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09 Feb Successful Birds 'n Beers ["eric88kp" ] 09 Feb Fw: eBird Report - Turner Reservoir (East Providence) , 2/8/10 ["Kathleen" ] 08 Feb Bald Eagles ["Serpico" ] 07 Feb Birds n' Beers + Black-Headed Gulls ["eric88kp" ] 07 Feb Gray Cat Bird in North Smithfield ["r.marrjr" ] 7 Feb RBA: Rhode Island, February 6, 2010 [] 6 Feb Saturday Birds [Greg Sargeant ] 07 Feb Friday at Sachuest Pt. ["Serpico" ] 06 Feb Moonstone Beach Great Horned Owl ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 06 Feb Trustom Pond from Osprey Trail platform Fri, 2-5-10 ["mntncougar" ] 06 Feb Looking for Eagles...got waterfowl II ["Serpico" ] 6 Feb Saturday, 2/6 [Philip Budlong ] 6 Feb Lapland and King E update ["Michael Tucker" ] 6 Feb Brenton Point (King Eider et al.) ["Roger J. Masse" ] 06 Feb East Providence, 2/6, Black-Headed Gulls, Canvasback ["eric88kp" ] 06 Feb Sachuest Pt....Friday ["Serpico" ] 06 Feb Searching Eagles; got waterfowl ["acw02806" ] 06 Feb King Eider QUESTION ["Kathleen" ] 06 Feb Mooresfield Rd, Common Merg and Ruby crowned kinglet ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 6 Feb Turner Reservoir Canvasbacks ["Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" ] 6 Feb Bald Eagles ["Walter" ] 5 Feb Block Island - PACIFIC LOON and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK [Peter Capobianco ] 05 Feb Tiverton & Little Compton ["Doug" ] 5 Feb King Eider update ["Michael Tucker" ] 05 Feb Sachuest Pt. ["Serpico" ] 5 Feb RE: A few great birds in Tiverton [Shaibal Mitra ] 05 Feb A few Images ["Michelle St.Sauveur" ] 05 Feb Sachuest Pt. ["Serpico" ] 04 Feb king eiders Brenton Pt. ["bch19821091" ] 04 Feb clarification ["mattgri55" ] 04 Feb The Eastern Phoebe ... an over-winterer. ["Michelle St.Sauveur" ] 04 Feb A few great birds in Tiverton ["Michelle St.Sauveur" ] 04 Feb Sapsucker @ Great Swamp ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 3 Feb Gulls and Canvasbacks ["Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" ] 3 Feb Rose Hill Transfer Station ? ["Roger J. Masse" ] 3 Feb RE: RI south coast, 2-2-10 [Don Morgan ] 3 Feb Get back to birding [Donna Rustigian ] 3 Feb RE: RI south coast, 2-2-10 [Shaibal Mitra ] 03 Feb Cool HarleyBoyz wants to add you as a friend :) ["hotoacoolguy" ] 02 Feb Re: Birds 'n Beers [Bruce Larson ] 03 Feb Birds 'n Beers ["eric88kp" ] 2 Feb Re: RI south coast, 2-2-10 [Don Morgan ] 2 Feb Warwick Birds ["Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" ] 03 Feb RI south coast, 2-2-10 ["mntncougar" ] 2 Feb Bald Eagle ["Walter" ] 2 Feb Warwick Birds ["Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" ] 02 Feb Another BALD EAGLE- North Kingstown [Sandra Saunders ] 03 Feb Northern Harrier Barrington ["r.marrjr" ] 2 Feb Orange Tagged Gulls ["Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" ] 2 Feb Re: It's Time to get BACK TO BIRDING !!!!!!!!! [Doug Hlousek ] 02 Feb Waterfowl Survey and Middletown ["Michelle St.Sauveur" ] 02 Feb It's Time to get BACK TO BIRDING !!!!!!!!! ["Michelle St.Sauveur" ] 02 Feb Kingston Brids ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 2 Feb My last thoughts on the issue. I'm done! Who's with me? ["Michael Tucker" ] 02 Feb Re: Listservs and Other Forums ["Thomas M" ] 2 Feb RE: Re: Listservs and Other Forums [andy boyce ] 2 Feb RE: Re: Listservs and Other Forums [Shaibal Mitra ] 2 Feb Tuesday, 2/2 [Philip Budlong ] 02 Feb Re: Prob. Ivory Gull - Pollypie Report [Bruce Larson ] 2 Feb Prob. Ivory Gull - Pollypie Report [Isla Rdhodes ] 02 Feb Eastern Bluebirds North Smithfield High School ["r.marrjr" ] 02 Feb White Brook today ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 1 Feb Re: Birds please [] 01 Feb Horned Larks at Colt Park ["Serpico" ] 01 Feb Short-eared, Barrow's, Chipping, Redheads,Canvasbacks,Great-horned,Fox Sp.,- [ " Jack Sullivan " ] [] 1 Feb RE: Re: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks ["Michael Tucker" ] 1 Feb Re: Birds please ["John Magill" ] 01 Feb Re: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks ["boyceangler" ] 1 Feb Monday, 2/1 [Philip Budlong ] 01 Feb Bald Eagle ["Serpico" ] 01 Feb Some more thoughts ["Thomas M" ] 1 Feb Further Thoughts on R.I. Internet Birding Communities [Wheelan Drew ] 01 Feb Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks ["Bryan and Sarah" ] 1 Feb Birds please ["Michael Tucker" ] 01 Feb Monday Morning-Bristol ["Serpico" ] 01 Feb New Members ["dean" ] Subject: Successful Birds 'n Beers From: "eric88kp" <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 05:18:21 -0000 While I would have been happy to sit around and talk birds with 1 or 2 people, I was delighted to have 10 people there at one point to hang out and talk birds. Finally we all decided we needed to go home - at 11:30 - four and a half hours after most showed up! Definitly something we will do again, and something I encourage you all to try to make next time. And thanks to all who came, I appreciate your faith in this idea. I hope (and think) I speak for everyone when I say we had a good time. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI Subject: Fw: eBird Report - Turner Reservoir (East Providence) , 2/8/10 From: "Kathleen" <kab2769 AT ymail.com> Date: Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:19:34 -0000 Location: Turner Reservoir (East Providence) Observation date: 2/8/10, 3:30 - 4:00 pm Notes: Birds observed were in the restricted open water close to the Route 152 causeway. Number of species: 6 Canada Goose 105 Mute Swan 2 Mallard 45 Canvasback 2 Ring-necked Duck 2 Lesser Scaup 15 Gull sp. 23. Herring and ring-billed. The two drake canvasbacks continue. Do they do anything other than nap? At least the mallards are frisky. Kathleen Bartels Rehoboth, MA Subject: Bald Eagles From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:12:35 -0000 I don't know if any of you live in or near Bristol but if you do pick up the Feb. 4 Bristol Phoenix. On page 2 is a good picture of a pair of mature Bald Eagles in a tree in someones yard. They had a Canada Goose carcass and were pulling the feathers out. According to the caption the resident noticed feathers falling in her yard a looked to see where they were coming from. She photographed them before they took off taking the goose with them. The picture was taken on Friday, Jan 30. I'm pretty sure I know where they got the carcass. I was out on Jacob's Point in Warren on Jan 27 and found a dead goose. No signs of injury but it might have been shot by hunters. There are a lot of duck hunters on the point all winter. I'm assuming the eagles found it and carried it off. The distance from the point to the residence where they were spotted is about 1/4 mile as the crow flies. Subject: Birds n' Beers + Black-Headed Gulls From: "eric88kp" <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:43:53 -0000 Just as a reminder: if you would like to come downtown, have a beer and talk birds, we will be down at Trinity Brewhouse at 7 PM tommorow. Jimmy and I will be (proudly) wearing our Brown Boobies shirts, and we will probably be on the first floor (but in the basement is a sweet bar, too - so if you don't see us upstairs, check there). I have gotten a few positives, and a bunch of maybes, so I am sure we will have a decent showing. Today at Watchemoket, Orla O'Brien and I found 3 adult Black-Headed Gulls. Everytime I check there are more: 1, 2, and now 3. There were fewer gulls overall than past times, so perhaps the upward trend will continue. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI Subject: Gray Cat Bird in North Smithfield From: "r.marrjr" <rmarr2 AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 21:25:18 -0000 Today 02/07 one Gray Cat bird in North Smithfield on a powerline that starts on Ironmine hill road then runs west to east and ends on rt 146. The cat bird was in the center of the poweline in some thickets very tame. I have never found a cat bird in Providence County in Feb this was a first for me in 20 years much more common in lower elevations. Also found was a dead male bluebird in his box. And no sign trauma. Simple winter killed specimen. Not to far from the Cat Bird. Ray Marr Pawtucket rmarr2 AT cox.net Subject: RBA: Rhode Island, February 6, 2010 From: DLSaint AT aol.com Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 09:56:14 EST * RBA * Rhode Island * Statewide *February 6, 2010 * RIRI1002.06 - Birds mentioned: IVORY GULL PACIFIC LOON KING EIDER Snow Bunting BLACK VULTURE Eastern Phoebe Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Ruby-crowned Kinglet Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Rough-legged Hawk American Bittern Short-eared Owl BARROW'S GOLDENEYE Redhead Canvasback Fox Sparrow LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL CACKLING GOOSE Snow Goose Yellow-breasted Chat Red-necked Grebe Harlequin Duck Ruddy Turnstone Eastern Meadowlark BLACK-HEADED GULL COMMON RAVEN Brown Creeper Eastern Bluebird American Pipit VESPER SPARROW Rusty Blackbird Bald Eagle ICELAND GULL date: February 6, 2010 (401) 949-5454 or 245-7500 ext 3052 to report: email to: _DLSaint AT aol.com_ (mailto:DLSaint AT aol.com) coverage: statewide compiler: Janice St.Jean transcriber: Janice St.Jean (_DLSaint AT aol_ (mailto:DLSaint AT aol) ) _www.asri.org_ (http://www.asri.org/) Welcome to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island's bird alert for February 6th, 2010. This report covers the period from January 30th to February 5th. The next update will be in about one week. The last confirmed report of the IVORY GULL was on the 27th in Middletown, however there was an unconfirmed but reliable report that the bird was seen on the 30th in the same spot on Easton's Pond. In Great Salt Pond, on Block Island, 1 PACIFIC LOON was observed on the 5th. A KING EIDER was reported from Newport, at Brenton Point on the 3rd and 5th. A SNOW BUNTING was seen on the seawall here on the 5th. In Tiverton, 3 BLACK VULTURES were spotted soaring over the fields at Pardon Gray Preserve, along Route 77 on the 4th. Also on that day in Tiverton, 1 EASTERN PHOEBE and 2 YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKERS were seen near the parking lot for the Emilie Reucker Preserve. A RUBY-CROWNED KIGLET was seen on the 31st. In the cornfields along Seapowet Avenue, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS were seen with about 50 HORNED LARKS, and a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK was in the area on the 4th. At Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingston, highlights this week included: 1 AMERICAN BITTERN, 1 ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, 3 REDHEADS, 3 CANVASBACKS and a FOX SPARROW. A drake BARROW'S GOLDENEYE was reported from at Grassy Point at Ninigret NWR, along with the continuing LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the 30th. A CACKLING GOOSE and 8 SNOW GEESE were seen along Wapping Road in Middletown this week. The Snow Geese are moving around a lot, and are not reliably found. On the 30th, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was seen at Sachuest Point in Middletown. Other sightings from Sachuest included: 1 RED-NECKED GREBE, 34 HARLEQUIN DUCKS, 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE and 1 EASTERN MEADOWLARK. At Watchemoket Cove, East Providence, 1 BLACK-HEADED GULL was recorded on the 31st. One COMMON RAVEN, 2 BROWN CREEPERS and 3 EASTERN BLUBIRDS were spotted at Francis Carter Preserve in Charlestown. On the 30th, at Scarborough State Beach 3 AMERICAN PIPITS were seen, and in the Matunuck area that day, 1 VESPER SPARROW and a RUSTY BLACKBIRD were noted. More than 10 sightings of BALD EAGLES this week, from various locations, from the south coast, north to Cumberland. Finally, a clam and snail wash-up has on Easton's Beach in Newport has drawn in over a thousand gulls this past week, with 1 ICELAND GULL sighted several times feeding in the fray. Total species count recorded in January is 145. That's all for this week, thank you for calling and good birding! - End transcript Subject: Saturday Birds From: Greg Sargeant <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 22:05:34 -0500 (GMT-05:00) Subject: Friday at Sachuest Pt. From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:21:02 -0000 http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/img/v5/p482555707-3.jpg http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/img/v1/p260588378-3.jpg http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/img/v8/p293386453-3.jpg http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p290992737-3.jpg These pictures are from Friday. The last one is an Eider. I'm assuming it's a juvie male. Let me know if I'm wrong on that. Butch Lombardi Warren RI Subject: Moonstone Beach Great Horned Owl From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 23:03:35 -0000 We stuck it out till 5:20 pm waiting, with no luck, for the short eared owl at Moonstone Beach. We were rewarded though with a Great Horned Owl that we found in a tree with our scope. We watched for 15 minutes or so while it preened, stretched it its wings, and moved from branch to branch. Bryan and Sarah Glemboski Narragansett RI Subject: Trustom Pond from Osprey Trail platform Fri, 2-5-10 From: "mntncougar" <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:39:19 -0000 Sorry for the late post, but work gets in the way. 9:45 - 11:15 AM - list very similar to Tuesday: At least 2 Red Heads, 4 Male Canvasbacks and (almost certain) 1 female. C 10 Common Goldeneye, c 6 Buffleheads, 11 Ruddy Ducks, c 4 Am. Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, c 25 Greater Scaup, 1 F that appeared to be a Lesser Scaup, 4 Red-breasted Mergansers, numerous Hooded Mergansers, several hundred C. Geese, Mallards, 7 Mute Swans, 3 Great Cormorants (swimming in the pond). 