murky, no wind, and glassy calm surface  
on the Hawthorn Mine ponds.  During the middle of the visit light  
drizzle fell for 20 minutes.

Selected results were:
Wild Turkey 13 (flock foraging in the south end)
Turkey Vulture 1
Northern Harrier 8 (1 ad female, 7 juveniles)
Red-tailed Hawk 2
Rough-legged Hawk 1 (light morph, perched)
American Kestrel 1
PRAIRIE FALCON 1
SHORT-EARED OWL 9

I arrived at the north end of Hawthorn Mine at 4:05 PM.  No sign of  
the Prairie Falcon during an 18 minute vigil watching the line of  
power poles running west from CR 700 E, north of CR 600 S and south  
of the dragline.  The first Short-eared Owl was up flying at 4:12  
PM.  SEOWs sometimes get up well before sunset on overcast days.

I departed and headed to the south end of mine to look for Merlins  
and Northern Shrikes.  No success with either species.

At 5:02 PM I returned to the north end.  The juvenile Prairie Falcon  
was perched on the third power pole to the west of CR 700 E.  This  
would be the fourth power pole in the row, if one started counting at  
the lone pole to the east of CR 700 E.  I pulled of on the gravel  
road that runs to the east, south of the power poles, and I set up my  
scope.  The falcon had its back turned to me.

The falcon was hunting from its power pole perch, turning its around  
head around this way and that, and bobbing its head up and down  
frequently.  At 4:12 PM the PRFA made a fast dash after something in  
a depression to the west.  The falcon flew on powerful wing beats  
with two short interspersed glides while making its foray.  The  
falcon came up empty taloned and returned to its perch.

Shortly after its return to the pole top a group of five SHORT-EARED  
OWLS stared circling high above the falcon, calling back and forth.   
Two more Short-eared Owls hunted and circled low near me, also  
calling.  Then one of the high circling Short-eared Owls started  
making dives on the perched Prairie Falcon!  The SEOW dived down  
toward the falcon and the falcon spread out its wings in a threat  
display to ward off the owl.  This occurred six straight times. Each  
time the owl flew back up high, circled a bit, and then did a dive  
down on the falcon, veering off sideways just as it got close to the  
perched falcon that was flashing out its wings in response.

Short-eared Owls can be quite aggressive toward Northern Harriers and  
Rough-legged Hawks when the owls first come out in the evening.   
SEOWs were interacting aggressively with Northern Harriers this  
evening.  I was surprised to see one of the SEOWs taking on a Prairie  
Falcon.

After the sixth sortie by the SEOW, the PRFA left its perch and flew  
northward toward the dragline, making the entire flight on steady  
wing beats with no glides.  On the way to the drag line the falcon  
took a glancing shot at a flying SEOW (not the individual that had  
been attacking it).  The owl veered off to avoid being hit.  The  
falcon dropped down under the owl and then did a second, rapid ascent  
attack, which the owl likewise avoided by veering off.  The falcon  
continued on to the dragline, presumably to check for Rock Pigeons.

The falcon then turned abruptly west and flew over the mowed grass  
field.  On its way west the PRFA did glancing swings that put up two  
more Short-eared Owls perched on the ground.

I lost sight of the falcon to the west. The falcon did not  
immediately return to its perch.  I looked at my watch when the  
falcon disappeared from view.  It was 5:19 PM.

I then drove to watch a few of the Short-eared Owls that had moved  
north and west of the dragline.  When I drove back south on CR 700 E  
at 5:33 PM the Prairie Falcon was once again perched on the third  
power pole west of CR 700 E.  It was now approaching sunset.  Sunset  
time at Linton was 5:37 PM by my local sunrise-sunset chart taken  
from the net.  I stopped on the gravel side road and again put my  
scope on the falcon.  The Short-eared Owls had by then drifted away,  
and they did not recommence their attacks.  At 4:46 PM the PRFA  
pitched off the pole and flew low going south, using with a  
combination of wing beats interspersed with short glides.  That was  
the end of the sighting.

A further note on flight style. When the PRFA left its perch it  
immediately dipped down lower the than the pole top from which it was  
departing.  Likewise, it flew upward to the perch upon arriving,  
acting somewhat in the manner of the dip-down flight of a Northern  
Shrike when traversing the terrain from perch to perch.  The falcon  
made some low stealth-like flights relatively close to the ground  
when crossing open terrain.


--Lee Sterrenburg
Bloomington

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Thirteen members of Sycamore Audubon (West Lafayette) and the Purdue
student chapter of The Wildlife Society birded the lakefront this
morning from Michigan City Harbor through Beverly Shores to the Dunes
State Park.  We ended at Jasper-Pulaski State Wildlife Area where we
were joined by 11 more Lafayette-area birders.   Highlights mostly
duplicated the things reported by Ken and his group:
 
Michigan City Harbor
Horned Grebe   6 +
Dark-winged scoters - several small groups flying against the horizon,
perhaps totaling 30 birds. There was one very large raft of ducks too
far out to identify (at least by us non-Saturday-Lakeshore-Regulars).
Raft included several hundred ducks at least. I saw no patches of light
plumage that might indicate scaup.
 
