[TN-Bird] new and nesting yard birds, Blount Co

From: "Rikki Hall" <rikki@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Fri, 13 May 2005 13:26:21 -0400 (EDT)
Yesterday afternoon I heard an unfamiliar call in the yard, a loud, sharp
chip.  I went to investigate and discovered a pair of BLUE GROSBEAKS
foraging in some oaks.  This is a new yard bird for me at this house in
Rockford, Blount Co, between Singleton Bend and Gravelly Mt.  The male
looked to be a first-year bird, lacking the black face and showing plenty
of brown along with his blue.  They were still present at sunset, but
there was no sign of them this morning.

I did see a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS harassing a RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER as it flew into a small cherry tree.  I've been hearing and
seeing gnatcatchers for several weeks and hoping a pair might be nesting. 
Their agitation suggests they may have a nest in that cherry, though I
have yet to spot it.

The pair of SUMMER TANAGERs that has nested here the past two years is
back.  A FIELD SPARROW was singing all day long for much of the past
month, but I haven't heard him for several days.  Hopefully, he is busy
feeding nestlings instead.  An INDIGO BUNTING has taken his place as yard
loudmouth.  Other likely nesting migrants include SCARLET TANAGER, WOOD
THRUSH, and RED-EYED VIREO, all common in the woods behind the house
moreso than the yard.  We had resident YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOOS last year,
though some cooing yesterday morning is all I've heard of them so far this
year.

I'm also excited the native bald-faced hornets have chosen to build their
nest under a window awning right outside my office, where I can safely
watch them.  Last year they built right over the front porch steps, and I
had to knock their nest down.

Rikki Hall
Rockford, TN
Blount Co.

=================NOTES TO SUBSCRIBER=====================

The TN-Bird Net requires you to sign your messages with
first and last name, city (town) and state abbreviation.
-----------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------
To post to this mailing list, simply send email to:
tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------------------------------- 
To unsubscribe, send email to:
tn-bird-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx 
with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

  TN-Bird Net is owned by the Tennessee Ornithological Society 
       Neither the society(TOS) nor its moderator(s)
        endorse the views or opinions expressed
        by the members of this discussion group.
 
         Moderator: Wallace Coffey, Bristol, TN
                 wallace@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
     Visit the Tennessee Ornithological Society
          web site at http://www.tnbirds.org
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Topographical Maps located at http://topozone.com/find.asp
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

    ========================================================
[TN-Bird] new and nesting yard birds, Blount Co

Other related posts:
