Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2001 17:44:44 -0500 Reply-To: Maryland Birds & Birding Sender: Maryland Birds & Birding From: Steve Sanford Subject: Siskins in Randallstown, etc MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit I happily joined the Pine Siskin club this morning with five at my refilled thistle-seed feeder this morning. This is my first solid sighting of siskins in my yard. Later I saw a tight flock of about 15 finches flying around across the street that were probably all siskins. Juncos were really thick too. On top of that, a female Purple Finch alighted on the feeder which is almost as rare as siskins. Speaking of Purple Finches, I've never seen so many as this fall. We've had them on many field trips, such as at Cylburn last Sunday (10/28), where there were about 8-10 in good view (not just one). I had another great look at 3 yesterday nearby in Lochearn including a stunning male fairly close, and I've had them at least flying over my house everyday starting Sunday. I'm finally getting fairly good at picking up that faint little "pink" note they make. This morning I had my first Fox Sparrow at Granite, Baltimore Co. I stopped by a few Columbia Lakes: Centennial, Wilde, and Elkhorn, They all had Ruddy Ducks and P-b Grebes. The first two had about 5 Ring-necks each. Best was 8 Buffleheads at Centennial. I also had a Rusty Blackbird at Font Hill. I also cruised around Woodstock but did not encounter any Evening Grosbeaks. Steve Sanford tanager@bcpl.net Randallstown MD Baltimore County ======================================================================= To leave the MDOsprey list, send e-mail to listserv@home.ease.lsoft.com with the following message in line 1: signoff mdosprey ======================================================================= =========================================================================