Thursday, February 21, 2008
SPRING IS COMING
I am getting excited - Spring is coming - even if Punxsutawney Phil was right we only have 3 more weeks of winter. There are other signs much more reliable than the groundhog. The bird's colors are returning, Florence and I have noticed the changes in the goldfinches each week. The birds are getting "feisty" with each other at the feeder - the beginning of protecting their territories. and there is no doubt that there songs are singing "spring...spring...spring" With the several small storms the last week the feeder has been the best entertainment one could hope for. If you don't feed the birds or take the time to watch the feeders you are missing a blessing from God. Our usual friends were here this AM - nothing new but it is fun becoming "friends" with the regulars. Sometimes I wish they would know it was me who bought and put up the feeders and me who spends the money to keep them full with their favorite seeds but they have no idea and apparently don't have the capacity to understand such things. I wonder how much God in Heaven looks at our frenzy in gathering and consuming His provisions and yearns for us to recognize the giver of "every good and perfect gift" . I for one will do that right now - Father - forgive me for taking your provisions without thanking you, forgive me for consuming my favorite things without even thinking about where they come from. Thank you for the blessings you have given us - "for we never knew a famine, all our needs are well supplied" bless those who have less than us, teach us to share with them from your abundant blessing. Teach us to realise the the reason for these gifts is not that we deserve them but that you love us. Thank You!
Friday, February 15, 2008
NOTES ABOUT THE PICTURES
Yes, I know she is a ring neck duck not a ring tail duck I will change it when I can and I can't spell - also the song birds were taken through a window and if it looks dirty you will have to talk to Mrs. Billett.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
BIRDING AGAIN
Monday (2/11) was a cold but sunny day and very windy. We had errands to run in Lancaster so I checked out the Fruitville swap. It is frozen over of course. There were a few Canada Geese sleeping on the ice - I think I could find a better place to sleep on a cold windy day than on the ice but they did not seem to mind. The only activity was announced by several of the geese standing up and honking while the rest stuck up their heads to see what was happening. A large hawk flew across the lake and "hovered" in the air about 12 feet above our van. It was directly in the sun and it all happened too fast to get out and get a picture at another angle. I think it was a red tail but am not certain.
Florence was in a good mood so when I suggested a drive to Middle Creek she did not protest. I did my janitor duties ion Selock road again it was easy as the "parkers" and drinkers don't go there as much in the winter but I still had a little trash to pic up. I did not see one snow goose but I did not go out to the point as the wind was making the cold feel like single digits. There were Canadas, Tundras, Mallards, and Blacks sleeping on the ice in the big lake. When they did stir and fly they had to labor into a strong wind, I saw one group of Tundra who tried to fly into the wind and then decided to turn around and fly with it. That was a sight, at one point they were laboring yet "standing" still but as they turned they were propelled in the opposite direction. One highlight of the day was in the small pond. A pair of Hooded Mergansers - as always to shy to come close to the road but a treat to see with glasses and a long lens. With them were about six ducks that I could not identify. After an hour of watching and praying (Florence was sleeping) they worked there way to our side of the pond (yes. that's what I was praying for)but did not stay long. They were Ring Neck Ducks. I have never confirmed a sighting before but this time I got excellent pics. There were 5 males and one female. They seemed to be enjoying the cold water fishing as if it were play, and I enjoyed watching, again I could have stayed all day, but Florence woke up and I took pity on her. The Kingfisher was on the small pond as usual. Our thrill came when what we think was a great snowy owl landed in tall trees up the hill from the pond toward the visitor center. Even from the visitors center it was hard to confirm, It was too far away to get a good look or picture I tried to walk to the fence line to get a better look but just as I was loading more memory in the camera it flew. Judging from the size and the amount of white we saw we think it was a Great Snowy but our pics are to grainy, when blown up, to confirm. Florence is more confident than I am but since she has the better set of eyes I think she is right. (don't tell her I said that)
Today, Wednesday 2/12 was a great bird feeder day. An ice and snow storm was predicted to start in the early AM but it did not start snowing hard until noon. The calls are for up to 3 inches here and 4 to 6 north of Harrisburg. The birds must have been sitting on a windowsill and listening to the radio because they hit our feeders hard. I spent more than 3 hours in a rocker by the picture window and the show was great. I don't own a TV and don't want to, but I would not mind having a remote control for my feeders. Wouldn't it be nice to zoom in for a closer look to identify just what sparrow that is? and the pause bottom, I am so afraid I'll miss something when I get up that I almost pee my pants. I need to get to the kitchen for more coffee and to the bathroom to get rid of what I consumed earlier. I could hang the feeders outside the bathroom window and put the coffee pot on the sink counter, This way I would miss nothing. but, my rocker is a much more comfortable seat than the one available in there.
We had about 40 to 50 birds around and under the feeder for most of the day. They seemed to know the bad weather was coming and most of them were patiently sitting on the shrubs waiting for their turn at the seed. No less that 14 species showed up - Starling's, a blue-jay, a White Breasted Nuthatch, several pairs of Cardinals (did not see the pope), House finches, gold finches, White Throated Sparrows, several other sparrows that I did not identify, Juncos, Titmice, Chickadees, Doves, a beautiful Carolina wren, brown headed cow birds and some medium sized brown bird I did not know - I have so much to learn - at first I thought the wren was a brown creeper. Pictures to follow.
Florence was in a good mood so when I suggested a drive to Middle Creek she did not protest. I did my janitor duties ion Selock road again it was easy as the "parkers" and drinkers don't go there as much in the winter but I still had a little trash to pic up. I did not see one snow goose but I did not go out to the point as the wind was making the cold feel like single digits. There were Canadas, Tundras, Mallards, and Blacks sleeping on the ice in the big lake. When they did stir and fly they had to labor into a strong wind, I saw one group of Tundra who tried to fly into the wind and then decided to turn around and fly with it. That was a sight, at one point they were laboring yet "standing" still but as they turned they were propelled in the opposite direction. One highlight of the day was in the small pond. A pair of Hooded Mergansers - as always to shy to come close to the road but a treat to see with glasses and a long lens. With them were about six ducks that I could not identify. After an hour of watching and praying (Florence was sleeping) they worked there way to our side of the pond (yes. that's what I was praying for)but did not stay long. They were Ring Neck Ducks. I have never confirmed a sighting before but this time I got excellent pics. There were 5 males and one female. They seemed to be enjoying the cold water fishing as if it were play, and I enjoyed watching, again I could have stayed all day, but Florence woke up and I took pity on her. The Kingfisher was on the small pond as usual. Our thrill came when what we think was a great snowy owl landed in tall trees up the hill from the pond toward the visitor center. Even from the visitors center it was hard to confirm, It was too far away to get a good look or picture I tried to walk to the fence line to get a better look but just as I was loading more memory in the camera it flew. Judging from the size and the amount of white we saw we think it was a Great Snowy but our pics are to grainy, when blown up, to confirm. Florence is more confident than I am but since she has the better set of eyes I think she is right. (don't tell her I said that)
Today, Wednesday 2/12 was a great bird feeder day. An ice and snow storm was predicted to start in the early AM but it did not start snowing hard until noon. The calls are for up to 3 inches here and 4 to 6 north of Harrisburg. The birds must have been sitting on a windowsill and listening to the radio because they hit our feeders hard. I spent more than 3 hours in a rocker by the picture window and the show was great. I don't own a TV and don't want to, but I would not mind having a remote control for my feeders. Wouldn't it be nice to zoom in for a closer look to identify just what sparrow that is? and the pause bottom, I am so afraid I'll miss something when I get up that I almost pee my pants. I need to get to the kitchen for more coffee and to the bathroom to get rid of what I consumed earlier. I could hang the feeders outside the bathroom window and put the coffee pot on the sink counter, This way I would miss nothing. but, my rocker is a much more comfortable seat than the one available in there.
We had about 40 to 50 birds around and under the feeder for most of the day. They seemed to know the bad weather was coming and most of them were patiently sitting on the shrubs waiting for their turn at the seed. No less that 14 species showed up - Starling's, a blue-jay, a White Breasted Nuthatch, several pairs of Cardinals (did not see the pope), House finches, gold finches, White Throated Sparrows, several other sparrows that I did not identify, Juncos, Titmice, Chickadees, Doves, a beautiful Carolina wren, brown headed cow birds and some medium sized brown bird I did not know - I have so much to learn - at first I thought the wren was a brown creeper. Pictures to follow.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
EAGLE REPORT
I had a speaking engagement in Bird in Hand this AM so I could not resist visiting the Zeltenrich nest. This time we saw an eagle. It was roosting in a tall tree near the nest it flew once and returned to a roost near the original. I can not say for certain but I think the nest is getting bigger. We saw several of the common species known as "bird watchers" in the area.
We traveled over to Mascot to see if the mergansers were still in the mill pond. no they were not but an interesting pair of ducks flew low over the water and landed near the dam. They had black bodies and white upper neck and head (black and white neck) Their backs had an iridescent green shine in the sun. One had just a few white primaries the other all black wings. Their heads were shaped with a top hump not unlike some domestic geese. I suppose they are a hybrid and domestic, but they were quite pretty especially flying together low over the water for about one hundred yards.
No pictures this time can you believe that I didn't take a camera?
We traveled over to Mascot to see if the mergansers were still in the mill pond. no they were not but an interesting pair of ducks flew low over the water and landed near the dam. They had black bodies and white upper neck and head (black and white neck) Their backs had an iridescent green shine in the sun. One had just a few white primaries the other all black wings. Their heads were shaped with a top hump not unlike some domestic geese. I suppose they are a hybrid and domestic, but they were quite pretty especially flying together low over the water for about one hundred yards.
No pictures this time can you believe that I didn't take a camera?
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Looking for Eagles
above: eagle's nest near Intercourse
above: merganzer with fishWe heard of a "new" pair of eagles building a nest between New Holland and Intercourse and had to check it out. We found the nest very easily but no eagles present during our brief visit. The best place for viewing is from the Zeltenrich Reformed Church parking lot at Hollander Rd and Peter's Road. The nest is across Peter's road from the church (directly south) in the first group of high trees. The farm has been posted so people to stay out by the PA game commission - rightfully so, It seems that viewing from the parking lot is far enough away as to not disturb them. Let's pray for a successful and productive nest. To see our eagles spreading out like this is beautiful but I would have never thought that that small stream would support a nest. When trout season comes that area is normally full of fishermen I hope that does not disrupt the nesting. The eagles should enjoy it when they stock the trout in that stream.
We were lucky enough to find a small flock of common mergansers in the pool made by the dam at Mascot mill. We sat for awhile till one swan close enough to get a good picture. Watching diving ducks never fails to entertain me. If Florence wasn't with me I would still be there watching.
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