Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[tess]

Several years ago we were taking a break while driving back to NY and 
went for a walk in Brigham County Park, in Dane County, Wisconsin.  
There were nesting RH Woodpeckers, an adult feeding nestlings, and this 
is part of the note I entered into eBird:
> the color of the adult: it was as though the entire bird had been 
> dipped in strong tea for a couple of hours. The white parts were 
> sepia, the red head was duller (but did not appear to have any black 
> feathers - the feathers were all just reddish with a distinct brownish 
> tint) and even the black seemed dulled with an overlay of brown. 
> Didn't think to notice what kind of tree was hosting the nest - maybe 
> one that can leach a brown color from interior wood?




On 7/6/2023 7:42 PM, Kevin J. McGowan wrote:
>
> No, and no. :^(
>
> The sexes in Red-headed Woodpeckers are not distinguishable by 
> plumage. The difference in staining could very well be the consequence 
> of one bird being in the nest cavity more than the other, but it is 
> usually the male that does more incubation and brooding than the 
> female, as in most(?) woodpeckers.
>
> Described copulation displays, fide Birds of the World, do not 
> indicate any nape-grabbing like waterfowl or cats. Instead, there 
> seems to be switching of who’s on top, and back and forth, and other 
> moves. So, I would say feather loss on the back of the head is due to 
> something else, like earlier onset of molt than the other bird, or 
> something.
>
> Best,
>
> Kevin
>
> *From:* bounce-127549365-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
>  *On Behalf Of *Dave Nutter
> *Sent:* Thursday, July 6, 2023 4:51 PM
> *To:* CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> *Subject:* [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers
>
> This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a 
> successful quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with 
> young was located by Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able 
> to scope and photograph through a small gap in foliage at a respectful 
> enough distance that: the adults came to the nest hole several times 
> to feed one or more unseen nestlings; one adult went entirely inside 
> the cavity at least twice; for awhile in between feedings a large 
> nestling peered out of the cavity, appearing well-feathered on its 
> head and seeming large enough to be ready to fledge soon. The feedings 
> were frequent enough that I think the adults were only feeding at the 
> cavity, but once I located the cavity, I was not looking around to see 
> if they were also feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage 
> differences between the two adults when they visit his feeders. I 
> noticed that one of the adults appeared immaculate, with bright white 
> secondaries and a solid crimson crown. The other adult had a slight 
> rusty tinge on the secondaries, several brown stains on the lower 
> breast plumage, and a patch of feathers apparently missing from the 
> rear of its crown; this was the adult who went inside the cavity each 
> of the two times I was able to tell.
>
> My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, 
> is this: Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is 
> which sex? For instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the 
> nest cavity than the male, thus become more likely to get stained? 
> Does missing feathers on the back of the head indicate a female? That 
> is, do mating male woodpeckers grab the back of the head of females, 
> similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of apparent missing feathers 
> due to something else?
>
> A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below.
>
> - - Dave Nutter
>
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178
>
> --
>
> *Cayugabirds-L List Info:*
>
> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME>
>
> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES>
>
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
>
> *Archives:*
>
> The Mail Archive 
> <http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
>
> Surfbirds <http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds>
>
> BirdingOnThe.Net <http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html>
>
> *Please submit your observations to eBird 
> <http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!*
>
> --
>
> --
> *Cayugabirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME>
> Rules and Information <http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES>
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
> <http://www.northeastbirding.com/Cayugabirds

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Dave Nutter]

Thanks for the info, Kevin. It was a bit frustrating to label all the photos 
“adult, sex unknown” when there were clearly (at least) 2 different birds, and 
it seemed a good bet that there was (at least) 1 of each sex. But so be it. 

