Where Were They?

[JBS4711@aol.com]

Last weekend I looked forward to participating in the Great Backyard Bird 
Count.  When I got to work Friday I tossed out my usual seed expecting to be 
met by the usual flock of white throated sparrows, cardinals, towhees, 
mourning doves and the sometimes Carolina wrens and other assorted ground 
feeders.  Not a bird in sight.  Kept watching out my office window for the 
yellow-rumps, any of the three usual woodpeckers, blue jays and the sometimes 
titmice and chickadees.  Nothing.  

Saturday at home I eagerly awaited all my usual crowd and while I did get 
some of the usuals plus the often missed goldfinches there was nary a brown 
headed or white breasted nuthatch.  If I don't see them I always hear them.  
Worked hard to get a downey and red breasted woodpecker.  Getting frustrated 
I drove over to West Point on the Eno Park where there are always a good mix 
of birds.  Not a bird flew or sounded off for me.  Finally decided to drive 
north on Snow Hill Road when I was met by the largest flock of mostly 
grackles I've ever seen or heard.  There were wave after wave of them.  Now 
I'm feeling a little better as I've at least seen some birds.  Found the only 
chipping sparrow of the weekend and some yellow rumps at last while parked in 
the Durham Tech North parking lot.  

Still bombing out on kinglets I decided to try a "sure" spot at Lake Michie 
in N. Durham Co.  I waited almost an hour and not a one of the usual large 
flock showed up.  The yellow bellied sapsucker never showed.  The best I 
could find was 2 killdeer north of the bridge on the fast receding shoreline. 
 The rains had really swollen the lake.  Not even a rattle of the belted 
kingfisher.  

Gave up and came home and finally saw 2 fox sparrows, a good find, and just 
before dark "gumball" my winter wren showed.

The rest of the weekend pretty much went the same way.  Finally had a hermit 
thrush come into the yard but it was a lean weekend.

I think there was a conspiracy among the birds.  Today I've already seen the 
usual butter butts, both nuthatches, house finches (first time in months), 
the brown creeper and the barred owls were calling again behind the house.  
Not one of these made appearances last weekend.  Humm..  Birding is strange 
at times.

By the way, I drove out Old Oxford Highway here in Durham, NC last weekend 
and today.  For those of you who haven't traveled this road in a couple of 
years (like me), there are nice large signs now pointing to several waterfoul 
impoundments.  I was going to check them out last weekend more carefully but 
forgot it was Monday and the first vehicle I see in the parking area has tags 
"gon huntin" so figured I'd better check it out another time.  Today I 
stopped at the Little River impoundment and had great close views of some 
beautiful red-headed woodpeckers.  Had a Wildlife officer pull up behind me 
and when he saw I was just bird watching he told me I should get there early 
to see all the ducks flying about.  Also told me hunting season ends the 28th 
of this month so maybe next weekend I'll feel better about going out again.

Hope everyone is enjoying the warmer weather and good birding.  Saw my first 
mourning cloaks today so spring can't be far away.

Dianne Smith
Durham, NC
jbs4711@aol.com