Say's Phoebe Update Sunday, 1/11
Don Henise (deheni@ark.ship.edu)
Sun, 11 Jan 1998 22:46:08 -0500 (EST)
The Say's Phoebe near Newville, Cumberland County, PA was seen briefly
this afternoon. I arrived at the Weaver Farm about 1:30 and there were 6
birders there. Two of them had been there since shortly after noon without
seeing the bird. Finally about 2:10 the phoebe showed up on one of the
wires near the microwave tower. Unfortunately that was about 15 minutes
after a woman and her grandson, who had driven up from Baltimore, left.
They are the first people that I am aware of that made the trip
here without seeing the bird.
The bird only stayed at the tower for about 5 minutes and then flew over
near the farm house (it actually perched on the peak of the house
roof for a brief moment) where it was watched for another 5 or 10 minutes
before it disappeared across a field.
Best,
Don
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Directions: From I-81 take the Newville Exit (#11) and follow Rt. 233
> north to Newville. From the traffic light at the intersection of Rts.
> 233 and 641 in Newville continue 1 block north on 233 and turn left onto
> Green Street which becomes Steelestown Road after you get out of town.
> Look for the first road to the right - Wildwood Road - about 2 miles or
> so from 233. Wildwood Road does a lot of twisting and turning and after
> one sharp left turn you will come to a farm lane with the name Ethan
> Weaver on the mailbox and a sign for Blue Mountain Supply. There is a
> microwave relay tower on the farm.
>
> We spoke with the owner and even showed him the bird. He was pretty
> excited about it and is open to anyone coming to search for it on his
> property. Just be sure to stop in at the house if you go there. There is
> a large, but friendly german shepherd at the farm. His name is Dino.
>
> The bird has been seen working around the base of the microwave tower
> and around some of the farm buildings especially on the roof at the far
> end of the long chicken house. It was also seen on the fence line behind
> the barn. The original sighting of the bird on Saturday was at the next
> sharp left bend in the road beyond the microwave tower and that is where
> it was first sighted Sunday morning just before 9:00 am.
>
> Mr. Weaver gave us permission to walk around his farm but said to stay
> out of his neighbor's fields on the opposite side of the road. Remember
> to check in at the house if you go into the farm.
>
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Don Henise Mailto:deheni@ark.ship.edu
Information & Computing Tech Center Voice:(717) 532-9121 ext 3170
Shippensburg University Home:(717) 776-6550
1871 Old Main Drive Fax:(717) 532-1427
Shippensburg, PA 17257 http://www.ship.edu/~deheni/
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