- - Dave Nutter

> On Jul 6, 2023, at 7:42 PM, Kevin J. McGowan  wrote:
> 
> No, and no. :^(
>  
> The sexes in Red-headed Woodpeckers are not distinguishable by plumage. The 
> difference in staining could very well be the consequence of one bird being 
> in the nest cavity more than the other, but it is usually the male that does 
> more incubation and brooding than the female, as in most(?) woodpeckers.
>  
> Described copulation displays, fide Birds of the World, do not indicate any 
> nape-grabbing like waterfowl or cats. Instead, there seems to be switching of 
> who’s on top, and back and forth, and other moves. So, I would say feather 
> loss on the back of the head is due to something else, like earlier onset of 
> molt than the other bird, or something.
>  
> Best,
>  
> Kevin
>  
>  
> From: bounce-127549365-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
>  On Behalf Of Dave Nutter
> Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 4:51 PM
> To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
> Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers
>  
> This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a 
> successful quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young was 
> located by Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope and 
> photograph through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough distance 
> that: the adults came to the nest hole several times to feed one or more 
> unseen nestlings; one adult went entirely inside the cavity at least twice; 
> for awhile in between feedings a large nestling peered out of the cavity, 
> appearing well-feathered on its head and seeming large enough to be ready to 
> fledge soon. The feedings were frequent enough that I think the adults were 
> only feeding at the cavity, but once I located the cavity, I was not looking 
> around to see if they were also feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage 
> differences between the two adults when they visit his feeders. I noticed 
> that one of the adults appeared immaculate, with bright white secondaries and 
> a solid crimson crown. The other adult had a slight rusty tinge on the 
> secondaries, several brown stains on the lower breast plumage, and a patch of 
> feathers apparently missing from the rear of its crown; this was the adult 
> who went inside the cavity each of the two times I was able to tell. 
>  
> My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is 
> this: Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex? For 
> instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than the 
> male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on the 
> back of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers grab 
> the back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of 
> apparent missing feathers due to something else? 
>  
> A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below.
>  
> - - Dave Nutter
>  
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178
> --
> Cayugabirds-L List Info:
> Welcome and Basics
> Rules and Information
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> Archives:
> The Mail Archive
> Surfbirds
> BirdingOnThe.Net
> Please submit your observations to eBird!
> --

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

RE: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Kevin J. McGowan]

No, and no. :^(

The sexes in Red-headed Woodpeckers are not distinguishable by plumage. The 
difference in staining could very well be the consequence of one bird being in 
the nest cavity more than the other, but it is usually the male that does more 
incubation and brooding than the female, as in most(?) woodpeckers.

Described copulation displays, fide Birds of the World, do not indicate any 
nape-grabbing like waterfowl or cats. Instead, there seems to be switching of 
who’s on top, and back and forth, and other moves. So, I would say feather loss 
on the back of the head is due to something else, like earlier onset of molt 
than the other bird, or something.

Best,

Kevin


From: bounce-127549365-3493...@list.cornell.edu 
 On Behalf Of Dave Nutter
Sent: Thursday, July 6, 2023 4:51 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L 
Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a successful 
quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young was located by 
Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope and photograph 
through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough distance that: the adults 
came to the nest hole several times to feed one or more unseen nestlings; one 
adult went entirely inside the cavity at least twice; for awhile in between 
feedings a large nestling peered out of the cavity, appearing well-feathered on 
its head and seeming large enough to be ready to fledge soon. The feedings were 
frequent enough that I think the adults were only feeding at the cavity, but 
once I located the cavity, I was not looking around to see if they were also 
feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage differences between the two 
adults when they visit his feeders. I noticed that one of the adults appeared 
immaculate, with bright white secondaries and a solid crimson crown. The other 
adult had a slight rusty tinge on the secondaries, several brown stains on the 
lower breast plumage, and a patch of feathers apparently missing from the rear 
of its crown; this was the adult who went inside the cavity each of the two 
times I was able to tell.

My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is this: 
Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex? For 
instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than the 
male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on the back 
of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers grab the 
back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of 
apparent missing feathers due to something else?

A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below.

- - Dave Nutter

- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME>
Rules and Information<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES>
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leave<http://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm>
Archives:
The Mail 
Archive<http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html>
Surfbirds<http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds>
BirdingOnThe.Net<http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html>
Please submit your observations to eBird<http://ebird.org/content/ebird/>!
--

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[John Gregoire]

Yes and No.

On Thu, Jul 6, 2023 at 4:52 PM Dave Nutter  wrote:

> This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a
> successful quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young
> was located by Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope
> and photograph through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough
> distance that: the adults came to the nest hole several times to feed one
> or more unseen nestlings; one adult went entirely inside the cavity at
> least twice; for awhile in between feedings a large nestling peered out of
> the cavity, appearing well-feathered on its head and seeming large enough
> to be ready to fledge soon. The feedings were frequent enough that I think
> the adults were only feeding at the cavity, but once I located the cavity,
> I was not looking around to see if they were also feeding any fledglings.
> Tom has noted plumage differences between the two adults when they visit
> his feeders. I noticed that one of the adults appeared immaculate, with
> bright white secondaries and a solid crimson crown. The other adult had a
> slight rusty tinge on the secondaries, several brown stains on the lower
> breast plumage, and a patch of feathers apparently missing from the rear of
> its crown; this was the adult who went inside the cavity each of the two
> times I was able to tell.
>
> My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is
> this: Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex?
> For instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than
> the male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on
> the back of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers
> grab the back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this
> patch of apparent missing feathers due to something else?
>
> A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below.
>
> - - Dave Nutter
>
> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178
>
> --
> *Cayugabirds-L List Info:*
> Welcome and Basics 
> Rules and Information 
> Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
> 
> *Archives:*
> The Mail Archive
> 
> Surfbirds 
> BirdingOnThe.Net 
> *Please submit your observations to eBird
> !*
> --
>