Cooper's Hawk     1
Snow Bunting     15 birds in 4 flyover flocks
 
Beverly Shores
Red-throated Loon    9
Common Loon      1
Gadwall         2
Bufflehead      pair along the lake drive, plus a flock of 15 from
lakeshore overlook point
Red-headed Woodpecker    2
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1 (heard)
 
Indiana Dunes State Park
Bald Eagle            1
HERMIT THRUSH      1
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE    1  (in the fenced-in hollow below the green
tower area, seen about 2 PM)
Red-breasted Nuthatch    1
Purple Finch       2 males, 2 females
Pine Siskin         6
 
Jasper-Pulaski 
Sandhill Cranes       12,000 +
American Kestrel    1
 
Barny
Misner13 AT verizon.net
 
 
 

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Thanks to Ken Brock's report, I will piece together the birding that included 
Pete Grube and Michael Topp, before I met up with the Lakefront group in late 
morning.  There wasn't that much to add from Ken's list, just wish we'd seen 
the Red-necked Grebe today.  We did have two good rafts of waterfowl in 
early am-one off USX breakwall -birded from Lake St. Beachand the other, 
more off of West Beach.  Heard or saw Redpolls fly over on 4 occasions!

Lake St.: (w/Michael Topp)
Green-winged Teal (3)
Redhead-10
Ring-Necked Duck-5
Scaup, sp.  (200) birds were at a distance & sitting before a boat came
Canvasback-1 by Mike Topp only before my arrival
Hooded Merganser-4
Mallard-6
RED-THROATED LOON (2 juv.)
Common Loon-2
Horned Grebe (20)
Gr. Black-Backed Gull-1 adult found by Pete initially

Marquette Park (with Pete Grube)  includes large raft 
Scaup sp. --500+  probably many more
Dark-winged Scoter-3(from W. beach on pinery trip)  didn't have the scoters 
they did further to the east, but, we had large mixed duck flocks.
Common Loon-3
Horned Grebe-28  (50 between the two sites is a good total)
Hooded Merganser-5
Bufflehead-4
Mallard-7
Red-Breasted Merganser-9
Common Redpoll-2 early am flyovers to east

West Beach (9:45 am prior to Brock Group)  does not include birds reported 
later in Brock report
2 Common Redpolls (heard and seen) + more fly by's
50 Cedar Waxwings by parking lot
10 E. bluebird ( along inbound road)
6 Am. Robin (E. Pinery)
4 Am. Crow
E. Starling-1
2 Pine Siskin (fly by's ) does not include a Starling Pine Siskin imitation 
near 

rest room that Mike, Pete and I were witnesses to!  Is redpoll next?

It was fun to work as a "rouge" birder today, in attempt to maximize 
everyone's chances at another November rarity and, yet, mix with everyone at 
one time or another, as one group went east to west and we started west and 
moved a little east.   

John Kendall
Valparaiso

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Sandy Schacht and I birded Summit Lake State Park today.  One of our  most 
notable sightings was Steve Pancol, positively IDed by sight and  voice.  
Naturally, we saw many (but not all) of the same species that Steve reported. 
But 

our lists are a bit different, since we birded various areas  at different 
times of day and may not have covered all of the same areas. To Steve's species 

list, Sandy and I can add:
Am. Wigeon 6
Red-shouldered Hawk 1 imm.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER 1, east end of lake
Dunlin 1, east end of lake
Tufted Titmouse
White-br. Nuthatch
Golden-crowned Kinglet 3
Cedar Waxwing
Song Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird, flyovers
Common Grackle, flyovers
 
Jim Haw



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

The Townsend's Solitaire was seen late this afternoon by birders from several 
groups at the Indiana Dunes State Park. Look for trip reports from those groups 
later tonight. This message is just to get word out this evening for those who 
may wish to seek the bird tomorrow. The bird was seen today at both the 
pavilion parking lot and the "green tower" site in the west parking lot by 
20-30 birders. 


Good luck! 

Byron K. Butler
Chesterton, Porter Co. 

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Summit Lake State Park -  - Henry County
Not much in the way of waterfowl migration yet. Too warm.
Jim Haw found the Northern Shrike on one of the county roads bordering
the state park. I also found it at the beach, hunting from a small shrub.

2          Common loons
6          Pied-billed Grebe
12        Horned Grebes
2          Double-crested Cormorants
8          Great Blue Herons
56        Gadwall
149      Mallards
9         Northern Shovelers
1         Northern Pintail - female
14       Ring-necked Ducks
1         Lesser Scaup
12       Buffleheads
53       Hooded Mergansers
31       Ruddy Ducks
2         Northern Harriers
1        Rough-legged Hawk - late afternoon - on a telephone pole 200 yds.
          north of the intersection of the Nature Area (C.R. 500 and C.R. 750).
          Light phase.
1        Red-tailed Hawk
1710   American Coots - estimated
11      Killdeer
3        Wilson's Snipe
47      Ring-billed Gulls
1        Red-bellied Woodpecker
3        Downy Woodpeckers
1        Hairy Woodpecker
2        Northern Flickers
1        Northern Shrike
4        Blue Jays
18      American Crows
1       Carolina Chickadee
9       Robins
1       Northern Mockingbird
2       American Tree Sparrows - there were more, I concentrated on
         waterfowl.
2       Northern Cardinals
3       Rusty Blackbirds - on C.R. 600, near feeders
7       House Finches
1       American Goldfinch


-- 
Steve Pancol
Anderson,Indiana
Madison County
Website:http://stevepancol.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

The Beckham Bird Club, led by Jane and Pat Bell, held a field trip at Deam
Lake today from 9 am to noon. The group located 41 species, the highlight
being a Winter Wren that came within 15 feet for several minutes, giving
everyone a great look. 

There was a surprising lack of waterfowl, as in zero. Only ~20 Pied-billed
Grebes were seen on the lake. Not even a single mallard was found. 

