[Birdtalk] Townsend's Solitaire

Mon Sep 17 11:32:29 MDT 2007

 While leading our bird walk, Saturday to Francis Peak at the top of Farmington Canyon, we noted quite a few Townsend Solitaires, as well as the usual suspects.? Our primary quest was to watch for migrating raptors.? There was quite a wind on top which changed thermal formation.? However, we did see Northern Goshawk, Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawk.? The best look of the morning was a Red-naped Sapsucker at 5 feet.? The most surprising observation as a flock of 25 Spotted Sandpipers in winter plumage at 9,500 feet.? They were headed west off the mountain beginning their migration.

Regards,

Bill Fenimore
Utah Audubon Policy Advocate
1860 North 1000 West
Layton,  UT  84041-1858
801-525-8400 Store
801-525-8415 Fax
801-699-9330 Cellular

-----Original Message-----
From: Kristin Purdy <kristinpurdy at comcast.net>
To: Bird Talk <birdtalk at utahbirds.org>
Sent: Sun, 16 Sep 2007 8:38 pm
Subject: Re: [Birdtalk] Townsend's Solitaire

Jim,

?

Your witnessing so many Townsend's Solitaires may 
be another sign of a significant downslope movement of montane species that Rick 
Fridell is monitoring through the Red-breasted Nuthatch movements. I think your 
sighting of so many at once is exceptional.

?

Townsend's Solitaires may withdraw from northern 
limits of their range in a traditional migration, they may move to a lower 
elevation, or they may stay at the same place year round. I'd like to think ours 
fall into the last two categories. I've seen many Townsend's Solitaires along 
the Wasatch Front in some years, just as we see many Red-breasted Nuthatches, 
Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets and mountain finch species. That wasn't 
true of last winter, however, when we didn't see many mountain birds along the 
Wasatch Front.?Wasatch Audubon barely eked out two Townsend's Solitaire 
sightings on our Ogden Christmas Count. In other years, we've seen many, 
especially in cemeteries and neighborhoods where?juniper and other fruit 
trees are located. That's where the fun is and we can watch how territorial 
Townsend's Solitaires can be?in defending fruit crops.

?

I hope your sighting means a good year for lower 
elevation Townsend's Solitaires. Perhaps we'll all enjoy a winter sighting as 
entertaining as these documented by Charles Lockerbie in The Condor in 
1939:

?

"Townsend Solitaires Declare Ownership.--On January 
10, 1937, I saw a Townsend Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) rout a flock of about 
twenty-five Bohemian Waxwings (Bombycilla garrula) from his haw thicket in City 
Creek Canyon, Salt Lake City, Utah. While on my way up the canyon, I had noted 
the solitaire. Just as I returned, the waxwings arrived. The solitaire dashed 
from one to another, moving them from place to place. They finally bunched on 
the top of an adjacent oak clump and raised their heads and trilled. But, this 
did not dismay him. He charged at the flock and put them to flight down the 
canyon. 

?

On January 9, 1938, I again found the waxwings near 
the same place, but in this instance they were sunning themselves in tall 
cottonwoods along the creek and frequently descended to drink. While watching 
them, three of the birds flew to a nearby haw thicket. Almost instantly a 
solitaire came flying down the hill, but, seeing me, lit some fifty feet from 
where the waxwings were feeding and in no position to see them. I expected the 
solitaire to chase them out again, but either from fear of me or because he 
could not see the feeding waxwings, he came no closer. 

?

On February 6, 1939, I noticed another instance of 
ownership in a downtown district where a solitaire scolded a flock of fifteen 
Bohemian Waxwings that had come to his pyracantha bushes. A janitor came to his 
service by throwing a snowball at the flock in an effort to save the berries. 
However, the next time I passed, the bushes were bare."? --C. W. Lockerbie, 
Salt Lack City, Utah, April 15, 1939. 

?

Kris

----- Original Message ----- 

From: 
  Jim & 
  Beanie 

To: Bird Talk 

Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 6:17 
  PM

Subject: [Birdtalk] Townsend's 
  Solitaire

Yesterday, september 15,? I spent some time 
  in Blacksmith Fork Canyon.? (Cache County)

?

I noticed that there were many (+/- 20) 
  Townsend's Solitaires flitting about.? 

?

Today I took a drive to Porcupine Dam, and just 
  below the dam there was several Townsend's Solitaires.?

?

I?don't remember seeing so many of this 
  species ?together, ever.? Usually 
  they are "Solitaire".

?

I don't know if they are grouping up to migrate, 
  or to go foraging.? What can you tell me about their 
habits.?

?

Jim 

?

http://donce.lofthouse.com/jamaica/nature/default.htm

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