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Dave Nutter]

This morning I biked up to the east edge of the Town of Ithaca on a successful 
quest to see the Red-headed Woodpeckers whose nest with young was located by 
Tom Schulenberg over 2 1/2 weeks ago. I was able to scope and photograph 
through a small gap in foliage at a respectful enough distance that: the adults 
came to the nest hole several times to feed one or more unseen nestlings; one 
adult went entirely inside the cavity at least twice; for awhile in between 
feedings a large nestling peered out of the cavity, appearing well-feathered on 
its head and seeming large enough to be ready to fledge soon. The feedings were 
frequent enough that I think the adults were only feeding at the cavity, but 
once I located the cavity, I was not looking around to see if they were also 
feeding any fledglings. Tom has noted plumage differences between the two 
adults when they visit his feeders. I noticed that one of the adults appeared 
immaculate, with bright white secondaries and a solid crimson crown. The other 
adult had a slight rusty tinge on the secondaries, several brown stains on the 
lower breast plumage, and a patch of feathers apparently missing from the rear 
of its crown; this was the adult who went inside the cavity each of the two 
times I was able to tell. 

My question, for those of you more knowledgeable or research-oriented, is this: 
Does the difference in plumage I noticed indicate who is which sex? For 
instance, does the female spend a lot more time in the nest cavity than the 
male, thus become more likely to get stained? Does missing feathers on the back 
of the head indicate a female? That is, do mating male woodpeckers grab the 
back of the head of females, similar to mating ducks? Or is this patch of 
apparent missing feathers due to something else? 

A link to my eBird checklist, with photos, is below.

- - Dave Nutter

> - Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S143727178

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers in Trumansburg

[Sandy Podulka]

I checked the Red-headed Woodpeckers at 24 Congress St in Trumansburg this
afternoon, and saw 1 bird hanging around the nest hole (you can only see
this from the yard, and need permission from the homeowner, who is very
friendly).  The bird brought food to the hole about 8 times, but each time,
ate it. I never saw a head from inside the hole, although I stayed 80
minutes!  My guess is that the nest is close to hatching, as I saw
copulation on July 1. But, I would have liked to have seen the other bird
come out of the nest while I was there to be sure there was an active nest.

Sandy Podulka

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers Mays Point

[Dave K]

Thanks to the good directions posted here I was able to quickly find the Mays 
Pt. RHWPeckers I've been looking for all Spring.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/105424358@N06/35232618140/in/datetaken-public/

[X]Red-headed Woodpecker 6-29-17 Mays 
Point

[https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4174/35232618140_ff289129c5_b.jpg] 

[https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4174/35232618140_ff289129c5_b.jpg]





--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Birding]

Turn into Mays, cross bridge, 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers in trees and yard of 
house on left
Susan and Ann

Sent from my iPhone

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Carl Steckler]

There are 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Mays Point
Not sure which tree nest cavity is inn
Carl

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Judy M. Thoroughman]

I spent 45 minutes there this afternoon and they were having a dispute with 
some starlings over a cavity close to the road, they seemed insistent that it 
was theirs but the starlings were in possession and not giving it up.


Judy



There are 2 Red-headed Woodpeckers at Mays Point
Not sure which tree nest cavity is inn
Carl
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
Archives:
The Mail 
Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
--

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers in Fall Creek?

