Just a few notes on the yard and beyond:
    a.  I observed Goldfinches mating a couple of days ago.  I know they 
love sunflower seeds fresh from the plant.  As soon as the flowers bloom on 
sunflowers, the Goldfinches start investigating, eagerly awaiting the time 
when they can finally start digging them out.  This year has been a bit 
different.  The squirrels have learned to climb the sunflower plants and 
chew off the entire flower at the stem.  When they get to the ground, they 
proceed to rip the seed heads apart and indulge in every little seed, and I 
do mean little.  Because I have plenty of sunflowers, the Goldfinches and 
squirrels are happy.
    b.  I found a Blue Grosbeak nest with 4 eggs on Monday.  I happened to 
notice Mom flying out.
    c.  Two Turkey hens and a bunch of chicks are a regular in the yard.  A 
neighbor up the road says that he has 28 hens and chicks roosting in his 
pine woods at night.  He has named one Thanksgiving and one Christmas.

Out of area:  On Thursday, I attended a shorebird workshop at Bombay Hook 
taught by Michael O'Brien, Mark Garland and Louise Zemaitis.  What a delight 
to learn from such great teachers!  Short-billed Dowitchers ( Red-breasted 
Dowitchers according to Michael) numbered over 5,000 birds.  They also 
estimated 150 Long-billed Dowitchers (Red-bellied Dowitchers).  Hundreds of 
Avocets put on a stunning feeding show in the morning, walking thru the 
waters as a group with swishing bills.  The afternoon feeding show was 
completely different.  It was now low tide in the saltwater marshes and most 
of the birds had deserted Raymond Pool for them.  The Avocets were now 
spread out and feeding individually.  We found no rarities, but a Hudsonian 
Godwit was reported while we were lunching.  It was not found again.  Of the 
thousands of shorebirds, we found one Dunlin and it was in breeding plumage.
Jim Wilson
Queenstown 

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