This is the third time I have sent this, but I keep getting a "failure"
notice, and I have not seen it on the list, so I am trying again. My
apologies if it did post, and I missed it.

--- Original Message ---
Date: 11/27/2009
From: "Darlene Sybert" <drsybert at northtown.org>
Subject: Ruffed Grouse


First Ruffed Grouse of the season were spotted here this week. One of
them spent a great deal of time standing around on my driveway and
pecking now and then at the ground. There were some stray grains of
corn and peanuts along there--thanks to a leaky sack of birdseed--but I
cannot swear that was the attaction.

I thought the Band-tailed Pigeons had moved on, but I saw them again this
week also. One of them, unfortunately, likes to visit a platform bird
feeder that is much too small for him and finally broke the chain on
it--twice! But he keeps coming back to it in spite of sturdier feeders
with the same food in them...must be the location under the Hazel tree.

The Mourning Doves, Juncos, Spotted Towhees, and Black-capped and
Chestnut Backed Chickadees continue to visit also. There was a
Chickadee here yesterday that was covered with light rusty-brown
feathers in all the places that Chickadees are usually white! Mutation?
Molting? Disease? or some species that is unfamiliar to me?



Darlene
Cinebar