[Sandy Wold]

Hi All,
I am 95% sure I saw and heard a pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers (male and
female  in my back yard but couldn't get to my binoculars in time before
they flew away.  Exciting  (My first!)  This was on the block flanked
by West Jay/Cayuga/Lincoln/Auburn.  If anyone in Fall Creek sees them or
has seen them recently, would you let me know?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcBf0wxIek0

Be on the look out!!!  We are so blessed to have so much bird diversity
among and around us!!!  ...and Spring is very, very near!  Hang in there!
Sandy
 * * * * * * * * *
*Don't ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come ALIVE, for what
the world needs is people who have come ALIVE.  - Dr. Howard Thurman,
American Theologian, Clergyman and Activist (1900-1981) *

Sandy Wold

NYS Certified Math/Science Tutor
*www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home
http://www.sites.google.com/site/fallcreektutoringservices/home*

Interdisciplinary Visionary Artist
https://www.linkedin.com/pub/sandra-sandy-wold/a7/114/877

Cayuga Basin Bioregion Map, Author, Originator, and Publisher
www.sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/
https://sites.google.com/site/cayugabioregionmap/

http://www.ithaca-tibetan-buddhist-meditation-group.org/

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers feeding their chick

[Paul Schmitt]

Noting that Jay McGowan beat me to report the chick is visible at May’s Point 
Road, I can only add that I was able to get good photographs of the chick plus 
also of the pair of adults at the cavity with one clearly feeding the chick.  
It is at my blog at:  http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/  

In addition, had an entertaining time watching a good number of Black Terns 
dipping down to feed in the main pool at the  Seneca spillway.  That are so 
quick that it is nearly impossible to follow them with a camera, somewhat  like 
photographing butterflies in flight. 

Absolutely beautiful day with the wind keeping the mosquitoes down.

Paul Schmitt


--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Ann Mitchell]

Dave and I were at May's Pool, and spent quite some time watching the baby
in the hole. We saw it calling, but couldn't hear it. We saw an adult
feeding it. After leaving the spot, I headed to Mays. Some folks from
Manhattan showed up. Dave took them back to the nest hole. The son could
actually hear it calling kind of raspy like a Blue-gray gnatcatcher. Kids
have great hearing!!
Good birding, Ann

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

RE: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers nesting at May's Point

[Marie P. Read]

Dave Nutter wrote:

although someone else reported on eBird today seeing one of them apparently 
feeding an unseen nestling.

Mike Powers mentioned on Facebook on Saturday that he'd seen a nestling bill in 
the hole. I also thought I saw that very briefly on Friday. I bet we will be 
seeing the nestling(s) looking out soon.

They are definitely feeding on wild grape at Mays, one can watch them on the 
vines around the edges of the dead tree area. While I was there on Friday, one 
caught a cicada which protested loudly for a few seconds before being quickly 
dispatched. The birds have favorite anvil trees, often the top of a snag, to 
which they return again and again to with food to process (in the case of the 
cicada, removing wings and legs), before taking the food to the nest or eating 
it themselves. This may superficially look like caching. (Other woodpecker 
species do this too...Lewis's e.g.)

Meanwhile, if people would like to see a few photos, there are some on my 
Facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Marie-Read-Wildlife-Photography/104356136271727

Marie




Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11

From: bounce-107860097-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-107860097-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
[nutter.d...@me.com]
Sent: Sunday, August 25, 2013 12:16 AM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Wo caching food

I don't know what was in the photo or what else the Red-headed Woodpeckers have 
been eating, but this afternoon at South Mays Point Road I watched one in a 
tree just next to the road, eating wild grapes. It then flew to one of the dead 
trees, but not the tree with the cavity I believe they have been using. Both 
adults were present in the dead trees, but I did not see them approach that 
tree during the 20 minutes we were there, although someone else reported on 
eBird today seeing one of them apparently feeding an unseen nestling.

--Dave Nutter


--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red Headed Woodpeckers

[Carol Keeler]

Just got back from Mays Point to photograph the woodpeckers.   A baby was 
sitting its head out quite often.  There were even some food exchanges.  One 
time I caught the parent with two grapes.  When I look at my images I may find 
insects too.  The baby was most active between 9-10. You can only see one head 
at a time.  Can't tell how many babies are in the hole.  It was a great morning 
watching them.

Sent from my iPad
--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, Mud Lock, Town of Aurielius

[Dave Nutter]

George Chiu photographed a pair of adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at dead trees south of Mud Lock, with similar behavior to those on South Mays Point Road, flycatching and bringing food to a cavity. Links to his eBird report below--Dave Nutter Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (2) - Reported Aug 21, 2013 13:35 by George Chiu - Cayuga Lock and River Rd., Cayuga, New York - Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8t=pz=13q=42.9468066,-76.7347652ll=42.9468066,-76.7347652 - Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14988459 - Comments: "2 adults were flying and catching insects in the air. They were using the dead trees across the canal just south of the dam. One kept returning to a hole after catching something. Not sure if it was feeding young or caching the food. a href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //a a href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //a a href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //a" 
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, Mud Lock, Town of Aurielius

[Donna Scott]

