musings

• Messages sorted by: [ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]
• Next message: ctaylor@seamail.nos.noaa.gov: "Re[5]: name-a-bird experience"
• Previous message: Geoff Graff: "[BIRDHAWK] Backyard Hawk Watch"

Howdy All!

In addition to Rick's correct predictions on Franklin's Gulls, we
should also probably be looking for Greater White-fronted Geese
as these have showed up this week in several coastal states, but
in small numbers--not anything on the magnitude of the Franklin's
Gulls.

Some recent goodies from around the continent for all of you who
(like me) can travel in an instant to a location in your mind:  a
second-year Ross's Gull was viewed for about 3 hrs East of
Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday morning; North America's first East
Coast record of Wood Sandpiper was seen at Renews, Newfoundland
this weekend; a Rufous-capped Warbler was seen all weekend near
Hereford, Arizona...(I'll stop here cause I'm already drooling
all over my keyboard).  Catch daily updates at

http://www.erols.com/gregorym/rarities.html

Well, at least while I'm in town. <grin>

Out of personal interest, I have watched the reports of the
return of Bohemian Waxwings to the northern Great Lakes and the
Canadian Maritimes.  Recent reports from Rochester, NY and
Detroit, MI have me waiting with anticipation--are these just
accidentals or is this an early indicator for an invasion.
Unfortunately, it's way too early to tell, but not to early to do
some daydreaming...

Then there's the reports of White-winged Crossbills showing up in
New England and the Great Lakes with a report this week from as
far south Illinois.  Hmmmm.

And Great Gray Owl single reports from Ontario, Wisconsin, and
Minnesota in the last two weeks, and Northern Hawk-Owl from the
Canadian Maritimes.  More hmmmm.

I happen to believe (whether it's reliable or not, I can't
remember where I first heard it) the sun spot theories for
northern invasions.  You know--every 11 yrs or so--the couple yrs
leading up to high solar activity are good yrs for invasions from
the North.  Evidently, 2000 is a solar activity year.  That would
put the last good invasions at 1987-1989 or so.  I was in
Oklahoma then (not a particularly good place to be in an invasion
year), but I'd be interested to hear anyone who remembers
invasion years here in the mid Atlantic.

Just musing...

Greg Miller
Lusby, MD

• Next message: ctaylor@seamail.nos.noaa.gov: "Re[5]: name-a-bird experience"
• Previous message: Geoff Graff: "[BIRDHAWK] Backyard Hawk Watch"