Subject: [Tweeters] Notes from Roy -- 3-12-2008 -- Shrike, Bluebirds,
Date: Mar 12 10:23:46 2008
From: Denis DeSilvis - avnacrs4birds at q.com


Tweeters,

Yesterday, the locally present NORTHERN SHRIKE made its appearance behind
the house, and chased, but failed to get, a female House Finch. This is the
second time I've seen the shrike go after one of these finches. The pair of
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS appears to have taken up residence, but I've not seen what
nestbox they've actually chosen - they've been in and out of three that I've
seen. Each morning, the bluebirds hunt from the smaller Douglas-firs in the
backyard, but then move elsewhere on the property during the rest of the
day. (Thanks to Stan Kosta for his info - I set up a couple of nestboxes
further from the house, and took down one box that the House Sparrows had
started to occupy.) A PEREGRINE FALCON zipped past the house last Sunday,
the first appearance of this species I've seen this year here.



Interesting call the shrike (apparently) has been voicing - nothing like I
have on my CDs, but I've not researched it further as yet. I first heard
this over a month ago and synched it up with the shrike as it was sitting on
a shrub about 50 yards from me. I've subsequently heard it more often, most
recently yesterday when it was on the tree behind the house. It's a two-note
call, repeated 3-5 times, usually with a slight decrease in both time and
pitch between two-note sets. The first note is higher in frequency than the
second, but both notes are in the lower-registers - quite distinctive a call
that carries quite a ways. Could this be some other species calling? It
definitely appeared to come from the shrike.



The female Red-tailed Hawk started sitting on the nest on Wed, March 5, and
appears to have started incubation (hasn't left the nest except very
sporadically). This seems to be quite early - but since this may be a
different pair of birds (at least the male is different) from past nesters,
and this is a new nesting spot on the east side of the property, maybe
they've a different schedule. More on the raptor front: the adult Cooper's
Hawk appears to be making morning and late-afternoon forays in the area.
Also, I've seen American Kestrels on roadside wires and hunting about a
half-mile south of the house; I've also seen them quite often at the
intersection of 56th Ave S and Hwy 702, and across from the Wal-Mart on Hwy
507 in Yelm. A pair of Bald Eagles flew around the area for over a half-hour
yesterday.



Some fairly large flocks of Canada geese have been in the area (up to 600
seen at once), and yesterday, at least four CACKLING geese were in a flock
of 75 geese that flew over. Lots of Green-winged Teal - up to 50 - have been
feeding in the wetlands to the north. My next-door neighbor told me that
he's definitely seen Wood Ducks among the willows in the wetlands, but not
recently. That's one species I've not seen here as yet.



I anticipate that Virginia Rails and Soras will be migrating through soon,
and have been listening for those distinctive calls. I once thought that
these rails nested here, but after an initial flush of birds in early
Spring, they seem to disappear, perhaps to better habitat on Ft Lewis.



A full dozen California Quail were feeding near the major blackberry tangle
behind the house on Monday, and over 30 Mourning Doves are still in the
local area. Most of the latter appear to be paired-up. Somewhere near 40
Pine Siskins remain in the area, with their Purple Finch and House Finch
cousins starting to sing more often. I've also heard Spotted Towhee and
Dark-eyed Juncos singing occasionally. Tree Swallows have been here for
almost two weeks, and one pair checked out a nestbox less than 3 minutes
after I put it up. One more box to finish, and another to make and I should
be set for more tenants.



That's it for now..



May all your birds be identified,



Denis DeSilvis

Roy, WA

Mailto: avnacrs4birds at q.com