1 Northern Harrier circled the pond in the area of the open water, 1 distant Red-tailed Hawk was circling to the east. From that platform the light stinks if there is any sun at all (backlit) and IDs can be iffy. However it is somewhat closer than the beach wash-through area. It did appear that the area of open water had enlarged somewhat from Tuesday, and if we can manage some sunny days and not-too-frigid overnight temps the pond may open some more. Almost nothing in brush along the trail. Don Morgan Coventry, Ct Subject: Looking for Eagles...got waterfowl II From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 20:47:22 -0000 Like Drew I went out to the Palmer River but on the Swansea side. I covered quite a bit of ground but the only thing I saw was one unidentified sparrow and a Downy. There were Swans and Geese in pockets of open water. I did not spot any eagles or anything else for that matter. Everything appears to be hunkered down, waiting out the weather. Butch Lombardi Warren RI Subject: Saturday, 2/6 From: Philip Budlong <blp8391 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 12:49:14 -0800 (PST) Birding this morning with Bob Jones, Carlos Pedro, Sandy Saunders, Chris Sidler and Scott Tsagarakis at Brenton Point SP, Newport: Horned Grebe, 1 m. KING EIDER, Common Eider, Surf Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Goldeneye and Red-breasted Mergansers. At Easton's Beach, Newport-Middletown: Common Loon, Greater Scaup, Lesser Scaup, Common Eider, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Buffleheads, Common Goldeneye, Red-breasted Mergansers and ~1000 Gull sps. (no Iceland Gull). There was a Northern Harrier and Sanderlings at Third Beach in Middletown and 2 Horned Larks at the Braman's Lane farm pond in Portsmouth. At Seapowet Marsh MA, Tiverton there were ~25 Horned Larks, Savannah Sparrows and 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. Phil Budlong, Westerly Subject: Lapland and King E update From: "Michael Tucker" <mtucker AT asri.org> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 15:43:10 -0500 Thanks to a lot of birders a bumped into today, I made quick and easy time of finding a couple of birds in my limited available time. In the Seapowet area I had 1 of the 2 Lapland Longspurs that were seen by others. It took me a while to find the King Eider at Brenton Point in the early afternoon but a birder there helped me with the area to look. When I had it, it was off quite a ways and using a scope helped a great deal. It sounds like it was much closer yesterday. Easton's Beach continues to have thousands of gulls feeding on the washed up surf clams. It's the most I've seen there in a few visits over the last couple of weeks. I wish I had more time to look through them. As I scanned them looking for my life Ivory, I found the Iceland Gull that's been reported there over the last couple of weeks. I think birders should really take their time looking through this enormous flock. I hope to get back there in a couple of days. Mike Tucker Seekonk, MA Subject: Brenton Point (King Eider et al.) From: "Roger J. Masse" <rjmasse AT mail.uri.edu> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 15:40:52 -0500 My wife and I saw the previously reported King Eider at Brenton Point State Park this afternoon; a very handsome adult male. Our best views were from the parking area along the main road at the east side of the state park. The bird was quite distant; noticeable through binoculars, identifiable through a scope. I heard from a fellow birder that it has been seen very close to shore (<100 yards) at low tide. Other species that we observed included American Black Duck, Mallard, Black Scoter, Double-crested Cormorant, Horned Grebe, Canada Goose, Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls, Red-breasted Merganser, Bufflehead, Fish Crow, Common Goldeneye, Common Eider and Common Loon. Take care, Roger Masse Subject: East Providence, 2/6, Black-Headed Gulls, Canvasback From: "eric88kp" <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 19:35:21 -0000 At Watchemoket, 2 Black-headed gulls continue, though finding them was hard with all the gulls having their heads tucked in and in tight groups, probably on account of the cold and wind. An immature Cooper's hawk flew over the cove and none of the gulls or ducks even batted an eye. At Bullock's Cove, 13 Canvasback - the hunting season ended on Jan. 24th, so I think its safe to post waterfowl now. At the legion thickets in Barrington, no sign of the towhee or thrasher of a couple weeks ago, but everything was low and silent, so they could still be there. A notable exception was a Belted Kingfisher on the small stream, which was unfrozen. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI Subject: Sachuest Pt....Friday From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:30:15 -0000 I stopped again at Sachuest Pt. on my way back from Wickford. The Red Tail was still hunting from the light pole at the entrance to the preserve. On my trip on Thurs. I missed the Harlequins but they were there on Friday in several small groups. Goldeneye and Surf Scoter were not found but there were several groups of Common Eider and a few Red Breasted Mergansers. I'll post some picture as soon as I get them out of the camera. Butch Lombardi Warren RI Subject: Searching Eagles; got waterfowl From: "acw02806" <acw02806 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 17:26:39 -0000 Cold birding in Barrington/Warren: 18 Mute swans in an open-water space on the Palmer River off of Belvedere Ave. Six lesser scaup, 32 buffleheads, 10 hooded mergansers, and 6 red-breaster mergansers in the Warren River off of the old Samsonite factory. Two red-breasted mergansers, 8 hooded mergansers, and 1 red-throated loon in 100 Acre Cover Barrington, just north of the White Church bridge. Not 100% on the loon, but appeared smaller than a common loon, fairly strong back pattern, and the "snake-like" quality mentioned in the Peterson field guide. Drew Winner Barrington RI Subject: King Eider QUESTION From: "Kathleen" <kab2769 AT ymail.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:17:48 -0000 I plan to visit Middletown, Sachuest, Brenton Point on Sunday. Wondering if the King Eider has been seen close to shore or only scope-viewable? I have binoculars, no scope, but a 500mm lens. Hope to get some shots. Any info would be appreciated. BTW, I think it's been a great week of posts, appreciate all the reports and especially links to photos. THANKS! Kathleen Bartels Rehoboth, MA Subject: Mooresfield Rd, Common Merg and Ruby crowned kinglet From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 06 Feb 2010 16:04:06 -0000 There is a small pond formed by the Saugatucket River near The intersection of Broad rock rd. and RT 138 in South Kingstown. Today at 10:30 AM there was a male Common Merganser along with the usual Mallards. When I got out of my car on Broad rock to get a better look, a Ruby Crowned Kinglet popped up so close to me I could barely focus my binoculars on it. This spot is about 1.5 miles, as the kinglet flies, from Sheila Milton's resident bird. Bryan Glemboski Narragansett RI Subject: Turner Reservoir Canvasbacks From: "Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 10:15:56 -0500 At 9:30am a pair of drake CANvASBACKs was present at Turner Reservoir in East Providence. There was not much else, gull and geese numbers were low. Greg Sargeant Providence Subject: Bald Eagles From: "Walter" <wfbosse AT cox.net> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 09:22:06 -0500 THursday's Edition of the Valley Breeze, a weekly newspaper of the Blackstone Valley, had an article with Pictures of 4 Adult Bald Eagles eating a Deer Carcuss on the ice atDiamond Hill Reservoir in Cumberland. The Deer according to neighbors was killed by Coyotes. Walter Bosse Subject: Block Island - PACIFIC LOON and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK From: Peter Capobianco <Peter.Capobianco AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 22:59:23 -0500 Today Steve Reinert, Dave Gumbley, Pete McCalmont, and I birded Block Island. Birds were few and far between to say the least. There was a Red-shouldered Hawk at the greenway. This must be a pretty good bird knowing the rarity of buteos on the island. The highlight of the day was a Pacific Loon in Great Salt Pond. This was a dark bird, with a small, pointy bill. Also, the bird had a very sharp cut-off of dark to light on the neck and no white around the eye. The rounded head and small size easily separated this bird from the Common Loons in the area. Good Birding, Peter Capobianco Riverside, RI Subject: Tiverton & Little Compton From: "Doug" <doughlousek AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:44:04 -0000 My wife and I spent the afternoon birding in Tiverton & Little Compton. Emilie Ruecker - No Phoebe in parking lot around 1:30. Almost 500 Canada Geese across the road in the field; One Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a pair of Downys in the parking lot trees, and a flock of Robins in the thicket by the parking lot. Sapowet Marsh - Not our day. No Lapland Longspurs or Horned Larks in the fields. As we approached from the north a flock of around 50 small birds made a feeble attempt to land in the field west of the road and then disappeared to the west. The usual Brant, Golden Eyes and Buffleheads. . Fogland - The usual flock of Brant landed by the point as we arrived. A flock of about 50 Sanderlings left the beach as we arrived and were almost covering the rocks at the point. Nothing else worth commenting on. Nonquit Pond, south of spillway - Buffleheads, Hooded and Red-breasted Mergs, a pair of Mute Swans, and one lone Pied-billed Grebe. Sakonnet Point - The ocean side was quiet; 1 Bufflehead and a pair of Common Eiders. In the harbor were a pair of Goldeneyes, two male Red-breasted Mergs, and 9 Common Eiders; 5 female, and 4 juvenile males. Subject: King Eider update From: "Michael Tucker" <mtucker AT asri.org> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 12:04:28 -0500 Jan St.Jean just called me to say she located the male King Eider that was reported yesterday at Brenton Point in Newport. It was towards the east end of the park and in front of the rock island that often has seals on it. Mike Tucker Seekonk, MA Subject: Sachuest Pt. From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 14:47:58 -0000 http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/p471313211/slideshow This is a short slideshow on what I found at Sachuest. It includes a fishing boat and a White Tail Deer but also a Surf Scoter, Common Goldeneye and Eider and a red tail... Subject: RE: A few great birds in Tiverton From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra AT csi.cuny.edu> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 09:22:19 -0500 Hi Michelle and all, A Phoebe in February is a pretty rare sight in RI. They tend to be few and far between on the CBCs in late December, and spring migrants usually don't return until the middle of March--so any record in between is very noteworthy. These same statements once applied also to the Sapsucker (which usually doesn't return north until about the beginning of April), and also to Ruby-crowned Kinglet (also an early April arrival), but the number of Jan-Feb records for all of these birds has been increasing rapidly in recent years. It's interesting to consider that the increasing persistence of these birds into Jan and Feb in RI implies that the northern edges of these species' "regular" winter ranges are also moving northward. I can see this quite clearly where I live, roughly 100 miles southwest of South County, where all three of these birds are now "almost regular" in Jan-Feb. It also means that a few brave individuals are trying to tough out the winters even north of RI. To top it all off, there is plenty of evidence that "normal" spring migration dates are advancing for all of these species. What this means is that a particular record from late winter could be (a) a bird that has wintered locally; (b) a bird that tried to winter even farther north but had to bail out when conditions deteriorated; or (c) a frisky northbound pioneer. In this case, Michelle has solved the mystery by tying this phoebe to a string of earlier observations--another example of how sharing information can produce a sum greater than its parts. My mom's Ruby-crowned Kinglet is still pretty spry in Exeter, too! Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Michelle St.Sauveur [bittern AT verizon.net] Sent: Thursday, February 04, 2010 5:12 PM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [RIBIRDS] A few great birds in Tiverton Birding with Jan St.Jean today ... near the parking lot at Emily Ruecker Preserve ... an Eastern Phoebe. Jan and I were debating. Is it an early migrant from the south or an over-wintering individual? Any input from the gang? Also at this location ... 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. Think green before you print this email. Subject: A few Images From: "Michelle St.Sauveur" <bittern AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 07:06:51 -0000 Here are a few photos I took yesterday. One is of a female Scaup sp. in flight which I believe is a Greater Scaup based on the white in the wing pattern. Also are poorly lit photos of the male Lapland Longspur found yesterday at Seapowet Rd. http://picasaweb.google.com/michellelynnsts/RecentPhotos2# Michelle St.Sauveur Coventry, RI Subject: Sachuest Pt. From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 02:14:49 -0000 I stopped at Sachuest Pt. on my way back from Wickford today. I spotted a Red Tail Hawk just as I pulled into the parking lot. He flew across the field and onto one of the light poles near the entrance. When a jogger with his dog ran by and the bird stayed put I grabbed the camera and walked down the road figuring if he wasn't spooked by the dog he might stay put. I glanced away for a second and when I looked back he was gone. I searched the area but couldn't pick him up in flight which meant he must be on the ground near the light pole. Walking slowly down the road I found him on a kill just off the road in the field. I managed to get some really nice shots without disturbing his meal. He finished and flew off across the fields. On a walk along the shore I photographed a male Common Eider (there were several small groups of them scattered along the shore), a male Surf Scoter (only one I saw), a male Common Goldeneye (another small group of Goldeneye nearby)and a Marsh Hawk drifting across the fields just at sunset. I'll post a link to the pictures when I get them up online... Subject: king eiders Brenton Pt. From: "bch19821091" <bch19821091 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:28:10 -0000 there have been two KIEI at Brenton Pt. since atleast late december. One was seen yesterday 2/3 -Brian Harris Subject: clarification From: "mattgri55" <mattgri55 AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 23:19:11 -0000 Just read Michelle's post, the Ivory Gull was last seen on the 27th. matt grimes Subject: The Eastern Phoebe ... an over-winterer. From: "Michelle St.Sauveur" <bittern AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:58:08 -0000 I just received an e-mail from Joe Metzen who manages Emily Ruecker for ASRI. He tells me he's been seeing a Phoebe regularly around the refuge for some time. It appears that our bird is an over-winterer. Thanks Joe!!! Michelle St.Sauveur Coventry, RI Subject: A few great birds in Tiverton From: "Michelle St.Sauveur" <bittern AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 22:12:03 -0000 Birding with Jan St.Jean today ... near the parking lot at Emily Ruecker Preserve ... an Eastern Phoebe. Jan and I were debating. Is it an early migrant from the south or an over-wintering individual? Any input from the gang? Also at this location ... 2 Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers. At Seapowet Marsh Fields ... 2 LAPLAND LONGSPUR. One was a brightly colored male that appeared to be molting to breeding plumage. A gorgeous bird! These were found in a flock of about 50 Horned Larks in the fields on the left. We also had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK at this location. A few Sanderlings, Dunlin, and Brant were out at the point. At Pardon Grey Preserve ... 