Subject: [Tweeters] Notes from Roy -- 04-14-2008 Rails, Ravens,
Date: Apr 14 07:37:30 2008
From: Denis DeSilvis - avnacrs4birds at q.com


Tweets,

Spring finally hit this weekend, with a temp of 75degF at Roy on Saturday.
Down in the wetland, Sora (at least 4) are calling most of the day and
night, with one Virginia Rail chiming in occasionally. We calculate at least
5 Wilson's Snipe are now winnowing in our local area. A couple of American
Coots also came through last week.



In the past two weeks, I've seen up to 15 Common Ravens - but mostly up to
four at one time. The 15 were high overhead from nearly 10 minutes last
week. They're definitely moving into the neighborhood.



It appears that the Red-tailed Hawk chicks hatched starting early last week
(female was tight on the nest starting March 5). Unfortunately, it appears
that the only other really active nester - a Killdeer - had the nest
predated over the weekend: a coyote or a feral cat are likely candidates for
this particular predation.



A Pileated Woodpecker sounded out from the trees across the road and then
flew north - the first time I've seen this species here, although several
are in the area about 1.5 miles north on Fort Lewis



Violet-green Swallows came in last week in more significant numbers, and
Barn Swallows (6) made their first appearance here yesterday. The Tree
Swallows have now staked out 11 of the 12 nestboxes, with the Western
Bluebirds successfully holding on to one box. Less than a minute after I put
up a couple of Purple Martin gourds, Tree Swallows were checking them out.
White-crowned Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, and American Goldfinches were
also recent additions this week.



Although Golden-crowned and Fox Sparrows are still here, I've only seen four
of the former and one of the latter this week. More may be in the area, but
the sparrow population is dropping - only the locally breeding Dark-eyed
Juncos seem to still be here. One Varied Thrush is still here. Up to 10
Yellow-rumped Warblers ("Audubon's") came through yesterday.



Reflections of possible rivals? A male California Quail was walking along
the deck immediately outside the doors to the bedroom the other day. As I
watched, it reversed course, looked at the window in the door, and flew up
at it before jump-flying off the deck to the south. A male Rufous
Hummingbird also flew at that same window later in the day.



Birds seen this week include the following (high counts n a single day):

Canada Goose (about 400 were in the air to the east yesterday)

American Wigeon (about 20 on Saturday)

Mallard (up to 20)

Northern Pintail (2)

Green-winged Teal (4)

California Quail (2)

Great Blue Heron (2)

Bald Eagle (2 adults)

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk (3 - one immature)

Virginia Rail

Sora (4)

American Coot (2)

Killdeer (2)

Wilson's Snipe (5)

Mourning Dove (24)

Rufous Hummingbird (3, one male, two females)

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Downy Woodpecker (2)

Northern Flicker (2)

Pileated Woodpecker

Steller's Jay (4)

American Crow (~25)

Common Raven (15)

Tree Swallow (~30)

Violet-green Swallow (10)

Barn Swallow (6)

Black-capped Chickadee (10)

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (2)

Bewick's Wren

Marsh Wren (~6)

Western Bluebird (2)

American Robin (8)

Varied Thrush

European Starling (20)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (10)

Spotted Towhee (4)

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow (>10)

White-crowned Sparrow (2)

Golden-crowned Sparrow (4)

Dark-eyed Junco (~15)

Red-winged Blackbird (~30 - had 23 females feeding under the trees one day)

Brown-headed Cowbird

Purple Finch (~10)

House Finch (~12)

Pine Siskin (25)

American Goldfinch (2)

Evening Grosbeak (6)

House Sparrow (>12)



50 spp this week; 68 spp for the year; 102 site to date



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com