[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index][Thread Index]

Strays nin the east and an RCW/Merlin story



Hi Folks,

I just figured I'd add a few sightings and a note about strays.

1st. There still seem to be a good number of SABINE'S GULLS being seen from 
various locations... like ALL OVER.

2nd. The first Ash-throated Flys are filtering into the east while there are 
still a few WESTERN KINGBIRDS being seen.

...and here are a few other interesting postings from other locations in the 
east & central continent from the last month:

- "10 Oct CASSIN'S SPARROW" - New York

- "RED-SHAFTED" FLICKER [Colaptes auratus cafer] 1st New Brunswic record: 
09.30 1 - Whistle Road, GMI (Beverly Schneider).

- "This is a special announcement of a very rare sighting. BREWER'S SPARROW 
is a western species that is not expected in the eastern part of Texas".

- "Just to add to Alan's comments here. Southern California has also been 
experiencing a "montane bird" movement this fall, I have heard of Pinyon 
Jays and other stuff out of place down there. There was a small thread on 
this on the state list (calbird-l). Nothing similar so far in northern 
California".

Meanwhile. Here in South Carolina:
Me? I've had a large number of migrants moving through OTHER than Yumps. The 
number of B-T BLUES is higher now than any time during my stay (starting 
back in May). I have also had several TENNESSEE, WORMEATING, B-T GREEN, 
MAGNOLIA warblers etc. The bulk of the birds are Yumps though with large 
numbers of the normal migrants that accompany them.

I SAVED THE BEST FOR THE LAST... Today while doing observations on 
Red-cockaded Woodpeckers (which had worked their way out into a peninsula of 
tall pine surrounded by 10 foot tall plantation on Rt. 278 in New Ellenton, 
SC) an adult male columbarius MERLIN came screaming in from the north and 
penetrated the pine stand. One of the RCWs bolted from the stand and rose up 
above the plantation, a bit of panic in its call. The Merlin continued 
chase, the RCW, then climbing, decided it was not breaking away from the 
predator. As the RCW began a rapid decent, the Merlin GAINED on the 
woodpecker, nearly snatching it from the sky. Doing a quick calculation, I 
figured out that the woodpecker was about 1/150th of our population at the 
SRS. How may Merlins are there? (I asked myself). My hands came together in 
rapid succession, with such force as to make them tingle as though bordering 
on frostbite.
The Merlin, prey at near arms length, had continued chase in a near circle, 
to just over the trees from which it had driven its morsel; just over my 
head! Immediately over head, it heard my claps (and I think a yell), pausing 
for just a moment; just enough time for the would-be breakfast to dash into 
the canopy from where it had been forced. The Merlin, thwarted, flew once 
over the stand and off to the south to perhaps another cluster of RCWs... 
but I hope not.

Paul Champlin
capito@hotmail.com
New Ellenton, SC



_________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com.

Share information about yourself, create your own public profile at 
http://profiles.msn.com.