3 BLACK VULTURES along with 5 Turkey Vultures. The Turkey Vultures were feeding on a skunk carcass. A female Green-winged Teal was present at Easton Pond. I spoke with Matt Grimes today at Easton Pond. No sign of the Ivory Gull now for 6 days. Connecticut birders are hoping it's headed their way. I also have an unconfirmed report of a King Eider at Brenton Point in Newport. According to a Jamestown birder I spoke with, it's been seen there now for close to a week. Good Birding, Michelle St.Sauveur Coventry, RI Subject: Sapsucker @ Great Swamp From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:17:26 -0000 I spent 1/2 an hour in the Great Swamp today. It was windy,so I only had a couple of birds of note: Yellow bellied Sapsucker: 1 Eastern Bluebird: 6 Yellow rump warbler: 8 Bryan Glemboski Narragansett, RI Subject: Gulls and Canvasbacks From: "Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 20:10:17 -0500 An enormous flock of mostly Ring-billed gulls numbering in the thousands flew south over Pawtuxet Cove towards Gaspee point this afternoon. The flock was much larger and denser than the normal "evening commute" of gulls to their roosting areas. I would not normally report a flock of gulls but the sheer size of this flock was noteworthy, The spots in the area still had plenty of gulls present after the flock passed. I also spotted a couple more of the orange tagged gulls from Wachusett reservoir in Pawtuxet. Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/sargeguy.RI/GullsAndTerns#5434187691775594818 Also, the CANVASBACKs continue at a location in the upper bay. Greg Sargeant Providence, RI Subject: Rose Hill Transfer Station ? From: "Roger J. Masse" <rjmasse AT mail.uri.edu> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 16:08:02 -0500 Just wondering if anyone has birded at the Rose Hill Transfer Station in South Kingstown in search of gulls? I was there this afternoon with recycling and there were about 100 gulls or so on the various buildings. I didn't have my bins. or scope though, but I was curious if others have searched for gulls here before. Thanks and take care, Roger Subject: RE: RI south coast, 2-2-10 From: Don Morgan <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 15:42:34 -0500 Thanks Shai, for taking the time to give that great explanation of the rafts of birds off the RI coast. Since I only get there once every few weeks I only see snapshots of what is really going on. Don Morgan Coventry, CT Subject: Get back to birding From: Donna Rustigian <artdon2001 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:24:28 -0800 (PST) There has been much hullabaloo over the posting of bird sightings.  Honestly speaking, I am tired of reading about it.    Can everyone get back to posting bird sightings so the rest of the group and enjoy this forum once again?   Donna Rustigian Greene, RI Subject: RE: RI south coast, 2-2-10 From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra AT csi.cuny.edu> Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:52:51 -0500 Hi Don, Scoter flocks can be mysterious things; they vary enormously in size, species composition, and location from year to year--and through the course of any given fall to winter to spring season. Along the stretch of coast you describe, from Quonny to Watch Hill, mixed flocks of scoters are very much expected. Here are scoter totals from the Napatree Christmas Bird Count for the last eight years: Species 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 Surf Scoter 131 150 40 53 120 147 29 130 WW Scoter 38 103 100 44 98 181 17 23 Black Scoter 674 166 9 51 70 48 43 43 You can compare these numbers to those from the South Kingstown, Newport-Westport, and Block Island CBCs by consulting: http://www.audubon.org/bird/cbc/hr/index.html In many winters there are really big flocks on the shoals between Dickens Pt, BI and Montauk Pt, LI (the latter is visible from the southwestern coast of RI and is conspicuously close to Block Island). In many years, it is not unusual to tally ca. 30,000 or more scoters at Montauk, but this year, these flocks have been downright paltry. Conversely, in 07-08 and 08-09, there were huge flocks farther west along the south shore of LI, e.g., in the Captree and Southern Nassau County CBCs (27,000+ Black Scoters at Captree last winter!). Along similar lines, it might be of interest to note that this ubiquity of Common Eiders along the RI shore is a very new thing. Prior to 1992, the Newport County-Westport CBC never tallied more than a few hundred Common Eiders, whereas now multi-thousands are the norm. Looking slightly farther afield, the waters around Nantucket Island have traditionally been famous for hosting hundreds of thousands of Common Eiders and Oldsquaws. Watching a quarter million Oldsquaws fly out from the sound to the shoals at dawn is one of the most amazing wildlife spectacles in eastern North America! I'm told, however, that the numbers were punk this year. Obviously there's a lot to be learned by staring out over the waves and contemplating rafts of ducks--and it's fun too! Cheers, Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of mntncougar [mntncougar AT gmail.com] Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2010 10:35 PM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [RIBIRDS] RI south coast, 2-2-10 Trustom Pond, from the washout, 9:30 - 10:30 am: 4 Canvasbacks, 2 Redheads, c 6 Am Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, c 12 Greater Scaup (did not spot any identifiable as Lesser), c 4 Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans. Off the beach, several Common Loons, many Common Eider in 1s and 2s and small groups. Charlestown Beach/breachway: Many Common Loons (at least 10) and F Common Eider in the breachway, fishing for crabs. The fishing was very good as the birds came up with a catch about every 2nd or 3rd dive. Only 1 M C. Eider in the breachway mouth, but many more M and F off shore. 1 Horned Grebe in the breachway and several more just off the mouth. 1 imm. and 2 adult Great Cormorants on the rocks. Over the marshes 2 Northern Harriers. Weekapaug area: Very large numbers of Common Eiders off shore, numbering several hundred at least. Small groups and at least 2 large rafts of over 100 each. Beyond the farthest Eiders there was an astonishingly large group of birds in a line perhaps half a mile offshore. Line was mostly from the Breachway east, and certainly numbered several thousand birds. Too far for me to ID with my scope, but they were not Eiders, as there was very little white, and birds appeared generally black. I assume they were Scoters, and I thought I could see white patches on the back of a few necks, indicating Surf Scoters. I believe I have seen a similar group in that area and down to Quonny Breach in past years. If anyone has better knowledge of what they are I would be interested in knowing. Don Morgan Coventry, Ct Think green before you print this email. Subject: Cool HarleyBoyz wants to add you as a friend :) From: "hotoacoolguy" <hotoacoolguy AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 12:01:49 -0000 I want to add you as a friend so you can see my profile with my pictures.Here is the link: http://www.ourlivespace.com/hotcoolguy/addme.htm Subject: Re: Birds 'n Beers From: Bruce Larson <bruce.r.larson AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:08:13 -0500 Eric, that's a great offer and a great idea! If I can't make it in person, then I'll be there in spirit. Bruce Larson Milton, MA bruce.r.larson AT verizon.net eric88kp wrote: > > > ... > So next Monday (the 8th), after things cool down for a bit, lets sit > down, talk birds and have a beer. Report your cool sightings and > observations from the weekend IN PERSON. > > Jimmy Tarrant and I will be at Trinity Brewhouse in downtown > Providence at around 7: show up early, show up late, stop by for 10 > minutes, an hour, whatever. Think about CBC compilations: talking > birds is always fun. It would also be great to put a face to the names > we see weekly and just haven't happened to run into. > > It is both a restaurant, with good food, and a bar, with great beer, > so even under 21 year olds can come by and hang out. It is also fairly > close to the train station and Providence is not far from Boston, CT > or the Cape so I encourage others from outside RI to come as well. > > Eric LoPresti > Providence, RI > ... > Subject: Birds 'n Beers From: "eric88kp" <eric_lopresti AT brown.edu> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:47:55 -0000 Given all the recent hostility - lets take a step back, hang out and talk birds (and not internet nonsense). Personally I dislike no one I have met in this birding community and despite some trifling differences, I think everyone here feels the same way - we all like finding and watching birds - nomatter how we feel about sharing sightings. So next Monday (the 8th), after things cool down for a bit, lets sit down, talk birds and have a beer. Report your cool sightings and observations from the weekend IN PERSON. Jimmy Tarrant and I will be at Trinity Brewhouse in downtown Providence at around 7: show up early, show up late, stop by for 10 minutes, an hour, whatever. Think about CBC compilations: talking birds is always fun. It would also be great to put a face to the names we see weekly and just haven't happened to run into. It is both a restaurant, with good food, and a bar, with great beer, so even under 21 year olds can come by and hang out. It is also fairly close to the train station and Providence is not far from Boston, CT or the Cape so I encourage others from outside RI to come as well. Eric LoPresti Providence, RI P.S. a non-bird sighting - a first year Harp Seal on Saturday at Point Judith. And a bird - a sapsucker at Blackstone park today. P.P.S. there is a crow roost on Charles Street near the American Mathematical Society which ones coming from the North could see before going - it is quite a sight at times. Subject: Re: RI south coast, 2-2-10 From: Don Morgan <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 22:42:32 -0500 Here's a link to some pictures from today (2-2-10): http://www.photoshop.com/user/mntncougar/?wf=share&galleryid=46df65075f674362816a92147073f6df&trackingid=BTAGC On Tue, Feb 2, 2010 at 10:35 PM, mntncougar wrote: > > > Trustom Pond, from the washout, 9:30 - 10:30 am: > 4 Canvasbacks, 2 Redheads, c 6 Am Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Red-breasted > Mergansers, c 12 Greater Scaup (did not spot any identifiable as Lesser), c > 4 Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans. > Off the beach, several Common Loons, many Common Eider in 1s and 2s and > small groups. > Charlestown Beach/breachway: Many Common Loons (at least 10) and F Common > Eider in the breachway, fishing for crabs. The fishing was very good as the > birds came up with a catch about every 2nd or 3rd dive. Only 1 M C. Eider in > the breachway mouth, but many more M and F off shore. 1 Horned Grebe in the > breachway and several more just off the mouth. 1 imm. and 2 adult Great > Cormorants on the rocks. Over the marshes 2 Northern Harriers. > Weekapaug area: Very large numbers of Common Eiders off shore, numbering > several hundred at least. Small groups and at least 2 large rafts of over > 100 each. > Beyond the farthest Eiders there was an astonishingly large group of birds > in a line perhaps half a mile offshore. Line was mostly from the Breachway > east, and certainly numbered several thousand birds. Too far for me to ID > with my scope, but they were not Eiders, as there was very little white, and > birds appeared generally black. I assume they were Scoters, and I thought I > could see white patches on the back of a few necks, indicating Surf Scoters. > I believe I have seen a similar group in that area and down to Quonny Breach > in past years. If anyone has better knowledge of what they are I would be > interested in knowing. > > Don Morgan > Coventry, Ct > > > Subject: Warwick Birds From: "Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:09:10 -0500 At Apponaug Cove-The usual mix of winter waterfowl, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Docks, Mallards, Greater Scaup, a single imm Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, American Coot, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. At Salter's Grove/Warwick Downs/Gaspee Point-A slightly better mix of winter waterfowl, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Mallards, a large raft of Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Brant, Canada Geese and Mute Swans.. At RIYC-American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, American Coot, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. Field's Point-One male American Kestrel There was a flock of 50-60 CANVASBACKs at one location in the upper bay at a location frequented by duck hunters. E-mail me for details if ineresed. Pictures of the canvasbacks: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pdC5WDEB6jEBDi1eSSLovg?feat=directlink Greg Sargeant Providence, RI Subject: RI south coast, 2-2-10 From: "mntncougar" <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:35:20 -0000 Trustom Pond, from the washout, 9:30 - 10:30 am: 4 Canvasbacks, 2 Redheads, c 6 Am Wigeon, 3 Gadwall, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, c 12 Greater Scaup (did not spot any identifiable as Lesser), c 4 Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards, Canada Geese, Mute Swans. Off the beach, several Common Loons, many Common Eider in 1s and 2s and small groups. Charlestown Beach/breachway: Many Common Loons (at least 10) and F Common Eider in the breachway, fishing for crabs. The fishing was very good as the birds came up with a catch about every 2nd or 3rd dive. Only 1 M C. Eider in the breachway mouth, but many more M and F off shore. 1 Horned Grebe in the breachway and several more just off the mouth. 