Foam Lake Birding No. 185

FOAM LAKE BIRDING

No. 185

            Here it is, Nov. 4th, and there is no snow on the ground, yet.  It is trying though.  At this time of the year every day without snow is a blessing.  Remembrance Day is early enough for winter to set in. 

            On the birding front things are slow but for one Hairy Woodpecker and one White Breasted Nuthatch in our backyard.  The pair of Eurasian Collared Doves still comes into our yard several times a day.  I would like to have them hang around for the winter but I am not quite sure what to feed them.  I am going to try cracked wheat. 

            On the day before Halloween we had a Robin scratching around on the ground and feeding.  It was nice to see something "summery" at this time of year.  It was alone so it just might be one of those that decides to winter over.  Time will tell.  In the meantime it is back to watching House Sparrows and Chickadees. 

            Driving to and from Foam Lake I have noticed more Rough Legged Hawks than usual.  These Arctic hawks breed on the Tundra but winter over on the Great Plains mainly along the Missouri/Mississippi drainage system.  They are quite common here late in the fall but are usually mistaken for the more common summer hawk, the Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk).  Both are slender gull-like hawks that behave and look much like each other with both species even having the large white rump. 

            My next task is to set out my winter feeders especially the ones with suet since the weather is cold enough to prevent spoilage.  Another feeder that I put out only in the winter is canola seed for the reason that the only birds that seem to like it are the Redpolls.  The Redpolls are not here yet but we will be ready for them if and when they come. 

            This week's pictures are of a Robin feeding in the same area where we saw the one mentioned in this article and a White Breasted Nuthatch at one of our peanut feeders. 

Foam Lake Birding No. 174

 

FOAM LAKE BIRDING

No. 174

            In February I was optimistic about spring being just around the corner.  However, Mother Nature has had other ideas giving us more snow and record breaking cold temperatures.  Even so there are signs of the coming spring.  The large flocks of redpolls have thinned out considerably and the Juncos are back. 

            On April 9, in Saskatoon, I looked out of the window and saw a gopher sunning itself on a sidewalk.  About ten feet away a Robin was on the lawn looking for earthworms and appeared to have found one.  All this was occurring with temperatures well below freezing although the day was sunny.  Both seemed to have had enough of winter. 

           In my last article the location of the bluebird birdhouses was omitted.  The birdhouses are mounted randomly on fence posts on either side of the Yellowhead Highway from Wolverine Siding to the village of Plunkett.  There are not as many bird houses as there used to be as the deteriorated ones have not been replaced.  It would be a good cause for somebody to undertake. 

           I got an email from Dr. Stuart Houston from the University of Saskatchewan asking Saskatchewan residents to report Turkey Vulture sightings to him if the birds carry wing tags or are nesting.  If a tagged bird is spotted note on which wing the tag is located and of course where the bird was seen.  If nesting vultures are seen (usually in abandoned buildings) report the location.  If it is more convenient contact me and I will forward the information. 

           This week's picture of a Robin weathering a late spring snowstorm was taken several years ago but seemed very appropriate this spring.  The White Throated Sparrow was photographed during the same storm.  As of this writing neither bird is here yet but, I do expect both to be here by the time this goes into print. 

            Finally, I will be taking a hiatus of several weeks for surgery and some recovery time.  Hopefully, the spring birds are here by then and perhaps even some surprise visitors.