Tweeters Archives

We purchased, and are very happy with, Nikon Venturers, 8X and 10X. They
are now called the Nikon Premier XL. Doing it again, I'd go with 8X - 8.5X
with any top quality binocular. Reasons: brighter image, better field of
view, closer focus. Swarovskis are sexy and, yes, good, but I dislike 1,
the slow focusing gearing and 2, what I perceive as a warm, unreal, color.
We purchased also the harness which provides neck relief.

Edward Freedman
Consultant to Nonprofit Organizations
edwardfreedman at comcast.net
206-232-3460 Phone and Fax (to Fax, call first)
206-669-5793 Cell
Management ? Strategic Planning ? Board Enhancement
Program & Facility Development ? Fundraising & Marketing

-----Original Message-----
From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
[mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of
tweeters-request at mailman1.u.washington.edu
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 12:00 PM
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Subject: Tweeters Digest, Vol 25, Issue 16

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Today's Topics:

1. Ridgefield RUFFS and SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER (Wilson Cady)
2. RFI: birds that eat moths (pslott)
3. Ridgefield Ruff and others (Roger Windemuth)
4. RE: RFI: birds that eat moths (Kelly Cassidy)
5. A few shorebird sightings (Byers)
6. Pend Oreille County Common Tern (Gina Sheridan)
7. common tern, Soda Lk, Columbia NWR (Bob Flores)
8. sandhill crane Para Ponds, Othello, Adams Co, WA (Bob Flores)
9. Binocular Advice (Mason Flint)
10. Re: Binocular Advice (Gene Bullock)
11. RE: Binocular Advice (Rob Sandelin)
12. Vancouver, BC RBA for September 15, 2006 (Wayne C. Weber)

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Message: 1
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 17:05:09 -0700
From: Wilson Cady <gorgebirds at juno.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Ridgefield RUFFS and SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
To: obol at lists.oregonstate.edu
Cc: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Message-ID: <20060915.170511.2844.0.gorgebirds at juno.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

At 5 pm on Friday, 9/15/06 I got a call from Gary Fredricks who
was standing in the Observation Blind at the Ridgefield Refuge, River ""
Unit. He had two RUFFS, the second bird appears to be a female and a
SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER
Wilson Cady
Washougal, WA

------------------------------

Message: 2
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 18:31:37 -0700
From: pslott <VariedThrush at comcast.net>
Subject: [Tweeters] RFI: birds that eat moths
To: TWEETERS <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <450B53F9.6000209 at comcast.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

Hi All,

A friend of mine grows apples in her yard in north Seattle and asked if
there were particular species of birds that might go after her coddling
moths since she doesn't want to use pesticides. Any tips on attracting
crepuscular flycatchers? ;-)

Patricia S. Lott
Seattle, WA
mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net

------------------------------

Message: 3
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:09:53 -0700
From: "Roger Windemuth" <roger at windemuths.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Ridgefield Ruff and others
To: "Tweeters at U. Washington. Edu" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <CDELIKOOFMCMPNMHOCGPOEKJCCAA.roger at windemuths.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Hi All,

The Ruff that was first seen by Joe Engler, the refuge Biologist, earlier
this week is still at the Ridgefield Refuge. It was seen by another birder
and myself from the blind about 11:00 this a.m. I also saw a small group of
Pectoral Sandpipers there this afternoon and a number of Sandhill Cranes.
It's good to see the Sandhill Cranes back again.

Roger Windemuth, Refuge Volunteer
Roger at Windemuths.com

------------------------------

Message: 4
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:15:51 -0700
From: "Kelly Cassidy" <lostriver at completebbs.com>
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] RFI: birds that eat moths
To: <VariedThrush at comcast.net>, "'TWEETERS'"
<tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <001e01c6d946$cfcca030$5b9a7e40 at CASSIDY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

The House Sparrows around my house seem to eat a lot of moths during
breeding season, but I don't know what proportion of the moths are coddling
moths. I have 5 apple trees. I usually don't bother to spray them. I
don't have time in the fall to deal with several hundred pounds of apples,
anyway. The intensity of the worm damage to the apples seems to depend more
on the winter weather than bird predation.