1 imm. and 2 adult Great Cormorants on the rocks. Over the marshes 2 Northern Harriers. Weekapaug area: Very large numbers of Common Eiders off shore, numbering several hundred at least. Small groups and at least 2 large rafts of over 100 each. Beyond the farthest Eiders there was an astonishingly large group of birds in a line perhaps half a mile offshore. Line was mostly from the Breachway east, and certainly numbered several thousand birds. Too far for me to ID with my scope, but they were not Eiders, as there was very little white, and birds appeared generally black. I assume they were Scoters, and I thought I could see white patches on the back of a few necks, indicating Surf Scoters. I believe I have seen a similar group in that area and down to Quonny Breach in past years. If anyone has better knowledge of what they are I would be interested in knowing. Don Morgan Coventry, Ct Subject: Bald Eagle From: "Walter" <wfbosse AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 21:18:56 -0500 THis afternoon a Bald Eagle was seen at Rawson pond in Cumberland. There is some open water. Walter Bosse Subject: Warwick Birds From: "Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 18:37:28 -0500 At Apponaug Cove-The usual mix of winter waterfowl, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Docks, Mallards, Greater Scaup, a single imm Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, American Coot, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. At Salter's Grove/Warwick Downs/Gaspee Point-A slightly better mix of winter waterfowl, American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Mallards, a large raft of Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Hooded Mergansers, Red-Breasted Mergansers, Brant, Canada Geese and Mute Swans.. At RIYC-American Wigeon, Gadwall, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Greater Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, American Coot, Canada Geese and Mute Swans. Field's Point-One male American Kestrel There was a flock of 50-60 CANVASBACKs at one location in the upper bay at a location frequented by duck hunters. E-mail me for details if ineresed. Pictures of the canvasbacks: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pdC5WDEB6jEBDi1eSSLovg?feat=directlink Greg Sargeant Providence, RI Subject: Another BALD EAGLE- North Kingstown From: Sandra Saunders <ssaunders AT mail.uri.edu> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:16:52 -0500 An adult BALD EAGLE flew over Route 1 around dusk today. Sandy Saunders East Greenwich, RI Subject: Northern Harrier Barrington From: "r.marrjr" <rmarr2 AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 00:35:21 -0000 Today 02/02 a male Northern Harrier was feeding on the grounds of the RI Country Club South of Nayatt avenue in the swampy area. Bird could be seen from the road. Raymond Marr Pawtucket rmarr2 AT cox.net Subject: Orange Tagged Gulls From: "Gregory P. Sargeant MS Ed. BCBA" <sargeguy AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 19:05:15 -0500 Today I found 3 Ring-Billed Gulls with bright orange tags on both wings. A quick search found that they were tagged at Wachusett reservoir as part of a water quality study.. Here are the pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/sargeguy.RI/BirdPhotos#5433791780986282594 Here is the site with more info: http://www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/watershed/study/index.htm Greg Sargeant Providence, RI Subject: Re: It's Time to get BACK TO BIRDING !!!!!!!!! From: Doug Hlousek <doughlousek AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 15:10:38 -0800 (PST) Well said! Thank you! Living Retirement To Its Fullest! Doug ________________________________ From: Michelle St.Sauveur To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 3:38:08 PM Subject: [RIBIRDS] It's Time to get BACK TO BIRDING !!!!!!!!! As a moderator of this site I am embarrassed and disturbed for all of us who are members of this group after what has transpired here today and would like to apologize to Rachel for not being able to stop this. This was obviously a mean-spirited attack by an individual toward Rachel Farrell, or ... an ill-conceived attempt to dramatize a flaw of the RI Birds Group. This entire discussion was born in an effort to IMPROVE the reporting of birds in our state. There was no desire or intent to discredit any person or group. Now it has come to this. I would like to strongly suggest to EVERYONE that we GET BACK TO BIRDING before this situation slides even further. We have all made our points very clearly and I see no benefit in reiterating. It's time for this topic to stop flooding the message board. If anyone would like to continue this discussion, I believe the best people to discuss it with personally are myself, Paul Le'Toile, Bob Fogg, and Rachel Farrell, or between ourselves via personal e-mails. Thank you and Good Birding, Michelle St.Sauveur Group Moderator RI Birds Subject: Waterfowl Survey and Middletown From: "Michelle St.Sauveur" <bittern AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:53:27 -0000 Birding today with Jan St.Jean ... during the Waterfowl Survey at Trustom Pond NWR ... at Mud Pond we had 1 AMERICAN BITTERN still at the Southwest corner and set back away from shore. This was surprising being that the pond was totally frozen over. At Trustom Pond ... 3 REDHEAD, 3 CANVASBACK, several Greater Scaup, 8 Common Goldeneye, 16 Gadwalls, 3 Red-breasted Mergansers, 10 Ruddy Ducks, 3 Bufflehead, many Hooded Mergansers. Noticeably absent were the Barrow's Goldeneye and Rough-legged Hawk seen previously . Along Card's Pond Rd. were numerous sparrows including 1 juvenile White-crowned Sparrow, 3 Savannah Sparrows, and many American Tree Sparrows. From Wapping Road in Middletown near the Portsmouth line, 1 CACKLING GOOSE on private property and seen from the road. No sign of Snow or Greater White-fronted Geese seen recently. Brahman's Pond is frozen over. The Northern Shovelers were not to be found. No sign of the Ivory Gull and no sign of a carcass on the ice at Easton Pond. On both the Jamestown and Newport Bridges were individual Peregrine Falcons. Good Birding, Michelle St.Sauveur Coventry, RI Subject: It's Time to get BACK TO BIRDING !!!!!!!!! From: "Michelle St.Sauveur" <bittern AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 20:38:08 -0000 As a moderator of this site I am embarrassed and disturbed for all of us who are members of this group after what has transpired here today and would like to apologize to Rachel for not being able to stop this. This was obviously a mean-spirited attack by an individual toward Rachel Farrell, or ... an ill-conceived attempt to dramatize a flaw of the RI Birds Group. This entire discussion was born in an effort to IMPROVE the reporting of birds in our state. There was no desire or intent to discredit any person or group. Now it has come to this. I would like to strongly suggest to EVERYONE that we GET BACK TO BIRDING before this situation slides even further. We have all made our points very clearly and I see no benefit in reiterating. It's time for this topic to stop flooding the message board. If anyone would like to continue this discussion, I believe the best people to discuss it with personally are myself, Paul Le'Toile, Bob Fogg, and Rachel Farrell, or between ourselves via personal e-mails. Thank you and Good Birding, Michelle St.Sauveur Group Moderator RI Birds Subject: Kingston Brids From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:31:20 -0000 Tuesday at Fernwood Cemetery in Kingston, which abuts URI's Peckham farm, I had the following birds around 1pm Yellow rump warbler: 2 Hermit thrush: 2 Savannah Sparrow: 3 Flicker: 2 Red tailed hawk: 2 Many other common winter birds as well. Someone is nice enough to maintain two different feeders within the grounds. Bryan Glemboski Narragansett RI Subject: My last thoughts on the issue. I'm done! Who's with me? From: "Michael Tucker" <mtucker AT asri.org> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 14:27:59 -0500 In the past, I have asked Rachel's permission to re-post a rare bird report that has appeared on her list. She has always been very gracious and never objected. I've also never heard Rachel disparage the yahoo list. Regarding the earlier re-post of Rachel's list- It's too bad some bad apple chose to handle things the way he or she did. It was unethical in my book... and cowardly. Why do people prefer sending to Rachel? I could think of a few reasons- they may not want their email public; they may not have email (and phone it in); they may not like the idea of answering to questions with return emails- Whatever the reason, it's their prerogative. So I do see its usefulness. It is easy to see why some would choose this method. BUT: So why don't the bird reports from Rachel then go to yahoo at the end of the day? The people on the list would not have their email out there; the people who phone in reports can be proud of the fact that the information is being shared; the report would be accurate and filtered of sensitive information- in every way, it seems to be a perfect answer. Is it possible that people who share the sightings on Rachel's list, don't want TOO many people knowing about it? I doubt it because that would seem a little hypocritical given the size of Rachel's list and knowing it goes on the weekly report. I'm not sure why but it's not my call. Would I like to see Rachel's post go on the yahoo site at the end of the day? Of course! She does a wonderful job and already shares it with probably more people than what's on the yahoo site anyway. Maybe nobody has bothered asking. It seems it would eliminate many of the concerns that drive people to post to Rachel instead of yahoo. Heck, if that was the case, I would probably just send to Rachel knowing it would end up on the yahoo list. Unless I wanted word out immediately or wanted to expound upon my sightings beyond the numbers. Like I said, all I could do is advocate the yahoo site. I'd love to see more people use it. Mike Tucker Refuge Manager, Caratunk Wildlife Refuge 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771 Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 Tel: 401-949-5454 ext. 3030 Tel: (refuge) 508-761-8230 mtucker AT asri.org Connecting People With Nature Stay informed all month long with eWing, Audubon's monthly e-newsletter. Follow us online: www.asri.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Consider supporting Audubon by making a donation today! Subject: Re: Listservs and Other Forums From: "Thomas M" <sunsetseeker78 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:42:36 -0000 Andy, As you suggested, and others, and even myself, and I will say it again. Why post the pollypie posting here. They would be filtered before hitting the public forum, and everyone would get more out of birding in RI. Especially all of us outsiders. I thought the info in the recent post was good to see, but finding that someone subitted it using a fake email seems to take away from the good discussion that is going on now on this issue. I am glad that I am not alone on this everyone. Thanks for all of the support about the whole thing. Cheers! -Tom M. --- In RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, andy boyce wrote: > > Hello, > > Obviously "stealing emails" is inappropriate but there is one thing I have to ask again that I don't think has been adequately answered. Why is anyone opposed to simply including the RIBirds Yahoo Group email address on the pollypie list-serv? Honestly, besides keeping certain sightings away from the general birding public (indefensible in my opinion) what is the purpose of keeping it private? If you want your sightings filtered for you, then by all means, subscribe to the pollypie service and you will get exactly what you want, in the format that you want it. If you are willing to do your own filtering then monitor the RIBirds list. Seriously, I just don't see an argument against this. Rachel, I really don't mean this as an indictment of the service you provide, I think it's great, and I appreciate the time/effort you put in to getting RI bird news out. I just dont see the sense in keeping the great work you do to a limited group of folks. > > Please enlighten me, because I'm confused. > > -Andy Boyce > > --- On Tue, 2/2/10, Shaibal Mitra wrote: > > From: Shaibal Mitra > Subject: RE: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums > To: "RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com" > Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 12:42 PM > > If it was not obvious before, today's missive from "Isla Rdhodes" lays the very worst aspects of birding listservs where they can't be ignored. > > Beyond its embarrassing incompetence, this post appears to be a deliberately fraudulent abuse of our online community. Assuming it was perpetrated by a lurking browser of recent RIBirds messages and not by an active participant in our forum, this episode only reinforces the sincere--and apparently well-founded--doubts that many people have regarding this Yahoo group. It proves, furthermore, that the type of self-screening advocated in a recent post will achieve standards no higher than those of the least responsible member of the community. > > I will certainly think twice before sharing any information that is sensitive in any way, or deserving of even a modicum of discretion, with people like Isla Rdhodes. > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore, NY > ________________________________________ > From: Shaibal Mitra > Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 8:34 AM > To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: RE: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums > > Dear RI birders, > > In my earlier post on the topic of the RI birding community, I agreed with those who feel that communication could, and should, be better--both within the RI community, and between that community and people out of state. I still think this is a point of common ground for most of us. So, starting from the perception that this Yahoo group is less interesting and useful than we would like, what can we actually do about it? It is at this point where some of us seem to part ways. Either I don't understand Tom Seiter's position, or I pointedly disagree. > > It is factually wrong to blame the deficiencies of this Yahoo group on one individual. Beyond that, it is also completely contrary to the principles of common courtesy that underlay any public discourse to criticize someone publicly simply because they choose not to participate in an email group. > > If we hope to make the RIBirds group more interesting and useful, at the very least we its current participants should strive to do our very best in our own posts. Beyond that, however, we will need to encourage and persuade others to join us. In yesterday's note I tried to offer some possible explanations for why people I know might not post to this Yahoo group. My choice of the term "experienced and foremost" was not meant in an elitist sense but rather as a gentle euphemism for age--a lot of the people I know are simply not interested in email at all. Other use email but view it as a very minor part of their networking. Others use listservs a great deal but have little regard for this particular group. Still others, I am afraid, are offended by what they see in RIBirds and consciously want no part of it. > > It is worth stating once more: the dynamics of a public forum will never rise or fall with any single person's decision to participate or not. If you really want someone to participate in an open forum, you must persuade them if you can and respect their decision if you can't convince them. And let's try to remember that email listservs are at most one small component of any birding community's information network. There are plenty of other resources available to all that should inspire visitors and beginning birders to come birding in RI! > > Shai Mitra > Bay Shore, NY > > > > ________________________________________ > From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tom AT ... [tom AT ...] > Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:08 PM > To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums > > Shai et al., > > In my original post, talking about the status quo of RBAs in Rhode Island, > I did not mean to degrade any efforts being made in this state to > disseminate information via the hard efforts made by some to do so. I DID > intend to take an objective view of the costs and benefits of the current > system, and Shai, you did not address the fact that are current system has > many costs, costs that seem unnecessary, and costs that many people feel > are worth addressing (my e-mail has been flooded with letters that support > that sentiment over the past day-and-a-half). There were two distinct > costs I cited with our current system. The first cost is that Rhod > Island's primary [internet]-RBA is not set up as a public-forum-style > atmosphere, which would allow for information dissemination beyond raw > bird