List is as follows:
Canada Geese (in a field)
Pied-billed Grebe
Turkey Vulture
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
Blue Jay
American Crow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Carolina Wren
WINTER WREN
Eastern Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Pine Warbler
Northern Cardinal
Eastern Towhee
Song Sparrow
Fox Sparrow 
Swamp Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Eastern Meadowlark
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Blackbird
American Goldfinch

Tom and Colleen Becker
Floyd County

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Today (Saturday 17 Nov 07) Susan Bagby, Brad Bumgardner, John Cassady, Jeff
McCoy, Randy Pals, Larry Peavler, and I birded the lakefront from Michigan
City Harbor to the Hammond Marina.

We started at Dunes S.P. on a successful quest for the Townsend�s Solitaire.
The morning lake surface was smooth as glass, which helped us enjoy the
accommodating Red-throated Loons at the Beverly Shores �L� (elevated lot).
Our last stop was especially rewarding.  Jeff McCoy went to Jeorse Park
while we were at Hammond Marina and found a Red-necked Grebe, which we
enjoyed as a perfect ending for the day.

HIGHLIGHTS

DUNES S.P. (met (or heard) Don Gorney, Brendan Grube, Bob & Brigid
Huguenard, and Kevin Nevers)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (4)
Red-breasted Merganser (12)
Red-throated Loon (6- 3ad & 3 juv)
Common Loon (110)
Horned Grebe (177)
Bonaparte�s Gull (16- single flock)
TOWNSEND�S SOLITAIRE (1- in pavilion parking lot)
Am. Robing (93)
Cedar Waxwing (43)
Lapland Longspur (1)
Snow Bunting (88)
Common Redpoll (20- all fly overs)

MICHIGAN CITY HARBOR
Snow Bunting (25)

BEVERLY SHORES (Beverly Drive & lakefront- glassy water)
Green-winged Teal (10)
Redhead (1)
Lesser Scaup (200 est)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (19- in flock on water)
RED-THROATED LOON (11- 8 ads, 2 1st-yr, & 1 juv.  Nine of these birds were
in a tight flock 20 feet from the beach; watch for Cassady photos)
Horned Grebe (25)
Red-shouldered Hawk (3 ads)
Red-tailed Hawk (4)
B. Kingfisher (1)
Red-headed Woodpecker (4)
Pileated Woodpecker (1)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (4)
Hermit Thrush (1)
Cedar Waxwing (85)
Swamp Sparrow (1)
Purple Finch (3)
Pine Siskin (12)

WEST BEACH (met John Kendall- with Kevin Nevers)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1)
Hairy Woodpecker (2)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (1)
Cedar Waxwing (175)
Fox Sparrow (1)
White-throated Sparrow (4)
Snow Bunting (47- single flock)
Rusty Blackbird (8)
COMMON REDPOLL (2- fly overs)

MILLER BEACH
BLACK SCOTER (1- flyby)

HAMMOND 
GREAT EGRET (1- third latest record for Dunes area)

HAMMOND MARINA (light rain)
Horned Grebe (10)
Double-crested Cormorant (25)

WHITING 
Euasian Collared-Dove (28- including flock of 18; state�s second highest
count)

JEORSE PARK (Thanks to Jeff)
Greater Scaup (3)
RED-NECKED GREBE (1- winter adult)


Ken Brock
Chesterton, IN

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Leland Shaum sent me a list of birds seen on his property Nov. 11, some of  
which are quite notable:
 


Location:     L. Shaum homestead
Observation  date:     11/11/07
Notes:     Leland Shaum's  report from his property on CR17 just south of the 
corner with SR119.
Number  of species:     29

Canada Goose      6
Great Blue Heron     1
Red-tailed Hawk      1
Rock Pigeon     11
Mourning Dove      2
Great Horned Owl     2
Red-bellied Woodpecker   1
Downy Woodpecker     3
Blue Jay   2
American Crow     7
Horned Lark   2
Black-capped Chickadee     2
Tufted  Titmouse     5
Red-breasted Nuthatch      1
White-breasted Nuthatch     3
Eastern Bluebird   3
European Starling     50
American Tree  Sparrow     1
FOX SPARROW     1
Song  Sparrow     1
White-throated Sparrow      1
White-crowned Sparrow     1
Dark-eyed Junco   8
Northern Cardinal     4
Red-winged  Blackbird     30
House Finch     7
PINE  SISKIN     46
American Goldfinch      12
House Sparrow     8

This report was generated  automatically by eBird v2(_http://ebird.org_ 
(http://ebird.org) )

Dan Stoltzfus 
Goshen



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

On Wed. it was called to my attention that a shore bird was being seen at  
Fiddler's Pond. I saw it last evening but it was late and the light poor. I  
checked this morning again and found it. Birds seen there and nearby (which I 

call my home area):
 


Location:     Home area
Observation date:   11/17/07
Notes:     46 deg., cloudy, south  breeze.  The White Fronted Geese have been 
here several weeks. The Dunlin  has been seen 4 days in a row.
Number of species:      29

Greater White-fronted Goose     5   (2 adults  and 3 juveniles)
Canada Goose     400
American Black  Duck     1
Mallard     30
Canvasback   1,   female
Ring-necked Duck      13
Bufflehead     1     male
Ruddy  Duck     45,  (about 20 non-breeding adult  males)
Pied-billed Grebe     2
Great Blue Heron   1
American Coot     120
Dunlin   1    (non-breeding adult)
Ring-billed Gull   40
Mourning Dove     4
Red-bellied  Woodpecker     2
Downy Woodpecker     2
Blue  Jay     5
American Crow     2
Black-capped  Chickadee     4
Tufted Titmouse      1
Red-breasted Nuthatch     1
White-breasted Nuthatch   4
American Tree Sparrow     4
Song  Sparrow     2
Dark-eyed Junco      24
Northern Cardinal     6
Pine Siskin      2
American Goldfinch     12
House Sparrow   25

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(_http://ebird.org_ 
(http://ebird.org) )
 
Dan Stoltzfus
Goshen
Elkhart county





************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Just had 3 immature eagles circling above our house.
Was an awesome sight to see & hear!