I would suggest she turn the apples into cider, if she has enough apples to
make a cider press worthwhile. Just don't think about those worms that got
pressed and strained. She could also try the non-pesticide control methods
like raking all the leaves and debris from around the tree and scraping the
loose bark in fall. The moths overwinter in debris and under bark. (Takes
away a source of bird food, however.)

Kelly Cassidy

> -----Original Message-----
> From: tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu
> [mailto:tweeters-bounces at mailman1.u.washington.edu] On Behalf
> Of pslott
> Sent: Friday, September 15, 2006 6:32 PM
> To: TWEETERS
> Subject: [Tweeters] RFI: birds that eat moths
>
> Hi All,
>
> A friend of mine grows apples in her yard in north Seattle
> and asked if there were particular species of birds that
> might go after her coddling moths since she doesn't want to
> use pesticides. Any tips on attracting crepuscular flycatchers? ;-)
>
> Patricia S. Lott
> Seattle, WA
> mail to: VariedThrush at comcast.net
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tweeters mailing list
> Tweeters at u.washington.edu
> http://mailman1.u.washington.edu/mailman/listinfo/tweeters
>

------------------------------

Message: 5
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:35:23 -0700
From: "Byers" <byers345 at comcast.net>
Subject: [Tweeters] A few shorebird sightings
To: <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <000501c6d949$869b4300$6401a8c0 at NOTEBOOK>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"

Hello, Tweeters,

My husband and I were inspired by reports by Tim O'Brien,
Patrick and Ruth Sullivan, and others who have birded Ocean Shores and on
south to Tokeland recently. We spent yesterday and today trying to find some
of the birds mentioned in their reports. Here are the highlights of the
trip:

Sept. 13 Ocean City State Park About 200 Greater
Yellowlegs in the lake just north of the road entering the park

Sept. 14 Ocean Shores, on the beach about 8:30 am, a large flock
of 100s of Sanderlings with a few Western Sandpipers mixed in and just next
to them a larger flock of about 400 Black-Bellied Plovers, a few still in
the remnants of breeding plumage. As we watched, most of the plovers flew
off to the east.

Two Wandering Tattlers, one at Westport and one
along the rocks on the west side of the road leading into Tokeland.

About 10 American Pipits at Midway Beach.

At least 200 Marbled Godwits and about 8 Willets at
Tokeland. Couldn't find the Long-Billed Curlews.

Both days: Hundreds of Brown Pelicans, Heermanns Gulls, Surf Scoters
(Gray's Harbor), and Double-Crested Cormorants

Unlike earlier reports where thousands of Sooty Shearwaters were reports, we
only saw a handful swooping out over the waves out from Point Brown Jetty.

We had very pleasant weather with almost no wind and only
occasional rain showers both days, despite the forecast for rainy weather!

Charlotte Byers

Seattle

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Message: 6
Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2006 21:39:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Gina Sheridan <gsherida8502 at yahoo.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Pend Oreille County Common Tern
To: tweeters at u.washington.edu
Message-ID: <20060916043948.10161.qmail at web52702.mail.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

After hearing about the Palm Warbler that Matthew
Moskwik found yesterday, the Cottets and I trekked up
to Pend Oreille County today (9/15/06) and attempted
to refind this bird. It was a beautiful pre-autumn
day with light frost in the morning, and plenty of
sunshine to take away the chill.

Although we searched in vain the Palm Warbler, we did
see plenty of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERs, PINE SISKIN,
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDs, SAVANNAH
SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WESTERN TANAGER
(heard), and numerous WILD TURKEYs in the immediate
vicinity.

