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johnhens 
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 12:39 pm |
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Had my first woodcock of spring,hoping to get views of a Harlequin duck this week. Lots of sandhill cranes moving through.
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| Post Number: 2
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JimInMD
Group: Members
Posts: 3112
Joined: Feb. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 1:06 pm |
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The ospreys and eagles are nesting here in MD and chicks are being born. For a long time resident of MD's Eastern Shore, watching our phone poles become dotted with osprey nests is always a sure sign of Spring.
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Checking out for a while, find me on FB.
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| Post Number: 3
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 2:58 pm |
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Spotted my first robin of the year last week.
Saw a small black-and-white duck on my creek... either a bufflehead, ringnecked, or hooded merganser. Given the common ranges and time of year, I'm leaning towards the merganser.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 4
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crookedknife
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Mar. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 18 2013, 5:31 pm |
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Saw the first Say's Phoebe of the spring last week, first turkey vulture as well.
Robins winter here but they are seldom seen these days, having moved on to breedng grounds no doubt.
I put out a hummer feeder today just in case of any early bird arrivals. Usually see black chins by early April.
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In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.
Edward Hoagland
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| Post Number: 5
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| Post Number: 6
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 19 2013, 3:57 am |
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While birding the other day, I saw 6 large grey birds in a corn field. My immediate thought was sandhill cranes. I was surprised to see great blue herons. Have not seen them standing in an ag field before.
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| Post Number: 7
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 19 2013, 3:29 pm |
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That reminds me...
Years ago while driving along an interstate in Syracuse, I saw a snowy egret. I did a triple-take on that one! I assume a storm forced it this far north.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 8
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crookedknife
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Mar. 2009
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Posted on: Mar. 19 2013, 6:29 pm |
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(johnhens @ Mar. 19 2013, 3:53 am)
QUOTE
(crookedknife @ Mar. 18 2013, 4:31 pm)
QUOTE I put out a hummer feeder today just in case of any early bird arrivals. Usually see black chins by early April. Good hummer site: http://birding.about.com/gi....te=http
That's a great site, wish they had it for western hummers.
Also, yesterday in the local wetlands - 3 violet-green swallows - first of the year.
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In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.
Edward Hoagland
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| Post Number: 9
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 20 2013, 10:59 am |
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(crookedknife @ Mar. 19 2013, 5:29 pm)
QUOTE
(johnhens @ Mar. 19 2013, 3:53 am)
QUOTE
(crookedknife @ Mar. 18 2013, 4:31 pm)
QUOTE I put out a hummer feeder today just in case of any early bird arrivals. Usually see black chins by early April. Good hummer site: http://birding.about.com/gi....te=httpThat's a great site, wish they had it for western hummers. Also, yesterday in the local wetlands - 3 violet-green swallows - first of the year.
We may make a trip to CO, hope to see violet green swallows
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| Post Number: 10
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Mar. 21 2013, 8:04 pm |
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Saw a Harlequin Duck today, a life bird for me.
Beautiful bird!!
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| Post Number: 11
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WisMike
Group: Members
Posts: 804
Joined: Jan. 2011
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Posted on: Mar. 22 2013, 9:53 am |
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A great gray owl now near Madison yesterday at the Capital Brewery (not my favorite beer, but it proved conducive to a gathering of birders last night who came for the owl and stayed for the beer). Not what you'd call a "spring bird" I suppose, but then again it's remained pretty chilly in Wisconsin lately. A big contrast to last year, when I was walking in 80-degree weather through the woods of northern Wisconsin in late March. This is more normal and while people are complaining about it, I'm happy to have a few more weeks winter.
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| Post Number: 12
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 08 2013, 10:45 am |
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Woodpeckers are hammering on trees, trying to attract mates. Hopefully, they'll ignore our metal chimney flue this year.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 13
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| Post Number: 14
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Woodswoman
Group: Members
Posts: 6457
Joined: Aug. 2002
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Posted on: Apr. 08 2013, 7:15 pm |
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Here's a few of the birds we've been seeing in Colorado the past few weeks...
Ross' Goose
Great Tailed Grackle (sorry, not a good pic)
Red-winged Blackbird
Pied-billed Grebe
Hooded Merganser
Shoveler
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Can't you hear the wild, it's calling you. Let us journey to a lonely land...let us go. ~Robert Service
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| Post Number: 15
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Woodswoman
Group: Members
Posts: 6457
Joined: Aug. 2002
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Posted on: Apr. 08 2013, 7:22 pm |
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Bald Eagle (far away). This eagle and mate are now nesting. They were feeding the eaglets a fish meal yesterday. The nest is too far away for my camera to get any pics.
Nesting Red-tailed Hawk
Great Horned Owl...those three fluffy white fuzzballs are the owlets
Crazy Canada Geese. They were sitting way up high on the top of a cliff.
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Can't you hear the wild, it's calling you. Let us journey to a lonely land...let us go. ~Robert Service
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| Post Number: 16
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 10 2013, 5:55 am |
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While doing prescribed burns this Spring I saw more woodcock than I have ever seen. Yesterday, had foy ruby crowned and golden crowned kinglets. Hummingbirds should be here soon.