Cheers to great weekend,
Julie Rector
Warren County


Live life one day at a time.


For Photos & Videos:
http://www.dropshots.com/HummerLover

       
---------------------------------
Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how.

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I believe the most recent record for Northern Shrike in Franklin 
County was by Amos W. Butler when he reported them to have been 
"quite common" in Brookville in the winter of 1880-81!

Bill

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Dave Russell (Miami University, OH) just called to report a Northern 
Shrike on the telephone lines along SR 101 just north of the Garr 
Hill turnoff in Franklin Co.

Bill
Earlham College, Richmond

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I started at the Nature Conservancy property on Lower Woodall Rd this morning 
at 7:30am. I birded the boardwalk to the observation platform and then back 
tracked to the original platform. More bird activity today compared to last 
Saturday. 

 
Am Robing
Northern Cardinal
Am Crow
Red-tailed Hawk
Downy Woodpecker
Blue jay
Eastern Bluebird
Eastern Screech Owl...2 responded to my Ipod version
Barred Owl...This bird crossed right in front of me low and very fast...spooked 
by a very loud and seemingly very near shotgun blast 

Song Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow FOS
Swamp sparrow
European Starling
White-breasted Nuthatch
 
Lower Woodall Rd beyond North of the parking area
 
Canada Geese-3 groups coming out of The Restle Unit
Blackbirds
  Red-winged
  Rusty
  Common Grackle
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Woodpecker
Dark-eyed Junco
 
Restle Unit  from the viewing platform and 100 yds n along the road
 
Canada Goose....none, they flew 10 minutes earlier, see note above
Mallard-300 est.
Green-winged Teal
Killdeer
Wilson's Snipe
Greater Yellowlegs..Just got the scope on it as it flew. This was my best guest
Bald Eagle...adult
The following responded to my Screech Owl tape on the road:
  American Crow
  Eastern Towhee
White-throated Sparrow
Field Sparrow FOS
Carolina Wren
Brown-headed Cowbird
Northern flicker
Turkey..gobbling from the hillside
Song Sparrow
Red-tailed Hawk
 
Greg Hess
Bloomington's north side
  
 
 
_________________________________________________________________
Share life as it happens with the new Windows Live.Download today it's FREE!
http://www.windowslive.com/share.html?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_Wave2_sharelife_112007
Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I spent the morning at the northern end of Brookville Lake (Union 
Co.) with some time at home (Wayne Co.) before and after.  Highlights:

Brookville Lake from the boat ramp in Whitewater State Park:

GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 (arrived with 3 Canada Geese)
Ring-necked Duck 1
Hooded Merganser 79
Pied-billed Grebe 3
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Bald Eagle 2 both 1st year
Northern Harrier 1
Sandhill Crane 15
Killdeer 330
Dunlin 6
Wilson's Snipe 1
Bonaparte's Gull 490 (careful count-estimate)
Ring-billed Gull 170
Purple Finch 1



Whitewater State Park dam, beach and north end of park lake:

Gadwall 17
Ring-necked Duck 4
Bufflehead 35
Pied-billed Grebe 20
BLACK VULTURE 128 (none in fish-cleaning station roost -- had moved 
to lake edge by the time I arrived, most sunning and cavorting on the 
beach area, aome in trees across the lake from the beach, and some at 
edge of marsh at north end; the ones on the beach area allowed 
approach within 20 feet while I was walking through them!  Goofy 
birds. This appears to be the 3rd highest Whitewater Valley single 
day total on record.)
Turkey Vulture 21
American Coot 35


Bill Buskirk
Earlham College, Richmond

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Many of us have had problems with window strikes and finding dead or 
unconscious birds as a result of these.  A simple, yet brilliant solution 
may be available.  Check out DAVID SIBLEY'S Blog (link below) to find out 
what he and his kids are doing to help prevent these.  It will also give you 
a glimpse into the personal family side of this very famous erudite author.


http://sibleyguides.blogspot.com/2007/11/simple-method-for-bird-proofing-windows.html 


If the Sibleys' method proves effective, it may be the simplest ways to 
protect birds from being killed at our windows.


Good Birding & Happy Thanksgiving!

Lynea


Lynea Hinchman
Michigan City, Indiana
Heart of the Indiana Dunes
CanyonWrenatComcastdotnet

"The beauty and genius of a work of art may be reconceived though its first
material expression be destroyed.  A vanished harmony may yet again inspire
the composer, but when the last individual of a race of living beings
breathes no more, another heaven and another earth must pass before such a
one can be again."  William Beebe

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

A few meager sightings in Harrison County today included a Black Vulture seen 
flying over I-64 in Harrison Co. near Indian Creek and a couple of miles east 
of the Corydon exit, 4 separate flocks of Sandhill Cranes (totalling roughly 
125 birds) a few miles south of Corydon, and a Pileated Woodpecker in the same 
area. 