sightings, and would allow much broader access for beginners ('less > talented and experienced and non-foremost' birders) and out-of-staters to > learn about avian activities within this state. I stated specifically that > I thought a consequence of this fact was that out-of-state birders and > beginners were less likely to use Rhode Island as a birding destination, > which has been confirmed via my e-mail over the past day-and-a-half as > being true at least for some. Not having a public-style forum serve as the > primary internet-RBA in our state also means that > intellectually-stimulating conversation surrounding unusual sightings and > trends is not occurring on a level that is easily accessible to the > majority of members in this state's birding community, and to which that > same majority of the birding community can contribute thoughts, opinions, > and data to support intellectually-stimulating conversation. Because Rhode > Island's public internet forum, the yahoogroups RIBIRDS, has de facto > served as a secondary-internet-RBA for folks who are unaware of Rachel's > e-mail list, it has not really served either of the functions I just > mentioned that would be beneficial for this state's birding community. The > second cost I stated to our current system is that the accessibility to > Rhode Island's birding community seems unnecessarily difficult to attain > for out-of-staters and beginners and others with a slight interest in > birds who don't know the intricacies of this state's birding culture. Most > of these people would not easily come across Rachel's e-mail group. And > for the rest of us, utilizing an internet-RBA that filters information, we > are not accessing the Rhode Island birding community; we're accessing > filtered information. An internet forum, I would argue, is the most > easily-attained accessibility to birding communities for many of the folks > who would like to get involved with birding communities, because even > folks without internet access and computers can use a local library to > access it. Having access to birding communities can further open the doors > for folks who are unaware of some of the committees, forums, and archived > data that exist out there (and to which they can contribute) that you > mentioned in your previous post. > > Never once in my e-mail did I suggest that a public internet forum would > replace phone calls, published field notes, or archived documentation. I > merely intended to state that a public internet forum can open access to > birding communities in ways that are current system is not doing. I mean, > look what that e-mail (written on an open forum) spurred. Lots of opinions > have flowed, and lots of interest has been shown to improve Rhode Island's > birding culture. These improvements would supplement current committees, > forums, listservs, etc., not necessarily remove or replace them. > Currently, our system in Rhode Island makes it such that folks can access > only parts of the birding community at a time. They can either access > filtered information, archived data, individual birders via e-mail or > phone calls, individual committees or bird-related organizations, etc., > but we have no go-to resource for the community to access all of these > aspects of the RI avian world, many of which are currently unattainable to > many in our birding community. A public forum would fulfill that role, and > I would argue that a public forum would better thrive if the most > up-to-the-minute RBAs that are disseminated via internet are posted on > that forum. I bring into question the benefit of a continued secondary > internet-RBA that is separate of a public-forum-style one. Rachel's done a > fabulous job posting up-to-the-minute sightings, and that has been > appreciated by most of us, including myself (who has received phone calls > from her that have allowed me to see some great birds). I don't wish to > diminish any of her efforts, nor propose that she cease her dedication to > the duties she's fulfilled in this state's birding world. I do wonder what > reasons prevent her from being able to post her e-mails to a public forum > such as this? I've received numerous e-mails asking me this question, and > I've been informed by a few others that in the past, she has refused to do > this, for reasons that are unclear or unstated. What benefits exist for > maintaining a filtered internet-RBA that is separate from a public forum? > If communication is a two-way street (or a multi-way network as you called > it, Shai), it would be very helpful to here what the benefits are to > keeping a separate internet-RBA because I am currently unaware of what > they are, and I would like to know. I've already stated all the benefits I > see in a public forum that are absent in a filtered-RBA system that > disseminates mostly bird sightings and nothing else. It's now time to hear > what the benefits are of maintaining the status quo, keeping two RI > internet RBAs separate from one another. I e-mailed Rachel this question > early last evening, and have yet to get a response. To give the benefit of > doubt, she might be thinking this over to respond in a thoughtful way, but > I think I bring up a good question into what the benefits are to the > status quo that are greater than what I've proposed? I've objectively > critiqued Rhode Island's status quo, and I have not sought to diminish or > remove any efforts made by anyone in the past, present, or future > concerning the flourishing of this community, I merely bring into question > the benefits of maintaining a segregated community (a community in which > only aspects of it can be accessed at any one time) when we can have what > a lot of states already have: a forum publicly-accessible by all with > up-to-the-minute bird sightings, contributions from all perspectives in > the community, and readily-accessible information that allows greater > access to all areas of the community. > > You bring up good points in that many of Rhode Islands 'foremost' birders, > those with the most 'experience and talent,' have not used this group due > to its fledgling nature. I think what I propose is to mature this group > beyond a fledgling stage, where these birders may find value in it, > similar to how many of the 'foremost' birders in Massachusetts utilize > MASSBIRDS at least on occasion. I would suggest that many of the birders > of which you speak do not currently find value in this public-forum > because for the past many years in RI, Rachel's e-mail list has fulfilled > one of the primary roles that a thriving internet public birding forum > typically fulfills. If she could just add RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com to her > e-mail list, I see this state's birding community taking a giant step > forward in enhancing the birding experience, knowledge, and accessibility > for everyone. Or, if the two internet-RBAs merged into one in which more > public accessibility was afforded beyond raw bird sightings, that would be > beneficial. Or, if Rachel fulfilled the role of RIBIRDS moderator, rather > than maintaining separate RBAs (unless there are some beneficial reasons > for doing so of which I am unaware), I could see that being beneficial > without losing much of what's already been created. I'm proposing to > increase value to the RI birding community, not to decrease it or diminish > the efforts that have been made to get us where we are today, nor to take > away any aspect of the birding community that currently exists today. > These are my thoughts and opinions, laid out over a public internet > birding forum. I would like to understand the arguments for the opposite > of what I propose, however, which is to maintain the status quo. > > Tom Seiter > Riverside, RI > > > > > Think green before you print this email. > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > Subject: RE: Re: Listservs and Other Forums From: andy boyce <boyceangler AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 10:28:29 -0800 (PST) Hello, Obviously "stealing emails" is inappropriate but there is one thing I have to ask again that I don't think has been adequately answered. Why is anyone opposed to simply including the RIBirds Yahoo Group email address on the pollypie list-serv? Honestly, besides keeping certain sightings away from the general birding public (indefensible in my opinion) what is the purpose of keeping it private? If you want your sightings filtered for you, then by all means, subscribe to the pollypie service and you will get exactly what you want, in the format that you want it. If you are willing to do your own filtering then monitor the RIBirds list. Seriously, I just don't see an argument against this. Rachel, I really don't mean this as an indictment of the service you provide, I think it's great, and I appreciate the time/effort you put in to getting RI bird news out. I just dont see the sense in keeping the great work you do to a limited group of folks. Please enlighten me, because I'm confused. -Andy Boyce --- On Tue, 2/2/10, Shaibal Mitra wrote: From: Shaibal Mitra Subject: RE: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums To: "RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com" Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2010, 12:42 PM If it was not obvious before, today's missive from "Isla Rdhodes" lays the very worst aspects of birding listservs where they can't be ignored. Beyond its embarrassing incompetence, this post appears to be a deliberately fraudulent abuse of our online community. Assuming it was perpetrated by a lurking browser of recent RIBirds messages and not by an active participant in our forum, this episode only reinforces the sincere--and apparently well-founded--doubts that many people have regarding this Yahoo group. It proves, furthermore, that the type of self-screening advocated in a recent post will achieve standards no higher than those of the least responsible member of the community. I will certainly think twice before sharing any information that is sensitive in any way, or deserving of even a modicum of discretion, with people like Isla Rdhodes. Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 8:34 AM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums Dear RI birders, In my earlier post on the topic of the RI birding community, I agreed with those who feel that communication could, and should, be better--both within the RI community, and between that community and people out of state. I still think this is a point of common ground for most of us. So, starting from the perception that this Yahoo group is less interesting and useful than we would like, what can we actually do about it? It is at this point where some of us seem to part ways. Either I don't understand Tom Seiter's position, or I pointedly disagree. It is factually wrong to blame the deficiencies of this Yahoo group on one individual. Beyond that, it is also completely contrary to the principles of common courtesy that underlay any public discourse to criticize someone publicly simply because they choose not to participate in an email group. If we hope to make the RIBirds group more interesting and useful, at the very least we its current participants should strive to do our very best in our own posts. Beyond that, however, we will need to encourage and persuade others to join us. In yesterday's note I tried to offer some possible explanations for why people I know might not post to this Yahoo group. My choice of the term "experienced and foremost" was not meant in an elitist sense but rather as a gentle euphemism for age--a lot of the people I know are simply not interested in email at all. Other use email but view it as a very minor part of their networking. Others use listservs a great deal but have little regard for this particular group. Still others, I am afraid, are offended by what they see in RIBirds and consciously want no part of it. It is worth stating once more: the dynamics of a public forum will never rise or fall with any single person's decision to participate or not. If you really want someone to participate in an open forum, you must persuade them if you can and respect their decision if you can't convince them. And let's try to remember that email listservs are at most one small component of any birding community's information network. There are plenty of other resources available to all that should inspire visitors and beginning birders to come birding in RI! Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tom AT smileyman.info [tom AT smileyman.info] Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:08 PM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums Shai et al., In my original post, talking about the status quo of RBAs in Rhode Island, I did not mean to degrade any efforts being made in this state to disseminate information via the hard efforts made by some to do so. I DID intend to take an objective view of the costs and benefits of the current system, and Shai, you did not address the fact that are current system has many costs, costs that seem unnecessary, and costs that many people feel are worth addressing (my e-mail has been flooded with letters that support that sentiment over the past day-and-a-half). There were two distinct costs I cited with our current system. The first cost is that Rhod Island's primary [internet]-RBA is not set up as a public-forum-style atmosphere, which would allow for information dissemination beyond raw bird sightings, and would allow much broader access for beginners ('less talented and experienced and non-foremost' birders) and out-of-staters to learn about avian activities within this state. I stated specifically that I thought a consequence of this fact was that out-of-state birders and beginners were less likely to use Rhode Island as a birding destination, which has been confirmed via my e-mail over the past day-and-a-half as being true at least for some. Not having a public-style forum serve as the primary internet-RBA in our state also means that intellectually-stimulating conversation surrounding unusual sightings and trends is not occurring on a level that is easily accessible to the majority of members in this state's birding community, and to which that same majority of the birding community can contribute thoughts, opinions, and data to support intellectually-stimulating conversation. Because Rhode Island's public internet forum, the yahoogroups RIBIRDS, has de facto served as a secondary-internet-RBA for folks who are unaware of Rachel's e-mail list, it has not really served either of the functions I just mentioned that would be beneficial for this state's birding community. The second cost I stated to our current system is that the accessibility to Rhode Island's birding community seems unnecessarily difficult to attain for out-of-staters and beginners and others with a slight interest in birds who don't know the intricacies of this state's birding culture. Most of these people would not easily come across Rachel's e-mail group. And for the rest of us, utilizing an internet-RBA that filters information, we are not accessing the Rhode Island birding community; we're accessing filtered information. An internet forum, I would argue, is the most easily-attained accessibility to birding