I also have a Hairy WP that regularly visits my suet feeder, even more than
the local Downies.
Yesterday morning I spent about 2 hours checking a very short route behind
my house for breeding bird activity for Loudoun County's atlas. I'm finding
the stationary watching much to my liking as opposed to "tick the bird and
keep moving"-I believe this method has more advantages than we often
realize. I could hardly believe the variety I found in just a very small
area not far behind my house, just by mostly standing quietly. For breeding
activity, I found a Chickadee flitting back and forth from cavity to nearby
twig carrying out sawdust in his beak-so cute! Otherwise, most activity was
an amazing number of late-winter species, in particular, Ruby-Crowned
Kinglets galore!
Hooded Merganser flyover
Brown Creeper - 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - I'd conservatively estimate 20 - they were everywhere
at once the whole time!
Hermit Thrush - 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 1
Swamp Sparrow - 1
White-throated Sparrow - 2
D-E Junco - 3
Pine Siskin - 3
30 other species + a resting Red Fox, 4 Deer, and a Rabbit
Mary Ann Good
Lincoln, near Purcellville, Loudoun County
_____
From: va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:va-bird-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Phil Kenny
Sent: Monday, April 13, 2009 8:13 PM
To: 'David Davis'; 'VA BIRD'
Subject: Re: [Va-bird] Hairy Woodpecker Sightings
"whereas we have no record of a Hairy coming to one of our feeders."
I regularly get Hairy Woodpeckers coming to my suet feeder. Although a lot
fewer than the Downy Woodpeckers. I put out peanut suet almost year round.
However, I scale back a bit now in the springtime and just put out plain
suet. It is not as well liked, but this time of year I get a dozen or so
European Starlings that wipe out the peanut suet in a day or two.
Phil Kenny
1731 Killarney Court
Vienna VA 22182-2133
703-255-5423
571-226-6690
philkenny@xxxxxxxxxxx