Roger Hedge
Lebanon, IN

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

This evening (4:30) Betsy and I ventured to Riddle Point on Lake Lemon 
- lovely evening, very still, excellent visibility. Present were:

Canada Goose - 65
Mallard - 8
Green-winged Teal - 2
Lesser Scaup - 31
Ring-necked Duck - 7
Bufflehead - 19
Ruddy Duck - 12
Hooded Merganser - 5
Common Loon - 51
Horned Grebe - 6
Pied-billed Grebe - 8
Am. Coot - 75
Ring-billed Gull - 45
Bonaparte's Gull - 75
Great Blue Heron - 4
Bald Eagle - 1 (juv)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Thanks, folks!

Ronda DeCaire's research info suggested that wet tannin in an oak cavity is 
often credited for the appearance, other than the greater amount of black and 
less white. Makes sense here. 


Lowell Anderson

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Lowell,

Last year I had a very similarly colored Downy Woodpecker coming to my 
suet feeder. Mine also looked identical to the Pacific race shown in 
the Sibley. Knowing they are basically non-migratory I contacted Don 
Gorney for a more logical explanation. He told me that it was most 
likely a melanistic individual. They are rare, but do occur.

Donna McCarty
mccartydd AT sbcglobal.net
Indianapolis


On Nov 16, 2007, at 12:46 PM, Lowell Anderson wrote:

> I have at my suet feeder at Lake Holiday, southwestern Montgomery 
> County, a strange looking Downy Woodpecker.
>
> There is much less white on the head, and much more black.  The wings 
> have much less white and much more black.  The breast and belly aren't 
> white, but are more the color of a manila folder.
>
> It really appears very similar to what Sibley calls "Pacific."  Are 
> you kidding?
>
> Does anyone have any other thoughts?
>
> Lowell Anderson
>
> Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting?  Try the permanent archives & 
> search interface at: 
> http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html
>

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Lowell,

Your bird certianly sounds similar to the ones present
in the Pacific states; however, I'd bet the farm that
your bird simply is displaying signs of hypermelanism.



Michael L. P. Retter
---------------------------------
Tour Leader,
Tropical Birding & Birding America

http://www.tropicalbirding.com/
http://birding-america.com/

W. Lafayette, Tippecanoe Co., IN
mlretter AT yahoo.com
home: 
cell: 
http://retter.xenospiza.com/
-----------------------------------


 
____________________________________________________________________________________ 

Be a better pen pal. 
Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. 
http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/ 


Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I stopped by the Precedent Office Park off of 96th Street in Indianapolis on 
Nov. 16. A little bit of variety compared to only Ruddy Ducks being present a 
few weeks ago. 


Gadwall - 1, female
Ring-becked Duck - 1, female
Ruddy Duck - 8
Bufflehead - 8
Horned Grebe - 1
Ring-billed Gull - 1, seen flying near 96th Street

Also present were coots and one Canada Goose.

Don Gorney
Indianapolis, IN
dongorney AT yahoo.com
www.dongorney.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Both Pete Grube and John Kendall have alerted me to the fact that my earlier 
Townsend's Solitaire post is a bit misleading. 


There is only a possibility that two TOSO exist at the State Park at this time, 
whereas the sighting of two birds in 2005 is a certainty. That there were two 
solitaires in 2005 was first reported by Pete and Nila Grube, and were 
subsequenty observed together by many others. 


I did not know that and have learned something today. I hope this is now more 
clear to others as well. . . . If it wasn't already! 


Byron K. Butler
Chesterton, Porter Co.

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

A photo of the Indiana Dunes State Park Townsend's Solitaire as reported earlier by Byron Butler can be found at the link below.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/avocet07/

Pete Grube
Valparaiso

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting?  Try the permanent archives & search interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html

I have at my suet feeder at Lake Holiday, southwestern Montgomery County, a 
strange looking Downy Woodpecker. 


There is much less white on the head, and much more black. The wings have much 
less white and much more black. The breast and belly aren't white, but are more 
the color of a manila folder. 


It really appears very similar to what Sibley calls "Pacific." Are you kidding? 


Does anyone have any other thoughts?

Lowell Anderson

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

 
 About 11:45AM today about a dozen Sandhill Cranes flew fairly low over my 
house on Bloomington's east side. First of season for me!! 

   
 I'd been moping around the house for the past five days, sidelined by a broken 
arm resulting from a Sunday night tumble down a flight of 12 stairs. It's 
interesting what a special occurrence like FOS Sandhills can do to elevate 
one's spirits! :-) 

   
  Bernie Sloan
  Bloomington

       
---------------------------------
Never miss a thing.   Make Yahoo your homepage.