As we drove around Elmer Loop, we encountered a large
flock of juncos and Chipping Sparrows. After sifting
through this flock for over ten minutes, I finally
picked out a nice CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. For
comparison sake, we enjoyed viewing the brown-rumped
Clay-colored Sparrow sitting side-by-side with
gray-rumped Chipping Sparrows. While the Clay-colored
was a P.O. County lifer for me, it was a state lifer
for the Cottets.

Our best bird of the day was found roosting on a tiny
island on the Pend Oreille River just off the
shoreline from the Flying Goose Ranch. The bird in
question was an adult COMMON TERN, which happens to be
the first P.O. County record of this species.

Initially, I considered Arctic Tern, but this
particular bird had a rather long bill which had a
dark band near the tip (but the bill tip itself was
not black), and the tail did not protrude beyond the
wings. Anyway, I was ecstatic to be able to add this
species to one of my northeastern county lists.

River Bend Estates still has good mudflat habitat, but
we only saw a Lesser Yellowlegs there today. This area
has good potential for plovers.

To my dismay, the terrific mudflats along the McKenzie
Bridge river crossing has been flooded out. Somehow,
the water level of the river has been significantly
raised from where it was two weeks ago.

In addition, we did not see any shorebirds on
Calispell Lake. Of special note, there were three
WESTERN GREBEs present.

Even though we dipped on our primary target bird, we
saw two excellent county lifers that more than made
for it. Of course, it was gorgeous day to be out
birding too!

Gina Sheridan
Spokane, WA

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Message: 7
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 07:50:29 -0700
From: "Bob Flores" <rflores at nctv.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] common tern, Soda Lk, Columbia NWR
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>, "Inland Birds"
<inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
Message-ID: <000a01c6d99f$743d4e00$6401a8c0 at FAMILY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

Yesterday I had a common tern at Soda Lake, Grant Co, Columbia NWR.

Bob Flores
Othello, WA
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Message: 8
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 07:52:07 -0700
From: "Bob Flores" <rflores at nctv.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] sandhill crane Para Ponds, Othello, Adams Co, WA
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>, "Inland Birds"
<inland-nw-birders at uidaho.edu>
Message-ID: <001101c6d99f$aeb78cd0$6401a8c0 at FAMILY>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

While driving by yesterday I had a single sandhill fly over .

Bob Flores
Othello, WA
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Message: 9
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 08:20:03 -0700
From: "Mason Flint" <masonflint at hotmail.com>
Subject: [Tweeters] Binocular Advice
To: "Tweeters" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <BAY106-W34AE729451C6AA838870AC82F0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I'm finally ready to splurge for a new pair of nice binoculars and would be
interested in any advice tweeters people may have. I've already done a
decent amount of research and tried out several pairs but it never hurts to
get a fresh perspective. I'm interested in opinions on pros/cons for
different magnifications (7X, 8X, 10X) and field of view as well as
preferred brands and models. I have a scope so I don't need to rely on
stronger power bino's for everything. That said, if people have good reasons
for liking 10X power for everyday use I'm all ears. It has been many years
since I've used 10X power bino's. I'm partial to the Swarovski 8.5 X 42 EL's
but I've heard/read that the Zeiss 8x42 FL T have the best overall image
quality (haven't tried them yet). I don't have glasses so I don't need to
worry about related problems with eye relief. Thanks in advance for any
advice.Mason FlintSnoqualmie, WA
_________________________________________________________________
Search from any Web page with powerful protection. Get the FREE Windows Live
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Message: 10
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 08:43:40 -0700
From: "Gene Bullock" <bullockg at earthlink.net>
Subject: Re: [Tweeters] Binocular Advice
To: "Mason Flint" <masonflint at hotmail.com>, "Tweeters"
<tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <001601c6d9a6$e3196a50$0201a8c0 at GeneYes>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have 10x Eagle Optics Rangers (made by Celestron). They are great for the
money, costing half as much as the pricier Swarovskis. With a scope,
however, you don't need the higher magnification for waterfowl and
shorebirds. 7x or 8x is better for quick-moving birds closer in because of
the larger depth of field. 10x has such a small depth of field it's harder
to focus quickly on little darting birds lie wrens and kinglets. 8x is
probably a good overall choice because you have the scope for distant views.
Image quality is more important than the small additional magnification.
Gene Bullock
Poulsbo

