It’s unbelievable how little time I have these days. Can you say cholecystectomy? I am studying for three exams this week but I still found the time to participate in the 2010 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). With a steaming hot cup of coffee in one hand and binocular in the other, I began tallying birds at 6:30 a.m. this morning. Surprise, surprise… Mr. Butterbutt continues to visit our suet feeders. He looks healthy and has a voracious appetite and defends his feeder from all other avian visitors.
The highlight of this morning’s count was a pair of adult Bald Eagles soaring above our frozen cove looking for for a meal. The Mergansers and Goldeneyes fled for their lives and went to parts unknown. I ended the count when a Red-tailed Hawk flew over our house and dove into the sumac near the edge of the cove. Suffice to say, that was the end of the bird activity for a while.
Here is an aerial view of the area around our home where the count was taken. Red pin denotes home.
Map of area around our home south of Bath, Maine. | Click thumbnail for larger view.
Results from 2.13.2010 for the 2010 GBBC:
Locality: 04530, Bath, Sagadahoc County, ME
Observation Date: FEB 13, 2010
Start Time: 6:30 AM
Total Birding Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Party Size: 1
Skill: excellent
Weather: excellent
Snow Depth: 2 – 4 in (5.1 – 10.2 cm)
Habitat(s):
deciduous woods
coniferous woods
rural
freshwater
salt water
Number of Species: 23
All Reported: yes
Checklist:
Common Goldeneye – 4
Hooded Merganser – 2
Red-breasted Merganser – 3
Bald Eagle – 2
Red-tailed Hawk – 1
Laughing Gull – 1 Confirmed
Herring Gull – 16
Mourning Dove – 4
Downy Woodpecker – 2
Hairy Woodpecker – 1
Blue Jay – 3
American Crow – 6
Common Raven – 1
Black-capped Chickadee – 5
Tufted Titmouse – 4
Red-breasted Nuthatch – 1
White-breasted Nuthatch – 2
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle) – 1
Song Sparrow – 2
Dark-eyed Junco – 8
Northern Cardinal – 1
Purple Finch – 2
American Goldfinch – 16
Sharon and I will head to Popham Beach early Sunday morning to do a GBBC count. I plan to do a GBBC count Monday morning near Ft. Popham and the Atkins Bay area. The weather looks to be sunny and cold, perfect for counting birds.
Here is another look at Mr. Butterbutt.
Yellow-rumped Warbler | Click thumbnail for larger view
Happy birding!
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Oh, there are a lot of back-yard birders who are going to be so envious of YOUR backyard!!! Glad to see Mr. Butterbutt is doing okay. You must be feeding him some "good stuff"! Happy counting, and good luck on your exams! ~karen
Good report. And cholescystectomy just looks harder to say than it really is: cola-sis-tech-to-me
you must tell that butterbutt that all his buddies are south in warm weather…put out a sunlamp and lounge chair for it!
I want your home when we retire from Rving!
Very impressive list of bird seen. it is happening over here too, but I guess we do not see that much
Excellent picture of the yellow-rumped warbler!
My recent post Fantastic light during the week!!!
Humm…very very tempting John! perhaps we can entice our daughter..she is ready to leave NYC..
Keep me posted when u are ready to sell…you never know..if you have photos etc..send them to me and I will send them to our daughter…
looks like the driveway is big enough for a Motorhome..
My recent post Birding with Kathie from Sycamore Canyon
I've been to FT. Popham and Poham beach! I did not kow you were participating in the GBBC! I used to have a butterbutt come to my feeders in winter when I lived in Livermore Falls. It's where I saw my first one! Cute bird. We have audubon's variety out here.
My recent post My World Tuesday: Cienega Creek Preserve
An impressive list indeed John! I'm with Dawn as to the beauty of your home. And your Butterbutt photo is awesome (of course).
Are you studying medicine or did you have to undergo a cholecystectomy? Good luck with your studies and if you have to have the surgery, get well soon!
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