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

The past two evenings I've been able to get down to Whitewater State 
Park, Union Co. and visit the park's ramp onto Brookville Lake. 
Mudflats are now extensive as the winter draw down is well under way. 
Highlights:

14 November 2007
Hooded Merganser 115 (in the traditional concentration point along 
the river channel cutting through the mudflats).
Great Blue Heron 15
Black Vulture 14 (at the traditional roost site near the fish 
cleaning station in WWSP)
Turkey Vulture 25
Killdeer 150
Greater Yellowlegs 2
Pectoral Sandpiper 1
Dunlin 4
Bonaparte's Gull 105
Ring-billed Gull 155

15 November 2007
TUNDRA SWAN 1 (a lone bird flying NE in heavy winds over my property 
in southern Wayne Co. just as I left for Brookville Lake -- classy 
new "yard bird!")
Hooded Merganser 55
Double-crested Cormorant 7
Great Blue Heron 23
Black Vulture 24
Turkey Vulture 15
Sandhill Crane 23 (15 flying south along US 27 in northern Union Co., 
when I arrived at the mudflats 8 were present there and were soon 
joined by 15 which were probably the birds I'd seen farther north a 
few minutes before).
KILLDEER 425 (significant increase from the evening before)
Dunlin 1 (other sandpipers may have been present but lighting was difficult).
Ring-billed Gull 86 (most gulls had departed for their roost site on 
open water north of the Fairfield Ramp when I arrived)

Bill Buskirk
Professor of Biology
Earlham College
Richmond, IN 47374

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

10:30 am Chicago Time: Brad Bumgardner just called to say that Pete Grube 
refound the Townsend's Solitaire at the "green tower" location inside Indiana 
Dunes State Park. (The old green tower has been torn down.) 


As far as I know this is the first sighitng since Monday. Townsend's Solitaire 
was looked for but not seen yesterday, probably due to high winds. 


Brad relayed information from Pete that there might be TWO solitaires in the 
area. Pete saw and photographed one, which then flew to the west. Pete also saw 
a second bird that he thought might be another solitaire, but is not sure. At 
least one solitaire was seen in the cottonwoods near the green tower location. 


There was a similar question about whether or not there were two Townsend's 
Solitaires in 2005, at West Beach. Apparently no one obtained a image of two 
indiviuals in the same photo. Therefore, if you go for this year's Townsend's 
Solitaire and find two birds, try to get both in the same photo. The quality of 
the photo will not be all that important as long as two solitaires are 
identifiable to species. 


Good luck and happy feather picking! 

Byron K. Butler
Chesterton, Porter Co. 

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

This morning Marc Allaire, David Beery, and I visited a number of sites 
in the Lake Monroe catchment scouting for tomorrow's SAS trip. An 
absolutely beautiful clear, still, and very crisp morning. The 
highlights:

Paynetown:
     Canada Goose - 6
     Mallard - 6
     Ring-necked Duck - 2
     Common Loon - 15
     Am. Coot - 90 (in one distant raft)
     Great Blue Heron - 2
     Killdeer - 2
     Wilson's Snipe - 7
     Fox Sparrow - 1
     White-thr. Sparrow - 1

Cutright:
     Green-winged Teal - 1
     Ruddy Duck - 14
     Common Loon - 3
     Great Blue Heron - 2
     Killdeer - 1
     Ring-billed Gull - 5
     Bonaparte's Gull - 3
     Bald Eagle - 3 (2 juv, 1 adult)

Pine Grove:
     Canada Goose - 245
     Mallard - 25
     No. Shoveler - 7
     Great Blue Heron - 37
     Sandhill Crane - 325 (standing on mudflats)
     Killdeer - 50
     Dunlin - 5
     Wilson's Snipe - 2
     Ring-billed Gull - 35
     Bonaparte's Gull - 173
     Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
     Bald Eagle - 2 (1 Basic I, 1 adult)

Stillwater:
     Gadwall - 41
     Mallard - 21
     Am. Wigeon - 12
     Wood Duck - 6
     Ring-necked Duck - 350
     Lesssr Scaup - 1
     Bufflehead - 11
     Am. Coot - 150
     Pied-billed Grebe - 2
     Sandhill Crane - heard overhead
     Red-shouldered Hawk - 2
     Bald Eagle - 1 (Basic I)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

As Ken Brock mentioned in his post of yesterday, Sandy Schacht, Ryan Smith,  
Jamie Toole, Marisa Windell and I made the trek to Lake Michigan on Thursday 
to  see what the big cold front would bring in.  With the three-hour travel  
time, we arrived at Miller Beach around 8:30 CST to find that the good early  
morning flight was almost over.  And as things got slow, we left Miller  Beach 
before the two late Kittiwakes showed up.  We visited a number of  other 
locations without seeing anything unusual; among other things, we did not find 
the 

Saw-whet Owl that was reported Saturday.
 
Our only "good bird" of the day was a female/immature Merlin of the taiga  
race, which perched for five minutes or more in a tree near the beach  parking 
lot at West Beach, then flew off to the west.  We had great looks  at it 
through the scopes.
 
Jim haw



************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Yesterday I had a very early Tree Sparrow at my feeders. I can't remember 
ever seeing one this early-usually not 'till we get some snow cover. I hope 
this doesn't mean we are in for a severe winter. Today, a second 
Red-breasted Nuthatch came along with one I had been seeing for about a 
week. All the woodland birds seem to prefer peanuts or peanut butter which 
is very good because House Sparrows don't seem to care for peanuts. No Pine 
Siskens or Purple Finches yet, but a lot of cold weather is still to come.


Jerry

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Hi All,
Another good night for NSWOs in southern Indiana. Jess caught 23 NSWOs 
last night in Newark, but 3 were local recaps, so only 20 new ones for 
the season. He also had another foreign recap as well. I was out there 
at Jess's, along with Scott Evans, for the first half of the night and 
was able to sample 14 NSWO feathers for isotope analysis before I 
headed home. I currently have about 20 feather samples from YSF, too, 
for a good subsample of the owls this season.

Interestingly, Jess is getting several NSWOs that weigh over 100 grams. 
He is also getting a LOT more local recaps than we are in YSF. I think 
the food resources may be better in his neck of the woods this year, 
possibly explaining why Newark is capturing more owls than Yellowwood 
SF. I will of course analyze the data at the end of the season to see 
if there is support of this particular theory. We know that the 
audiolure's are all broadcasting at the same volume, so that is not the 
issue. We will also have to account for unit of effort.