----- Original Message -----
From: Mason Flint
To: Tweeters
Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2006 8:20 AM
Subject: [Tweeters] Binocular Advice

I'm finally ready to splurge for a new pair of nice binoculars and would
be interested in any advice tweeters people may have. I've already done a
decent amount of research and tried out several pairs but it never hurts to
get a fresh perspective.

I'm interested in opinions on pros/cons for different magnifications (7X,
8X, 10X) and field of view as well as preferred brands and models. I have a
scope so I don't need to rely on stronger power bino's for everything. That
said, if people have good reasons for liking 10X power for everyday use I'm
all ears. It has been many years since I've used 10X power bino's.

I'm partial to the Swarovski 8.5 X 42 EL's but I've heard/read that the
Zeiss 8x42 FL T have the best overall image quality (haven't tried them
yet).

I don't have glasses so I don't need to worry about related problems with
eye relief.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Mason Flint
Snoqualmie, WA

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Message: 11
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 10:13:51 -0700
From: "Rob Sandelin" <floriferous at msn.com>
Subject: RE: [Tweeters] Binocular Advice
To: "'Tweeters'" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>
Message-ID: <BAY0-SMTP08A191D680FF9A86412C9AA32F0 at phx.gbl>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I have the same binoculars (10x Eagle optics Rangers) as Gene mentioned. The
reason I bought those particular culars was 1: I heard 3 stories of Eagles
optics, no baloney lifetime guarantee, 2. They close focus to like 3 feet
so I use them for insects and other close up things, 3. They are very light
weight and comfortable. 4. They were what I could afford. It takes a bit of
adjusting to use a 10x cular and I would say low light conditions the small
lens size (32) is a disadvantage over a larger lens cular, colors wash out
in early morning compared to larger lens culars. However the extra
magnification for looking at butterflies made the tradeoff. If I was
strictly after birds I would have gone with the 8x.

Rob Sandelin
Naturalist, Writer
The Environmental Science School
HYPERLINK
"http://www.nonprofitpages.com/nica/SVE.htm"http://www.nonprofitpages.com/ni
ca/SVE.htm
><((((?>`?..?`?..?`?...><((((?>...?`?..?`?...><((((?>.?`?..?`?...><((((?>.?`
?..?`?...><((((?>?.. ><((((?>
?`?..?`?...?..?`><((((?>.?`?..?`?...><((((?>.?`?..?`?...><((((?>..?`?..?`?..
.><((((?>?.. ?`?..?`?....?`?..?`?...><((((?>

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Message: 12
Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 11:31:06 -0700
From: "Wayne C. Weber" <contopus at telus.net>
Subject: [Tweeters] Vancouver, BC RBA for September 15, 2006
To: "TWEETERS" <tweeters at u.washington.edu>, "OBOL"
<obol at lists.oregonstate.edu>
Message-ID: <016e01c6d9be$4623c200$6500a8c0 at bc.hsia.telus.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

This is the Vancouver Natural History Society's Rare Bird Alert for Friday,
September 15th, sponsored in part by Wild Birds Unlimited, with stores in
Vancouver and North Vancouver. This message was updated at 10:00 pm on
September 15th. The RBA telephone number is (604) 737-3074.

Sightings for Friday, September 15th:

At the Reifel Bird Sanctuary in Delta, 2 SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPERS
were on the inner ponds and 2 NORTHERN WATERTHRUSHES along
the east dyke. Around the sanctuary were 3 PURPLE MARTINS, 2
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS, and 7 SANDHILL CRANES.