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| Post Number: 17
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| Post Number: 18
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 12 2013, 5:48 am |
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(Trinity @ Apr. 11 2013, 3:46 pm)
QUOTE
(johnhens @ Mar. 21 2013, 8:04 pm)
QUOTE Saw a Harlequin Duck today, a life bird for me.
Beautiful bird!! Wow! Congratulations on a great bird, been wanting to see that one for a long time now. Gonna have to travel a long way from Texas if I'm ever going to see it! Black-chinned Hummers have been back for a few weeks, as well as Ash-throated and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers. Heard the first Scott's Oriole of the season, and my wife heard a Summer Tanager a few days back. A few warblers moving through the area, but not much yet. A pair of Screech Owls has taken up residence in our owl box. Hoping for a decent migration this year!
Saw my first scissor tailed flycatcher in OK a few years ago, amazed that little bird flies with that tail!!
One of these Springs I have to get to Texas to bird!!!
I put a screech owl box up a month or so ago. I have already shagged a pair of squirrels out.
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| Post Number: 19
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 12 2013, 5:50 am |
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Woodsy, you have been busy!!!
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| Post Number: 20
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21963
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 12 2013, 10:08 pm |
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By the way, I blew my REI dividend and 20% coupon on some bigger (and better) binoculars. My intended application was scouting ruins, but so far I've mostly watched the heavens and the birds.
Canada Geese and Mallards are nesting down at the lake. I'm looking forward to catching a glimpse of the Green Heron, but I need to get out in the canoe for that.
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| Post Number: 21
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 14 2013, 9:34 pm |
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We had a Rufous Sided Towhee and Pheobe show up at the feeder and in the yard. We have had phoebe's before in the fall, they would sit in the tree and follow the bugs kicked up when I was mowing. The towhee, a first at the house. Also a wood thrush in the trees behind the house.
We put the hummingbird feeder out.
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| Post Number: 22
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 17 2013, 6:02 am |
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Birded yesterday at the local Forest Preserve. FOY Yellow Rumped Warblers, Hermit Thrush, lots of both Ruby crowned and golden crowned kinglets and heard a turkey gobbling. Towhee's seen and heard.
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| Post Number: 23
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Kuzma
Group: Members
Posts: 7
Joined: Apr. 2013
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Posted on: Apr. 18 2013, 2:36 pm |
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Spring season is beautiful season in the year, My grand parents are farmer and in spring season i want to live with them in village. We enjoy the spring season their and go for hunting also.
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| Post Number: 24
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 19 2013, 9:55 am |
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Bluebirds fighting with a starling atop a bluebird house yesterday morning. I hope the bluebirds stay. That house is ususally occupied by wrens.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 25
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big_load
Group: Members
Posts: 21963
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 23 2013, 1:15 pm |
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The fight for territory is ramping up. The ducks seem to be paired off already, too.
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| Post Number: 26
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crookedknife
Group: Members
Posts: 254
Joined: Mar. 2009
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Posted on: Apr. 24 2013, 7:07 pm |
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White-faced Ibis in migration at the local wetlands. Watched a migrating osprey dive for fish in a nearby lake. Also, FOY black-throated sparrow, western kingbird and killdeer.
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In order to really enjoy a dog, one doesn't merely try to train him to be semi human. The point of it is to open oneself to the possibility of becoming partly a dog.
Edward Hoagland
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| Post Number: 27
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WalksWithBlackflies
Resident Eco-Freak Bootlicker
Group: Members
Posts: 8830
Joined: Jun. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 25 2013, 9:52 am |
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Mockingbird really showing off his skills this morning.
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When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be. - Lao Tzu
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| Post Number: 28
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 28 2013, 3:01 pm |
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3 life birds for me: Last weekend, a Wilson's Phalarope and Caspian Tern. This AM, finally got a Cinnamon Teal, a duck not normally seen in the Midwest and one I have searched for years.
At home, a pair of chickadees are in and out of a box we put up last year. Last summer a pair of wrens raised a brood, hope the chickadees move in. We put out nesting material for the chickadees. Also saw a Pine Warbler in the yard, a first for the yard!!!
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| Post Number: 29
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: Apr. 30 2013, 8:10 am |
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There is a heron rookery at Nachusa Grasslands where I volunteer. There are about 50 nests that currently have herons sitting on them. I have never checked the nest before, good to see this site being used.
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| Post Number: 30
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johnhens
Group: Members
Posts: 4982
Joined: Jan. 2004
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Posted on: May 01 2013, 8:12 pm |
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Yellow Warblers, Orchard and Baltimore Orioles, Gray Catbird, Palm Warblers, Rose Breasted Grosbeaks, House Wrens at the local Forest Preserve
New at the house: Orioles and Grosbeaks and Blue Gray Gnatcatchers, House Wrens.
Tomorrow is supposed to be a good day for migrants.
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