communities for many of the folks who would like to get involved with birding communities, because even folks without internet access and computers can use a local library to access it. Having access to birding communities can further open the doors for folks who are unaware of some of the committees, forums, and archived data that exist out there (and to which they can contribute) that you mentioned in your previous post. Never once in my e-mail did I suggest that a public internet forum would replace phone calls, published field notes, or archived documentation. I merely intended to state that a public internet forum can open access to birding communities in ways that are current system is not doing. I mean, look what that e-mail (written on an open forum) spurred. Lots of opinions have flowed, and lots of interest has been shown to improve Rhode Island's birding culture. These improvements would supplement current committees, forums, listservs, etc., not necessarily remove or replace them. Currently, our system in Rhode Island makes it such that folks can access only parts of the birding community at a time. They can either access filtered information, archived data, individual birders via e-mail or phone calls, individual committees or bird-related organizations, etc., but we have no go-to resource for the community to access all of these aspects of the RI avian world, many of which are currently unattainable to many in our birding community. A public forum would fulfill that role, and I would argue that a public forum would better thrive if the most up-to-the-minute RBAs that are disseminated via internet are posted on that forum. I bring into question the benefit of a continued secondary internet-RBA that is separate of a public-forum-style one. Rachel's done a fabulous job posting up-to-the-minute sightings, and that has been appreciated by most of us, including myself (who has received phone calls from her that have allowed me to see some great birds). I don't wish to diminish any of her efforts, nor propose that she cease her dedication to the duties she's fulfilled in this state's birding world. I do wonder what reasons prevent her from being able to post her e-mails to a public forum such as this? I've received numerous e-mails asking me this question, and I've been informed by a few others that in the past, she has refused to do this, for reasons that are unclear or unstated. What benefits exist for maintaining a filtered internet-RBA that is separate from a public forum? If communication is a two-way street (or a multi-way network as you called it, Shai), it would be very helpful to here what the benefits are to keeping a separate internet-RBA because I am currently unaware of what they are, and I would like to know. I've already stated all the benefits I see in a public forum that are absent in a filtered-RBA system that disseminates mostly bird sightings and nothing else. It's now time to hear what the benefits are of maintaining the status quo, keeping two RI internet RBAs separate from one another. I e-mailed Rachel this question early last evening, and have yet to get a response. To give the benefit of doubt, she might be thinking this over to respond in a thoughtful way, but I think I bring up a good question into what the benefits are to the status quo that are greater than what I've proposed? I've objectively critiqued Rhode Island's status quo, and I have not sought to diminish or remove any efforts made by anyone in the past, present, or future concerning the flourishing of this community, I merely bring into question the benefits of maintaining a segregated community (a community in which only aspects of it can be accessed at any one time) when we can have what a lot of states already have: a forum publicly-accessible by all with up-to-the-minute bird sightings, contributions from all perspectives in the community, and readily-accessible information that allows greater access to all areas of the community. You bring up good points in that many of Rhode Islands 'foremost' birders, those with the most 'experience and talent,' have not used this group due to its fledgling nature. I think what I propose is to mature this group beyond a fledgling stage, where these birders may find value in it, similar to how many of the 'foremost' birders in Massachusetts utilize MASSBIRDS at least on occasion. I would suggest that many of the birders of which you speak do not currently find value in this public-forum because for the past many years in RI, Rachel's e-mail list has fulfilled one of the primary roles that a thriving internet public birding forum typically fulfills. If she could just add RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com to her e-mail list, I see this state's birding community taking a giant step forward in enhancing the birding experience, knowledge, and accessibility for everyone. Or, if the two internet-RBAs merged into one in which more public accessibility was afforded beyond raw bird sightings, that would be beneficial. Or, if Rachel fulfilled the role of RIBIRDS moderator, rather than maintaining separate RBAs (unless there are some beneficial reasons for doing so of which I am unaware), I could see that being beneficial without losing much of what's already been created. I'm proposing to increase value to the RI birding community, not to decrease it or diminish the efforts that have been made to get us where we are today, nor to take away any aspect of the birding community that currently exists today. These are my thoughts and opinions, laid out over a public internet birding forum. I would like to understand the arguments for the opposite of what I propose, however, which is to maintain the status quo. Tom Seiter Riverside, RI Think green before you print this email. ------------------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: RE: Re: Listservs and Other Forums From: Shaibal Mitra <Shaibal.Mitra AT csi.cuny.edu> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:42:05 -0500 If it was not obvious before, today's missive from "Isla Rdhodes" lays the very worst aspects of birding listservs where they can't be ignored. Beyond its embarrassing incompetence, this post appears to be a deliberately fraudulent abuse of our online community. Assuming it was perpetrated by a lurking browser of recent RIBirds messages and not by an active participant in our forum, this episode only reinforces the sincere--and apparently well-founded--doubts that many people have regarding this Yahoo group. It proves, furthermore, that the type of self-screening advocated in a recent post will achieve standards no higher than those of the least responsible member of the community. I will certainly think twice before sharing any information that is sensitive in any way, or deserving of even a modicum of discretion, with people like Isla Rdhodes. Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: Shaibal Mitra Sent: Sunday, January 31, 2010 8:34 AM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums Dear RI birders, In my earlier post on the topic of the RI birding community, I agreed with those who feel that communication could, and should, be better--both within the RI community, and between that community and people out of state. I still think this is a point of common ground for most of us. So, starting from the perception that this Yahoo group is less interesting and useful than we would like, what can we actually do about it? It is at this point where some of us seem to part ways. Either I don't understand Tom Seiter's position, or I pointedly disagree. It is factually wrong to blame the deficiencies of this Yahoo group on one individual. Beyond that, it is also completely contrary to the principles of common courtesy that underlay any public discourse to criticize someone publicly simply because they choose not to participate in an email group. If we hope to make the RIBirds group more interesting and useful, at the very least we its current participants should strive to do our very best in our own posts. Beyond that, however, we will need to encourage and persuade others to join us. In yesterday's note I tried to offer some possible explanations for why people I know might not post to this Yahoo group. My choice of the term "experienced and foremost" was not meant in an elitist sense but rather as a gentle euphemism for age--a lot of the people I know are simply not interested in email at all. Other use email but view it as a very minor part of their networking. Others use listservs a great deal but have little regard for this particular group. Still others, I am afraid, are offended by what they see in RIBirds and consciously want no part of it. It is worth stating once more: the dynamics of a public forum will never rise or fall with any single person's decision to participate or not. If you really want someone to participate in an open forum, you must persuade them if you can and respect their decision if you can't convince them. And let's try to remember that email listservs are at most one small component of any birding community's information network. There are plenty of other resources available to all that should inspire visitors and beginning birders to come birding in RI! Shai Mitra Bay Shore, NY ________________________________________ From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tom AT smileyman.info [tom AT smileyman.info] Sent: Saturday, January 30, 2010 2:08 PM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [RIBIRDS] Re: Listservs and Other Forums Shai et al., In my original post, talking about the status quo of RBAs in Rhode Island, I did not mean to degrade any efforts being made in this state to disseminate information via the hard efforts made by some to do so. I DID intend to take an objective view of the costs and benefits of the current system, and Shai, you did not address the fact that are current system has many costs, costs that seem unnecessary, and costs that many people feel are worth addressing (my e-mail has been flooded with letters that support that sentiment over the past day-and-a-half). There were two distinct costs I cited with our current system. The first cost is that Rhod Island's primary [internet]-RBA is not set up as a public-forum-style atmosphere, which would allow for information dissemination beyond raw bird sightings, and would allow much broader access for beginners ('less talented and experienced and non-foremost' birders) and out-of-staters to learn about avian activities within this state. I stated specifically that I thought a consequence of this fact was that out-of-state birders and beginners were less likely to use Rhode Island as a birding destination, which has been confirmed via my e-mail over the past day-and-a-half as being true at least for some. Not having a public-style forum serve as the primary internet-RBA in our state also means that intellectually-stimulating conversation surrounding unusual sightings and trends is not occurring on a level that is easily accessible to the majority of members in this state's birding community, and to which that same majority of the birding community can contribute thoughts, opinions, and data to support intellectually-stimulating conversation. Because Rhode Island's public internet forum, the yahoogroups RIBIRDS, has de facto served as a secondary-internet-RBA for folks who are unaware of Rachel's e-mail list, it has not really served either of the functions I just mentioned that would be beneficial for this state's birding community. The second cost I stated to our current system is that the accessibility to Rhode Island's birding community seems unnecessarily difficult to attain for out-of-staters and beginners and others with a slight interest in birds who don't know the intricacies of this state's birding culture. Most of these people would not easily come across Rachel's e-mail group. And for the rest of us, utilizing an internet-RBA that filters information, we are not accessing the Rhode Island birding community; we're accessing filtered information. An internet forum, I would argue, is the most easily-attained accessibility to birding communities for many of the folks who would like to get involved with birding communities, because even folks without internet access and computers can use a local library to access it. Having access to birding communities can further open the doors for folks who are unaware of some of the committees, forums, and archived data that exist out there (and to which they can contribute) that you mentioned in your previous post. Never once in my e-mail did I suggest that a public internet forum would replace phone calls, published field notes, or archived documentation. I merely intended to state that a public internet forum can open access to birding communities in ways that are current system is not doing. I mean, look what that e-mail (written on an open forum) spurred. Lots of opinions have flowed, and lots of interest has been shown to improve Rhode Island's birding culture. These improvements would supplement current committees, forums, listservs, etc., not necessarily remove or replace them. Currently, our system in Rhode Island makes it such that folks can access only parts of the birding community at a time. They can either access filtered information, archived data, individual birders via e-mail or phone calls, individual committees or bird-related organizations, etc., but we have no go-to resource for the community to access all of these aspects of the RI avian world, many of which are currently unattainable to many in our birding community. A public forum would fulfill that role, and I would argue that a public forum would better thrive if the most up-to-the-minute RBAs that are disseminated via internet are posted on that forum. I bring into question the benefit of a continued secondary internet-RBA that is separate of a public-forum-style one. Rachel's done a fabulous job posting up-to-the-minute sightings, and that has been appreciated by most of us, including myself (who has received phone calls from her that have allowed me to see some great birds). I don't wish to diminish any of her efforts, nor propose that she cease her dedication to the duties she's fulfilled in this state's birding world. I do wonder what reasons prevent her from being able to post her e-mails to a public forum such as this? I've received numerous e-mails asking me this question, and I've been informed by a few others that in the past, she has refused to do this, for reasons that are unclear or unstated. What benefits exist for maintaining a filtered internet-RBA that is separate from a public forum? If communication is a two-way street (or a multi-way network as you called it, Shai), it would be very helpful to here what the benefits are to keeping a separate internet-RBA because I am currently unaware of what they are, and I would like to know. I've already stated all the benefits I see in a public forum that are absent in a filtered-RBA system that disseminates mostly bird sightings and nothing else. It's now time to hear what the benefits are of maintaining the status quo, keeping two RI internet RBAs separate from one another. I e-mailed Rachel this question early last evening, and have yet to get a response. To give the benefit of