[Birdtalk] American Tree Sparrows & the Properties of Wool - Cach Valley

[Buck Russell]

My wife and I found American Tree Sparrows at Bud Phelps WMA.  We found the birds along the dirt road leading in to the Bud Phelps WMA, starting at the corner of 6th South and 36 West (the road between Logan and Mendon).  We also found a flock on the north side of Bud Phelps (near 2nd North) close to the open water on the river.  Other birds in the area included Song Sparrows, Marsh Wrens, Northern Harriers, Black-capped Chickadees, and Black-billed Magpies.  
 
After leaving Bud Phelps went to the Logan Fish Hatchery where found a Greater Yellow-legs (Reinhard Jockel found the bird earlier in the week).  The Great Egret that was counted on the CBC is still hanging out at the Fish Hatchery.  
 
On the south side of the Logan Landfill we found a Ferruginous Hawk.  When I got out of the car to get a better look at the Hawk I realized that there was a Red-tailed Hawk sitting in the same tree and was screaming at the Ferruginous Hawk.  After a few minutes the Ferruginous Hawk got tired of the noise and flew to a nearby tree.  Other birds in the area included a large flock of White-crowned Sparrows, and a gazillion Starlings (I’ve enjoyed the emails on how to count birds).
 
And now for a safety tip:  While at Bud Phelps we found ourselves on the wrong side of a frozen branch of the river.  I saw footprints where someone had successfully walked  across the river, accompanied by their dog.  I thought, “if they can walk across then I should be able to walk across”.  My wife was very hesitant about this proposition.  I had no sooner stepped away from the shore when the ice broke and I was surprised at how deep the water was this close to the shore.  I know what you are thinking,  “another fat birder”,  but nothing could be further from the truth.  I am a slim and lithe birder (just like the rest of you birders)  who was carrying optics, bird books, Ipod/speaker, candy bars, and the list goes on.  Fortunately I was wearing multiple layers and the wool layer did not wick water and kept me warm.  By the time I hiked back to the car my blue jeans were a hard shell of ice.  I am grateful for the properties of wool and a wife who declined to say  “I told you so”.
 
Buck Russell
_________________________________________________________________
Get the Live.com Holiday Page for recipes, gift-giving ideas, and more.
www.live.com/?addtemplate=holiday
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://secureserver.securesites.net/pipermail/birdtalk/attachments/20070113/ba26b328/attachment.htm