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Re: A Plethora of Purples

From:

Marcia Watson

Reply-To:

Marcia Watson

Date:

Thu, 2 Mar 2006 16:05:00 -0500

In response to Bob's mention of Don Simonson's Purple Finches not being
seen since December, I had female Purple Finches at my feeders in Elkton
in October, but not since then.  I keep looking.  The other birds that
have been missing from my feeders this winter are some sparrows.  I
usually have a good assortment and regular visits of American Tree, Fox,
Swamp, and Field, as well as White-throats and Song, but this year I
have had only infrequent glimpses of Field and no Tree, Fox or Swamp at
all.  These species have also been absent or in low numbers on my forays
into various sites in Cecil County this winter.

Marcia

Marcia Watson
Elkton, MD

Cecil Bird Club
Maryland Ornithological Society



-----Original Message-----
From: Maryland Birds & Birding [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Bob Mumford
Sent: Thursday, March 02, 2006 3:06 PM
To: 
Subject: A Plethora of Purples


Every year since I moved to my current location in 1991, purple finches
have 
shown up in March and have usually stayed around for a couple of weeks,

feeding at my window feeder.  One year I missed them altogether.   About
half the 
falls I have seen a few for just a few days.
 
This year, eight or so have been around all winter. Not every day, but
every 
week.  Four pinkies and four brownies.  Yesterday there were  more.
 
Today, there were more here than ever before: at least twenty, with at
least 
four pinkies.
 
I have only seen the Carpodacus purpureus crinitis the one time,  on
February 
26.
 
One curiosity: Don Simonson, who lives only a long block away through
the  
woods, has not had purples since December.
 
Bob Mumford
Darnestown