This past weekend the backyard had a little bit of everything.
Bald Eagle - 2 imm. (2 - 3 year olds) coursed through our woods coming from a
clearing, calling, and in quite a chase. Those two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers
alerted the family as they don't care for any birds soaring overhead with a
wingspan greater than 3 feet (That would be about a RS Hawk and greater -
beware Turkey condors). This isn't the first eagle by the way, as an adult
Bald Eagle sat in our large paulownia tree one afternoon a few years back.
Ironically, this same paulownia (65' - 75' tall) will coming down tomorrow,
probably a few years after it should have (its dead). I was able to convince
everybody to keep it standing, well, "because a Bald Eagle had sat in it".
Resistance is futile; big, dead trees come down - one way or another! The
arborist (pro name for treewatcher?) also informed us we may in the running
for largest Norway Spruce in the state. I know - who cares - I sort of agree.
I just hope we don't become overrun with treewatchers. Is there a Code of
Treewatching Ethics? And would it be treewatching or tree spotting? Just
wondering.
Louisiana Waterthrush - 1 calling from ravine. Happens most years for a day or
two. Ravine is a non-water extension from Bynum Run.
Purple Finch - 1 female
Brown Creeper - 1
Red-breasted Nuthatch - 1
kinglets - yep they were way up there. Small and gray against a grayer sky.
Pileated Woodpecker - 1 calling; a pair are resident
Brown Thrasher - 1 or 1 at a time. I'm hoping a new yard resident although
they have been at a nearby farm forever.
Field Sparrow - feeder visiting and calling in nearby field
Eastern Towhees - Quite a few calling, taking over the moring chorus.
Chipping Sparrows - 1 or 2 at feeder, more calling.
American Goldfinches - many starting to look the part.
Dark-eyed Junco - still plentiful and singing sweetly.
Coyotes - singing a little last week. Hear them at least once every three
weeks or so.
Rick Cheicante
Harford County
Bel Air, MD
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