Comments | margdean56: Unusual Sighting

margdean56

Unusual Sighting

Feb 17, 2009 11:47

My unusual bird sighting of the day was a flicker -- and no, it wasn't Twisted Bill, though I spotted him yesterday (which meant that he went into the Great Backyard Bird Count, although not by name). This one was a female, and she was a yellow-shafted flicker. No mistake -- she had a red patch on the back of her head, no "mustache mark" ( ( Read more... )

gbbc, birds

Comments 7

princejvstin February 17 2009, 19:12:04 UTC

Interesting...So do you consider yourself proficient in bird identification?

margdean56 February 17 2009, 19:39:27 UTC

Oh yes, I've been an active birder for at least half my life, and I've known the principles for longer than that. My dad used to take me out birding when I was five!

Of course, in Santa Fe I'm learning new birds, and haven't nailed very many of their songs yet. Back in Maryland I was getting pretty good, but here it's pretty much back to Square One -- and there won't be a lot of singing done till spring.

princejvstin February 17 2009, 20:41:33 UTC

I never knew this about you. I am in awe of your bird-knowledge skills! :)

margdean56 February 17 2009, 22:53:03 UTC

Well, it doesn't usually come up in RPGs. :D It's my hobby that keeps me connected with the world around me.

Thread 5

rahirah February 17 2009, 20:13:37 UTC

I was reading the other day about whole species shifting their migration patterns because of global warming. I'll be interested to see if patterns like that show up when this year's count is, uh, counted.

margdean56 February 17 2009, 22:50:44 UTC

Yes, I will, too. There was an article in the paper the other day about it, how certain species' winter ranges seem to be shifting north.

You can actually get a look at the past ten years or so at the website (Google Great Backyard Bird Count and it will pop right up).