doubt, she might be thinking this over to respond in a thoughtful way, but I think I bring up a good question into what the benefits are to the status quo that are greater than what I've proposed? I've objectively critiqued Rhode Island's status quo, and I have not sought to diminish or remove any efforts made by anyone in the past, present, or future concerning the flourishing of this community, I merely bring into question the benefits of maintaining a segregated community (a community in which only aspects of it can be accessed at any one time) when we can have what a lot of states already have: a forum publicly-accessible by all with up-to-the-minute bird sightings, contributions from all perspectives in the community, and readily-accessible information that allows greater access to all areas of the community. You bring up good points in that many of Rhode Islands 'foremost' birders, those with the most 'experience and talent,' have not used this group due to its fledgling nature. I think what I propose is to mature this group beyond a fledgling stage, where these birders may find value in it, similar to how many of the 'foremost' birders in Massachusetts utilize MASSBIRDS at least on occasion. I would suggest that many of the birders of which you speak do not currently find value in this public-forum because for the past many years in RI, Rachel's e-mail list has fulfilled one of the primary roles that a thriving internet public birding forum typically fulfills. If she could just add RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com to her e-mail list, I see this state's birding community taking a giant step forward in enhancing the birding experience, knowledge, and accessibility for everyone. Or, if the two internet-RBAs merged into one in which more public accessibility was afforded beyond raw bird sightings, that would be beneficial. Or, if Rachel fulfilled the role of RIBIRDS moderator, rather than maintaining separate RBAs (unless there are some beneficial reasons for doing so of which I am unaware), I could see that being beneficial without losing much of what's already been created. I'm proposing to increase value to the RI birding community, not to decrease it or diminish the efforts that have been made to get us where we are today, nor to take away any aspect of the birding community that currently exists today. These are my thoughts and opinions, laid out over a public internet birding forum. I would like to understand the arguments for the opposite of what I propose, however, which is to maintain the status quo. Tom Seiter Riverside, RI Think green before you print this email. ------------------------------------ Yahoo! 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Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Tuesday, 2/2 From: Philip Budlong <blp8391 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 09:35:32 -0800 (PST) Birding this morning with Bob Jones, Mary Jo Murray, Bob and Susan Redfern, Sandy Saunders, Chris Sidler and Dorothy Wadlow at Trustom Pond NWR, Matunuck: Common Loons, Horned Grebes, Great Cormorant, Gadwall, American Wigeon, CANVASBACKS, REDHEADS, Greater Scaup, Common Eider, Common Goldeneye, Hooded Mergansers, Red-breasted Merrgansers, Northern Harrier, 1 FOX SPARROW, White-throated Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos. At Perryville there was 1 Cooper's Hawk, 1 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 Northern Mockingbirds, American Tree Sparrows, White-throated Sparrows and House Finches. Phil Budlong, Westerly Subject: Re: Prob. Ivory Gull - Pollypie Report From: Bruce Larson <bruce.r.larson AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 11:43:52 -0500 The yahoo logname ``Isla Rdhodes'' is a private account that was created today and it did not accept the mail that I sent to it. Folks, Rachel's list is private and we have no right to publish its contents anywhere without her permission. Please be respectful of that. Let's just focus on what RIBIRDS is all about. Best regards, Bruce Larson Milton, MA bruce.r.larson AT verizon.net Isla Rdhodes wrote: > > *Pollypie- *Note: I have an unconfirmed but reliable report that ... > Subject: Prob. Ivory Gull - Pollypie Report From: Isla Rdhodes <islarhod50 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 05:45:46 -0800 (PST) Pollypie- Note: I have an unconfirmed but reliable report that the IVORY GULL was seen again in Easton's Pond yesterday, eating a carcass on the ice. It was possibly seen in the afternoon.  The observer reported it to a DEM employee and it eventually was called in to me late this afternoon.      From Lauren Parmelee, 2/1: 1 Peregrine Falcon on Jamestown Bridge and 1 adult American Kestrel at Field's Point near Save the Bay.   From Phil Budlong, 2/1: Mid-morning at TNC's Francis Carter Preserve, Carolina, three EASTERNBLUEBIRDS.    From  Sheila Milton, 2/1: I raft of 100+ Common Eider were close into the rocks at Camp Cronin in Narragansett, along with 2 Black Scoters and 1 Red-breasted Merganser.  At my Exeter home, 3:30 pm, one RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET that seems to come to the suet feeder whenever is it cold.    From Jack Sullivan, 2/1: At Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingston with Ed Slattery and Ryan Miller, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, 2 male REDHEADSs,and 4 male Canvasbacks.  In Perryville, 1 1st.winter CHIPPING SPARROW and one calling Great-horned Owl. At Fort Ninigret, 1 male YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER and at East Beach in Charleston,1 FOX SPARROW.    From Bryan Gelmboski, 2/1: At White Brook in Carolina, Mallard, American Black Duck, Green-winged Teal (2f) and 30+ Northern Pintail.    From Bruce Larson, 1/31: Sachuest Point NWR -- 1/31/10 9:30AM - 1:15PM Notes:Temp 24F << 31F; wind ENE 3-7mph; 10% cloud; no precipitation. Brant 90 (Sakonnet Bay and Island Rocks), Canada Goose 240 (Sakonnet Bay),  Mute Swan 5, American Black Duck 42, Mallard 2, Greater Scaup 30 (Sakonnet Bay),  Common Eider 141, Harlequin Duck 34 (20m,14f), Surf Scoter 44, White-winged Scoter 10 (Island Rocks area), Black Scoter 59 (Island Rocks and RI Sound), Bufflehead 56, Common Goldeneye 28, Red-breasted Merganser 16, Common Loon 9, Horned Grebe 8, RED-NECKED GREBE (Sakonnet Bay) 1, Northern Harrier 1,  Red-tailed Hawk 1, Ruddy Turnstone 1 (Shoreline Access #6), Sanderling 100, Ring-billed Gull X, Herring Gull X, Great Black-backed Gull X, American Crow 7, Black-capped Chickadee 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 15, Song Sparrow 2, EASTERN MEADOWLARK1 (meadow along RI Sound).  Also, I heard a Great Horned Owl calling at Norman Bird Sanctuary at 5pm. Subject: Eastern Bluebirds North Smithfield High School From: "r.marrjr" <rmarr2 AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 02:56:53 -0000 1 male and 1 female Bluebird have been seen at the North Smithfield high School grounds Look for them along the road that runs on the east side of the school its called Grange road. I have seen over wintering bluebirds for years along this road there more common when the ground is snow free. And you dont even have to get out of your car they are most often perched on the fence or one large tree. I figured it was worth a post since we dont get many reports from this area and its a very public area for everyone to enjoy. Raymond Marr jr Pawtucket rmarr2 AT cox.net Subject: White Brook today From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 01:23:16 -0000 Today at White Brook in Carolina: Mallard Black duck Green wing teal (2f) Pintail (30+) I'm sure there was more, but the light was bad and there isn't much ice right now. Mike and Andy, Thanks for the help on ID'ing Scaup! Bryan Glemboski Narragansett, RI Subject: Re: Birds please From: DLSaint AT aol.com Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 19:08:28 EST I like what Mike had to say on the subject of birders posting to both lists. That is what I do, and several other people do this also. But, judging from just the report last night, there are a lot of birds being reported, but only to the one list. If this site is to grow, I would encourage all to post on it! As many of you know, I compile, and record the Voice of Audubon for Rhode Island. You can call- 949-5454, ext 3052 to hear the recording. The written copy is distributed to a nation wide service, Birdeast, which you can subscribe to, or read on Birding on the net, or other sites with links. I subscribe to Birdeast, so I get all the RBA's from the east coast. As Tom M stated, I do copy and paste the report here, for the convenience of birders in Rhode Island. Obviously, I do take the reports from the other list (Rachel's) to put the recording together. There has never been a problem with me doing this. However, the report is only done once a week, or 10 days, so the report is not very timely. It is meant to distribute information about what has been seen in the past week. I do believe that American Birding Association monitors these types of RBA's for use in their "Sightings" column in "Winging It." That being said, there is the opportunity to read about those birds that are not being posted here. I really do hope this site can grow, and check out Paul's site and his "2010 Year Bird Challenge!" _http://ribird.org/index.html_ (http://ribird.org/index.html) Jan St.Jean Chepachet, RI Subject: Horned Larks at Colt Park From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:08:25 -0000 I downloaded some pictures of the Horned Larks that were at at Colt Park today... http://eastbayimages.zenfolio.com/p148605204/e397e64ef Subject: Short-eared, Barrow's, Chipping, Redheads,Canvasbacks,Great-horned,Fox Sp.,- [ " Jack Sullivan " ] From: Jackjsully AT aol.com Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 17:11:26 -0500 At Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge in South Kingston with Ed Slattery and Ryan Miller, 1 SHORT-EARED OWL, 1 female BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, 2 male Redheads,and 4 male Canvasbacks. In Perryville, 1 1st.winter Chipping Sparrow and one calling Great-horned Owl. At Fort Ninigret, 1 male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and at East Beach in Charleston 1 Fox Sparrow. Let's get back to birding, Jack Sullivan Rumford,RI Subject: RE: Re: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks From: "Michael Tucker" <mtucker AT asri.org> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 16:45:40 -0500 Those are good points Andy- though it can still be tricky at times depending on how they have the head tucked. But everything you say is what I first look for in the field. Another thing to look for is the wing stripe on the trailing edge of the wing. It is well hidden on a resting bird but quite often, if you watch the raft long enough, you will see a bird stretch its wing out. The white on a Lesser goes about half way down the length of the wing and on a Greater it extends down the entire length. Something that isn't as diagnostic but worth considering is where you see the bird. Generally speaking, the large rafts in the open part of Narragansett Bay are likely to be Greater Scaup. Lesser Scaup tend to favor more protected waters. In the protected waters it's not uncommon to see mixed flocks however. Mike Mike Tucker Refuge Manager, Caratunk Wildlife Refuge 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771 Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 Tel: 401-949-5454 ext. 3030 Tel: (refuge) 508-761-8230 mtucker AT asri.org Connecting People With Nature Stay informed all month long with eWing , Audubon's monthly e-newsletter. Follow us online: www.asri.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Consider supporting Audubon by making a donation today! _____ From: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of boyceangler Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 2:15 PM To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [RIBIRDS] Re: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks Hello, To me, the easiest, and most reliable way to ID Scaup is by head shape. It seems to be a pretty reliable mark, and unlike others such as bill width and wing-stripe is it easily seen on distant, swimming birds as long as they aren't sleeping. To me, Greater Scaup have smoothly rounded, flattened heads. They almost never show the "peak" towards the back of the head that is typical of Lesser Scaup. The angle of the "forehead" is also very shallow in Greater Scaup (not unlike Canvasback) compared to the very steep forehead of Lessers. Obviously the best way to work through all this is to find yourself a big mixed flock and just work through the birds yourself. Best of luck! Bill Schmoker has a great photo website with some good comparisons between Scaup sp. Here's the link: http://schmoker. org/BirdPics/DivingDucks.html Andy Boyce Missoula, MT / Sabah, Malaysia --- In RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups .com, "Bryan and Sarah" wrote: > > In light of our new spirit of education here, would anyone like to give some advice on Scaup identification? I know its a problem for me, and I have seen a few "Scaup Sp." listings lately that make me think I am not the only one. > > As for the heated discussion here the last few days, I think most everything important has been said. I think the only logical step is for us all to "be the change we want to see". Everyone should post what they want, don't be embarrassed to ask questions, and share what ever knowledge you have the time to share. We will all be richer for the experience. > > One thing I would like to reiterate though is the danger this group poses to ducks. We have recently all been very excited about, and posting about, the fine collection of species at Apponauge cove and Chepiwanoxet Point. However, my friend, who lives on Chepiwanoxet Point and walks there daily with his dog, has seen a marked increase in the number of Duck Hunters there this year. Lets keep in mind as we post that these guys target hard to find species like Eurasian Wigeon and Canvasback. > > Thanks, > Bryan Glemboski > Narragansett RI > Subject: Re: Birds please From: "John Magill" <johnmagill AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 14:30:58 -0500 Mike, Well said! I like your enthusiasm. Birding is supposed to be fun and let's keep it that way. John Magill North Kingstown ----- Original Message ----- From: Michael Tucker To: RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, February 01, 2010 10:22 AM Subject: [RIBIRDS] Birds please It's nice to see the yahoo site getting so much use. but let's see bird reports now! How lucky are we to have a couple of great ways to learn about birds in this great little state! I truly am grateful to have a person like Rachel to compile sightings each night. It's not an easy task and you can always rely on it. The system of reporting birds does not have to be one or the other- I send to both. It's no sweat off my back to do so. But I'm here on this yahoo site now because I believe in its usefulness. I am not going to condemn people for not using it but I will advocate it and try to encourage others to participate. There were some good birds yesterday that I would have liked to have seen reported on this site. Like I said, all I can do is try to encourage its useJ And if there are people out there reading this who reported birds yesterday, but not on this site- well than you also understand the usefulness of the yahoo list serve. because you look for birds here yourself! If I was an out of state birder making the trip to RI, I would have loved the opportunity to read about some of the sightings in RI yesterday- Rough-legged Hawk, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagles, Fox Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows. Pretty good list, don't you think!? We have some great birds. and we have some quality birders who find them. I think it's terrific that these birds were included in a report last night. But how is a bad thing if it's put out there for more to see? If somebody wants to rip me for sending this email; just send it to me please. But if you want to praise me for it. by all means, share it with the world! I just want to see some positive energy here. Enjoy this beautiful day. and if while enjoying it you find an Ivory Gull, please let me know! Mike Tucker Refuge Manager, Caratunk Wildlife Refuge 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771 Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 Tel: 401-949-5454 ext. 3030 Tel: (refuge) 508-761-8230 mtucker AT asri.org Connecting People With Nature Stay informed all month long with eWing, Audubon's monthly e-newsletter. Follow us online: www.asri.