Dave Dunatchik captured 8 NSWOs in YSF last night as well, including a 
local recapture of a bird that Jeff Hammond caught on November 7th, and 
was originally banded in Stephens Point, WI 22 days before that. That 
means we had 7 new NSWOs last night in YSF, with one relatively rare 
local recapture for this season.

Unofficial totals:
Newark = 214
YSF main = 113
YSF sub = 64
YSF total = 177
Grand Total = 391

Happy Owling,
Ross Brittain
Indiana NSWO Banding Coordinator

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Took a quick look out on the flats just now as we're packing to go to  
the LRGV, TX.  There's a 2nd-cycle LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL among  
Ring-bills and Bonies.   The 600+ SANDHILL CRANES are still out  
there.  A group of 12 RED-BR. MERGANSERS flew by and a fem. COM.  
GOLDENEYE (FOS) was diving in the east bay.

..........Jim & Susan



********************
Jim & Susan Hengeveld
East Lake Lemon Observatory
Southshore Drive
Unionville, IN  47468





Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

we had mixed rain and snow today and 45 pine siskins at the feeder.

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

On the way into school this morning, at ~7:30, we saw 7 vultures  
along SR-45 just southwest of Unionville -- 4 were TURKEY VULTURES  
and 3 were BLACK VULTURES.

.........Jim & Susan




********************
James Hengeveld
Dept. of Biology
Indiana University
Bloomington, IN  47405
Ph.: 




Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

We stopped at the base of Shuffle Ck. on the way home this evening  
and then I went back to Riddle Pt.   Don & Betsy Whitehead checked  
out the west end from the boat launch ramp and then joined me at  
Riddle Pt.  There was not a lot on the lake but, just east of Riddle  
Pt., there were 2 imm. BLACK SCOTERS hanging out with 3 AM. BLACK  
DUCKS.  At the east end, there was a major descent of SANDHILL CRANES  
as there are currently 600+ spending the night in our "front yard" on  
the flats at the east end.  On and around the lake:

   -52 Mallards
   -4 Am. Black Ducks
   -20 Gadwall
   -4 Am. Wigeon
   -30 Ring-n. Ducks
   -2 BLACK SCOTERS
   -29 Bufflehead
   -5 Ruddy Ducks
   -18 Com. Loons
   -2 Gr. Blue Herons
   -3 Bald Eagles (2 ad., 1 imm.)
   -600+ Sandhill Cranes
   -14 Dunlin
   -35 Bonaparte's Gulls
   -80 Ring-b. Gulls

At our feeders:  1 Red-br. Nuthatch, 2 Fox Sparrows, 75+ Pine  
Siskins, 2 Purple Finches

.........Jim & Susan and Don & Betsy




********************
Jim & Susan Hengeveld
East Lake Lemon Observatory
Southshore Drive
Unionville, IN  47468





Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

This post is to add a few more observations to what Ken Brock has posted for 
today, just for the record. 


Long Lake, West Beach: 
Wood Duck (2; m/f) 
Ring-necked Duck (1m) 
Hooded Merganzer (30, males and females nearly evenly split) 
Pied-billed Grebe (2) 
American Coot (1) 
Killdeer (5) 
Dunlin (1) 

Indiana Dunes State Park, Nature Center: 
Randy Shonkwiler and I arrived just as Ken and his group were leaving. We saw 
fifteen species, all of which were among those recently reported. The 
highlights were: 

Purple Finch (6; 3 male, 3 female) 
Pine Siskin (6) 
American Tree Sparrow (3) 

Interestingly, no Red-breasted Nuthatches were seen. 

The Evening Grosbeak has not been seen since Nov. 12. The Townsend's Solitare 
was not seen today, although several attempts were made to locate it. Randy and 
I made the last attempt at sunset today. The wind was too strong to expect the 
bird to show itself. 


An immature Red-headed Woodpecker came to the birdbath to drink. This was the 
first time I have seen this species inside the immediate feeding area. I 
believe Brad thought this was a bit unusual, too. Brad, Randy and I were able 
to see many new red feathers coming into the head and upper breast. 


Marquette Beach: 
After about 11:00 am only Pete Grube and I remained at the lakewatch. At 11:25 
am Pete spotted a Black-legged Kittiwake (reported by Brock). We watched it 
continuously until 11:28 when it dipped into a trough and we never again saw 
it. At 12:05 I reluctantly abandoned Pete, when nothing else of note had been 
seen. I do not know what Pete saw after I left. 


Byron K. Butler
Chesterton, Porter Co. 

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I drove Slab road and most of the parallel and intersecting county  
roads through the Jackson County Ewing Bottoms area today in search  
of Sandhills there were no Cranes in the dry fields however, on my  
way back East I encountered what I believe to be a Golden Eagle. The  
Eagle flew out of a treetop on the north side of the East Fork of the  
White River hard by county road 300N just past the Indian Creek  
bridge and about 1/2 mile west of the Sheildstown bridge. It flew  
across the river and perched at the top of a tree on the south bank.  
I exited the car and got a good binoc view as it perched a few  
moments then without haste rose to find the wind, did two loops over  
the river toward me and disappeared behind the trees on the south  
bank. It was imposingly large, darkish beak, smaller head and neck  
than most adult or juvenile Bald Eagles, had some white streaks on  
the underside and I believe on the top side, displayed some shade  
variation but was nearly uniformally dark and lighter brown tones.  
When describing the encounter to Sally she reminded me of a November  
10 posting from Tom and Colleen Becker reporting a Golden in the same  
general area.