Sightings for Thursday, September 14th:

At Iona Island in Richmond on the south jetty were 20 HORNED
LARKS, 2 LAPLAND LONGSPURS. From the tip of the jetty, 25
COMMON TERNS and a SURFBIRD were seen.

In Cecil Green Park at UBC, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was
present behind the Museum of Anthropology.

At Point Roberts, Washington, 2 PARASITIC JAEGER and 15
COMMON TERNS were present.

Sightings for Wednesday, September 13th:

At Reifel, a RUFF was present on the high tide near the tower.

In Jordan River on Vancouver Island, a BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER and
PHILADELPHIA VIREO were reported. Jordan River is reached by
driving west from Sooke on Hwy 14. Before reaching Jordan River,
park on the right just before the bridge, walk through a red gate into
a large open area. The birds were seen in mixed flock of warblers
feeding in alders.

At Iona Island, a WHIMBREL and AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER
were present.

At Stanley Park in Vancouver, a SOLITARY SANDPIPER was
sighted in Coal Harbour south of the cricket pitch.

No sightings reported for Tuesday, September 12th

Sightings for Monday, September 11th:

At Boundary Bay, in amongst 1000 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS
off 104th St were a HUDSONIAN GODWIT, MARBLED GODWIT,
20 RED KNOTS, and 3 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS.

At Tsawwassen ferry terminal, 1 SURFBIRD, 1 WANDERING TATTLER
and 1 RUDDY TURNSTONE were present.

At Iona south jetty, 2 HORNED LARKS and 1 or 2 LAPLAND
LONGSPURS were present. At the tip of the jetty were 30 SURFBIRDS.

Sightings for Sunday, September 10th:

A possible BRISTLE-THIGHED CURLEW was reported at Boundary
Bay. From the foot of 64th St, walk east along the dyke to the first
big bend and the bird was feeding on the foreshore here at about 9 am.
Despite an extensive search, it was not relocated by dusk.

Also at Boundary Bay, a juvenile HUDSONIAN GODWIT was
present west of 88th St on the morning high tide and later on,
from the mansion. At 6:30 pm, it was seen off 96th St. It was
sighted in a group of 600 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS. Also present
in this flock were 2 AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVERS, 1
PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER, up to 25 RED KNOT, 1 MARBLED
GODWIT, and a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.

Out of town, the FERRUGINOUS HAWK was seen again near
Separation Lake on Hwy 5A just south of Kamloops.

At Reifel, the NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH was present near the
entrance. Around the sanctuary were 4 EVENING GROSBEAKS, 4
CINNAMON TEAL, and a CANVASBACK.
At Fuller's Slough were 2 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS

In North Delta in the 9500 block near 116th St, 4 COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS were seen.

Sightings for Saturday, September 9th:

In Pitt Meadows, at Grant Narrows RP, 2 SANDHILL CRANES were seen.

At Charleston Park, False Creek, Vancouver, a CACKLING
GOOSE was seen with 9 CANADA GEESE.

Sightings for Friday, September 8th:

A first year BLACKPOLL WARBLER was present at the Burnaby
Lake playing field complex. It was seen at 10 AM for 30 min in a
mixed warbler flock on the south side of the fitness circuit in the
cottonwood trees.

At Iona, a ROCK SANDPIPER was present briefly at the tip of the
south jetty.

In North Delta in the 9500 block near 116th St, 4 COMMON
NIGHTHAWKS were seen.

If you have any questions about birds or birding in the Vancouver area,
please call Wayne at (604) 597-7201, Viveka at 531-3401, or Larry at
465-1402. Thank you for calling the Vancouver Rare Bird Alert, and good
birding.

For further information about birding in the Vancouver area, log onto the
Vancouver Natural History Society's website at
www.naturalhistory.bc.ca/VNHS/

This message was recorded and transcribed by Kevin Louth, and
forwarded by Wayne Weber.

Wayne C. Weber
Delta, BC
contopus at telus.net

------------------------------

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End of Tweeters Digest, Vol 25, Issue 16
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