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Consider supporting Audubon by making a donation today! Subject: Re: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks From: "boyceangler" <boyceangler AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 19:15:15 -0000 Hello, To me, the easiest, and most reliable way to ID Scaup is by head shape. It seems to be a pretty reliable mark, and unlike others such as bill width and wing-stripe is it easily seen on distant, swimming birds as long as they aren't sleeping. To me, Greater Scaup have smoothly rounded, flattened heads. They almost never show the "peak" towards the back of the head that is typical of Lesser Scaup. The angle of the "forehead" is also very shallow in Greater Scaup (not unlike Canvasback) compared to the very steep forehead of Lessers. Obviously the best way to work through all this is to find yourself a big mixed flock and just work through the birds yourself. Best of luck! Bill Schmoker has a great photo website with some good comparisons between Scaup sp. Here's the link: http://schmoker.org/BirdPics/DivingDucks.html Andy Boyce Missoula, MT / Sabah, Malaysia --- In RIBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com, "Bryan and Sarah" wrote: > > In light of our new spirit of education here, would anyone like to give some advice on Scaup identification? I know its a problem for me, and I have seen a few "Scaup Sp." listings lately that make me think I am not the only one. > > As for the heated discussion here the last few days, I think most everything important has been said. I think the only logical step is for us all to "be the change we want to see". Everyone should post what they want, don't be embarrassed to ask questions, and share what ever knowledge you have the time to share. We will all be richer for the experience. > > One thing I would like to reiterate though is the danger this group poses to ducks. We have recently all been very excited about, and posting about, the fine collection of species at Apponauge cove and Chepiwanoxet Point. However, my friend, who lives on Chepiwanoxet Point and walks there daily with his dog, has seen a marked increase in the number of Duck Hunters there this year. Lets keep in mind as we post that these guys target hard to find species like Eurasian Wigeon and Canvasback. > > Thanks, > Bryan Glemboski > Narragansett RI > Subject: Monday, 2/1 From: Philip Budlong <blp8391 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:33:52 -0800 (PST) Mid morning at TNC's Francis Carter Preserve, Carolina, there were 3 EASTERN BLUEBIRDS. Phil Budlong, Westerly Subject: Bald Eagle From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:47:47 -0000 11:30 AM...This morning I had made up my mind to go looking for the Bald Eagle this afternoon. I was running errands and returning home, about to turn down my street when I spotted a very large, dark bird circling over Main St. School in the heart of Warren. I knew what it was right away. He banked and turned giving me a great view of the white head and tail. I pulled in my driveway and he was still circling. I ran in, grabbed my camera, and ran out again. Unfortunately I was unable to relocate him again. Butch Lombardi Warren RI Subject: Some more thoughts From: "Thomas M" <sunsetseeker78 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 16:25:10 -0000 After reading a lot of emails and posts to this list, I am pleased to see open discussion, regardless of what we agree or disagree with. This is the point of a listserve. I have some thoughts to add after reading some posts. First, Mr. Willoughby, I am glad to see you respond! If anyone knows the birds and birding culture in RI, it is you. (Also, I have the utmost respect for you.) I do however feel differently on a couple of things you brought up. -About filtering sitings: People can filter themselves. If you think that reporting a rare bird or nester will negatively affect it, then don post it. Keep it to yourself and enjoy it. This can go for owls as well. -About receiving junk and bogus posting to your email: All listserves that I am a member of, including this one, I always set it up to never receive emails. If I want to see what has been posted to the listserve, I go to the webpage birdingonthe.net, and I check it that way. This allows me to check as often and as little as I want. Plus, I never have to deal with bogus junk coming to my email, which I tend to not check daily anyways. It also allows you to check numerous state listserves at the same time! -About hunting and falconry: These two reason for having someone filter seem like a stretch, but read above and you can filter yourself if this concerns you. Falconry is a very limited sport, however in some states the rules seem a bit to liberal. But hunters using listserves seems not to be an issue. I have put this past a few folks down here in Cape May and they all agree that it is extremely unlikely. Back before listserves and good camera equipment this may have been an issue, but not any more. My last point is that nothing is better than a phone call. I whole-heartly agree with that. I would like to respond to Hugh's point that I was isolated on the island. Yes I was, but that is not why I made my first post. I would read the RBAs that Jan St. Jean so kindly posts to this listserve once every week or two. And every time only about a quarter of the birds were posted here on this listserve. This is the only one I use and the only one I knew about for a good bit, until I learned of Rachel's, but when I found out about pollypie. It really did not seem like the right way to be doing things, so as before, that is my thoughts on that. I will not go into again. One thing that I have o say that by not advertising pollypie outside of those in the know, there is no way for people like me to know of it. And like I said in my original post, the fact that the ivory gull was posted three times to MASSBIRDS and not here, by Rachel herself, I took issue with. So, to me it seems as though she has some issue with this listserve, and I am not sure why??? I do think that everyone would benefit maybe if she would just forward her posts here to this list every time she sends out her posts at the end of the day, or whenever she does it. That has been suggested already, and I see it as the way to make all of us who feel left out, or as outsiders to be more in the "know" with the birds of RI. I guess now I most likely have killed any chance of getting any sighting accepted in RI with out a photograph, and since I do not own a good camera I may want to start save my pennies! Cheers All! -Tom M. Subject: Further Thoughts on R.I. Internet Birding Communities From: Wheelan Drew <amazilia55 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 08:13:45 -0800 (PST) Hello All, I just wanted to drop a quick line to throw in my 2 cents. First, I wanted to thank everyone who has contributed to this discussion so far. I think it has been one that many RIBIRDS subscribers have been having with themselves for a while. I split my time between RI and Washington State, and belong to a listserve know as "tweeters" here in WA. As Washington is a very large state with an active birding community, tweeters generates many posts daily. There is little censorship of bird posts, but there is MUCH discussion about bird ID, ID frontiers and help for people who need it. When someone posts an unlikely bird that they've "identified", usually someone will point out the unlikeliness of that occurrence, and help the person with the identification. The dissemination of the posts is exactly like RIBIRDS, you can choose to receive a daily digest or individual posts. I prefer the digest, and get an email every day with 15-30 reports. At the top is a list of the email subjects which allows me to skip ANY report I find not useful. I usually read only one or two of the reports, unless there is a thread that I find interesting. Questions about Lesser Black-backed Gull and Scaup ID and how best to post to ebirds are certainly VERY pertinent issues in any birding community. People could write back to the original poster, and not the list, but then other people experiencing this issue would not be exposed to it, or the answers. There will always be beginning birders, and they will always need some friendly help. Perhaps this list was set up with different intentions then being just a forum about birds in RI. It is certainly not an RBA, or I might have flown home to see an Ivory Gull which I never heard about. I encourage people to look at tweeters http://www.scn.org/tweeters/ . If a list member does not like the subject of the post you just scroll down. It is very important for our community that we continue to embrace the novice, even if it means someone might drive to exter to see a Whooping Killdeer, Drew Wheelan Wilkeson, WA check out my blog at www.drewtube.net and stay tuned for the Vicarious Living Project www.vicariouslivingproject.com Subject: Scaup ID help & thoughts on posting ducks From: "Bryan and Sarah" <nipata AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 15:36:22 -0000 In light of our new spirit of education here, would anyone like to give some advice on Scaup identification? I know its a problem for me, and I have seen a few "Scaup Sp." listings lately that make me think I am not the only one. As for the heated discussion here the last few days, I think most everything important has been said. I think the only logical step is for us all to "be the change we want to see". Everyone should post what they want, don't be embarrassed to ask questions, and share what ever knowledge you have the time to share. We will all be richer for the experience. One thing I would like to reiterate though is the danger this group poses to ducks. We have recently all been very excited about, and posting about, the fine collection of species at Apponauge cove and Chepiwanoxet Point. However, my friend, who lives on Chepiwanoxet Point and walks there daily with his dog, has seen a marked increase in the number of Duck Hunters there this year. Lets keep in mind as we post that these guys target hard to find species like Eurasian Wigeon and Canvasback. Thanks, Bryan Glemboski Narragansett RI Subject: Birds please From: "Michael Tucker" <mtucker AT asri.org> Date: Mon, 1 Feb 2010 10:22:54 -0500 It's nice to see the yahoo site getting so much use. but let's see bird reports now! How lucky are we to have a couple of great ways to learn about birds in this great little state! I truly am grateful to have a person like Rachel to compile sightings each night. It's not an easy task and you can always rely on it. The system of reporting birds does not have to be one or the other- I send to both. It's no sweat off my back to do so. But I'm here on this yahoo site now because I believe in its usefulness. I am not going to condemn people for not using it but I will advocate it and try to encourage others to participate. There were some good birds yesterday that I would have liked to have seen reported on this site. Like I said, all I can do is try to encourage its use:-) And if there are people out there reading this who reported birds yesterday, but not on this site- well than you also understand the usefulness of the yahoo list serve. because you look for birds here yourself! If I was an out of state birder making the trip to RI, I would have loved the opportunity to read about some of the sightings in RI yesterday- Rough-legged Hawk, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bald Eagles, Fox Sparrows, White-crowned Sparrows. Pretty good list, don't you think!? We have some great birds. and we have some quality birders who find them. I think it's terrific that these birds were included in a report last night. But how is a bad thing if it's put out there for more to see? If somebody wants to rip me for sending this email; just send it to me please. But if you want to praise me for it. by all means, share it with the world! I just want to see some positive energy here. Enjoy this beautiful day. and if while enjoying it you find an Ivory Gull, please let me know! Mike Tucker Refuge Manager, Caratunk Wildlife Refuge 301 Brown Avenue, Seekonk, MA 02771 Audubon Society of Rhode Island 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 Tel: 401-949-5454 ext. 3030 Tel: (refuge) 508-761-8230 mtucker AT asri.org Connecting People With Nature Stay informed all month long with eWing , Audubon's monthly e-newsletter. Follow us online: www.asri.org ~ Twitter ~ Facebook Consider supporting Audubon by making a donation today! Subject: Monday Morning-Bristol From: "Serpico" <butchlombardi AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:45:06 -0000 I took a drive through Bristol this morning. Bristol Harbor was strangely quiet. I found a few Hooded Mergansers in the pond across Popasquash Rd. north of the harbor. In Colt Park I found a small flock of Horned Larks (about 20) after you pass Sen. Chafee's Stature, just as you round the curve, along the water. I find them here every year at this time. Also off Bristol Town Beach a very large raft of Scaup. I couldn't see them clear enough to get a positive ID other than they were Scaup. Had to be at least 500+. I photographed the raft plus the larks. Is there any way to post pictures on this blog? Butch Lombardi Warren RI Subject: New Members From: "dean" <Lta3333 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 01 Feb 2010 14:03:11 -0000 I am new to this list serv, but noted my report of last week was not included. I'm not sure how decisions are made as what reports get added to the list or not, but it does not encourage someone to take the time to add their contribution. I also would not report a sighting I was not 100% sure of. It is nice to see what others are finding at least, but I would like to know the process for the weekly reports? Laurie Anderson