Cold, cloudy, NW winds to 20 mph. 2:30 PM

American Kestrel		8
Northern Harrier		2
Red-bellied Woodpecker	5/6
Golden Eagle			1
Sandhill Crane			140	(flying, at altitude, southbound)		


Dave Crouch
Seymour

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

I watched a Bald Eagle soaring over the south side of Lafayette today.  Nice 
sight!  Neal Dickover

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

3 white-fronted geese were back at the Lebanon Business Park this afternoon on 
the pond at the intersection of Enterprise Blvd and Mt. Zion roads. They were 
found at this same location in October. Earlier this evening, while waiting in 
the car for my daughter to finish her piano lesson, I heard a Great-horned Owl 
on the east side of Lebanon. 


Roger Hedge
Lebanon, IN

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

Today (Thursday 15 Nov 07) a noble crew, including Byron Butler, Mike
Becker, Joel Greenberg, Pete Grube, Jim Haw, John Kendall, Jeff McCoy, Randy
Pals, Larry Peavler, Andy Sigler, Sandy Schacht, Randy Shonkwiler, Ryan
Smith, Marisa Windell, and I (sorry if I missed anyone) conducted a
lakewatch at the Miller Beach concession stand 6:00-10:45AM-CST.

Winds were NW at 20-30 knots and the temperature was 40. It was overcast.
After the first two hours, the movement became surprisingly thin.
Highlights included all three scoters, Red-throated Loons, Thayer�s Gull,
and Black-legged Kittiwakes.

MILLER BEACH LAKEWATCH
Gadwall (6)
Am. Wigeon (6)
Mallard (87)
Redhead (1)
Ring-necked Duck (7)
Greater Scaup (51)
Lesser Scaup (495)
SURF SCOTER (11)
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER (7)
BLACK SCOTER (3)
Dark-winged scoter (14)
Com. Goldeneye (7)
Bufflehead (46)
Hooded Merganser (60- best fall count in four years)
Red-breasted Merganser (135)
RED-THROATED LOON (2)
Common Loon (467- most were seen during the first hour)
Horned Grebe (21)
Double-crested Cormorant (7)
Am. Kestrel (1)
Peregrine (1)
Bonaparte�s Gull (50)
Herring Gull (285)
THAYER�S GULL (1 adult low over the lot)
BLACK-LEGGED  KITTIWAKE (3 juvs- one of these was seen by Pete and Byron
after I left)
Snow Bunting (2)

Highlights from other stops

WEST BEACH
SURF SCOTER (2)
BLACK SCOTER (1)
RED-THROATED LOON (1 juv)

DUNES S.P.
RED-THROATED LOON (2 juvs)

MICHIGAN CITY HARBOR
N. Pintail (11- flyby)
RED-THROATED LOON (2 not aged)
Snow Bunting (1)


Ken Brock
Chesterton, IN

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

At noon, accompanied by snow flurries at my feeder near Spring Mill
State Park (Lawrence Co.), 6 purple finches (3 males, 3 females) were
present.
On Monday, I had a personal high feeder count of 35 American
goldfinches.

John Castrale

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html 

This morning I birded Paynetown, Cutright, Pine Grove, and Stillwater - 
nice NW wind - and it has clearly moved some things in and a lot of 
things out.

Paynetown/Cutright:
     Canada Goose - 6
     Mallard - 8
     Bufflehead - 3
     Ring-necked Duck - 25
     SURF SCOTER - 5 (about 300 yards off of the parking for the marina at
         Paynetown - flew W when an adult Bald Eagle flew over them)
     Common Loon - 17
     Am. Coot - 210 (several rafts off of Paynetown - being attacked by eagles)
     Ring-billed Gull - 9
     Bonaparte's Gull - 85
     Turkey Vulture - 12 (numbers way down - must have headed to grits
          country with the NW winds)
     Bald Eagle - 11 (4 adults, 1 Basic IV, 6 juv - four birds hovering over
          flocks of coot off of Paynetown - many stoops, but as far as I could
          tell, no captures)
     Red-tailed Hawk - 2
     Cooper's Hawk -1

Pine Grove - all of the Great Blues had left and over half of the Killdeer
     Canada Goose - 210
     Mallard - 35
     No. Shoveler - 7
     Ring-billed Gull - 65
     Bonaparte's Gull - 20
     Franklin's Gull - 1
     Killdeer - 30
     Wilson's Snipe - 2

Stillwater:
     When I arrived there was no sign of any ducks from the platform - it turns
          they were hiding out in the corn and sorghum to avoid predation

     Mallard - 15
     Am. Black Duck - 10
     Gadwall - 8
     An. Wigeon - 2
     Wood Duck - 6
     Ring-neck Duck - 420 - all went up in response to a hunting adult Bald
          Eagle)
     Bale Eagle - 1 (adult - hovered over "hidden" Ring-necks repeatedly
         until the entire flock took - eagle then settled on top of a blind -
         as far as I could tell it was hunting on a non-hunting day and with-
         out a valid license)
     Rex Watters - 1 (fall plumage)

Don Whitehead
Bloomington
whitehea AT indiana.edu

Need to read an older IN-BIRD-L Posting? Try the permanent archives & search 
interface at: http://listserv.indiana.edu/archives/in-bird-l.html