On the map it looks like the RH Woodpeckers were NORTH of Mud Lock, not south.
Donna Scott
  - Original Message - 
  From: Dave Nutter 
  To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu 
  Sent: Friday, August 23, 2013 4:39 AM
  Subject: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, Mud Lock, Town of Aurielius


  George Chiu photographed a pair of adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at dead trees 
south of Mud Lock, with similar behavior to those on South Mays Point Road, 
flycatching and bringing food to a cavity. Links to his eBird report below

--Dave NutterRed-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (2)
- Reported Aug 21, 2013 13:35 by George Chiu
- Cayuga Lock and River Rd., Cayuga, New York
- Map: 
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8t=pz=13q=42.9468066,-76.7347652ll=42.9468066,-76.7347652
- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14988459
- Comments: 2 adults were flying and catching insects in the air. They 
were using the dead trees across the canal just south of the dam. One kept 
returning to a hole after catching something. Not sure if it was feeding young 
or caching the food.
a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/; 
title=Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickrimg 
src=http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg; 
alt=Red-headed Woodpecker //a
a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/; 
title=Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickrimg 
src=http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg; 
alt=Red-headed Woodpecker //a
a href=http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/; 
title=Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickrimg 
src=http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg; 
alt=Red-headed Woodpecker //a


  --
  Cayugabirds-L List Info:
  Welcome and Basics
  Rules and Information
  Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
  Archives:
  The Mail Archive
  Surfbirds
  BirdingOnThe.Net
  Please submit your observations to eBird!
  --
--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, Mud Lock, Town of Aurielius

[Dave Nutter]

George's notes in eBird say "south of the dam". The location of pointers for eBird checklists can vary for many reasons, including:* using a "hotspot" pointer or previous personal location pointer which is near, not at, the observation, or which was placed sloppily to begin with* using a pointer for a whole trip, whereas the individual bird may be on a different part of the trip.* careless placing of pointers, rather than zooming in on the map to place it correctly* failure to place the pointer, instead just saying the trip was in a given county, so it automatically is in the county's geographical centerI think this pointer is much more accurate than many I've seen. Try looking up eBird reports of a single rare bird which was only seen at a single location. The pointers often look like a shotgun blast at the map or the aftermath of a drunken game of darts.--Dave NutterOn Aug 23, 2013, at 01:35 PM, Donna Scott d...@cornell.edu wrote:On the map it looks like the RH Woodpeckers were NORTH of Mud Lock, not south.Donna Scott- Original Message -From: Dave NutterTo: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.eduSent: Friday, August 23, 2013 4:39 AMSubject: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, Mud Lock, Town of AurieliusGeorge Chiu photographed a pair of adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS at dead trees south of Mud Lock, with similar behavior to those on South Mays Point Road, flycatching and bringing food to a cavity. Links to his eBird report below--Dave NutterRed-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (2)- Reported Aug 21, 2013 13:35 by George Chiu- Cayuga Lock and River Rd., Cayuga, New York- Map: http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8t=pz=13q=42.9468066,-76.7347652ll=42.9468066,-76.7347652- Checklist: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S14988459- Comments: "2 adults were flying and catching insects in the air. They were using the dead trees across the canal just south of the dam. One kept returning to a hole after catching something. Not sure if it was feeding young or caching the food.a href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209331/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3710/9571209331_d0b930a338.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //aa href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209271/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg">http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3717/9571209271_9103cd353b.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //aa href=""http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/" data-mce-href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/geobirder/9571209201/" title="Red-headed Woodpecker by Geo Birder, on Flickr"img src=""http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg" data-mce-href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg">http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5477/9571209201_3fd8c7e33d.jpg" alt="Red-headed Woodpecker" //a"--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

RE: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Marie P. Read]

RHWOs were definitely bringing out fecal material this morning...saw it twice. 
Given that the young inside are not so big as to prevent the adults from 
entering easily, I'd say it will be a week yet before fledging, maybe longer. 

Photos to come...

Marie

Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11

From: bounce-107848140-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-107848140-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
[nutter.d...@me.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 8:32 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

Tom Riley and Bill Roberts first noted 2 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers flying 
around along South Mays Point Road on Wednesday 3 July. On 7 July I saw each 
adult tossing wood chips from separate apparently old holes in the same dead 
tree. I think they have since concentrated on just one of those holes.

--Dave Nutter



--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Anne Clark]

Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. 

More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very 
late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings 
on mulberries.  

Anne Clark

On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:

 Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point 
 this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
 when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
 which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
 Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching 
 south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was 
 in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes 
 longer before resuming activity.
  
 More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
 cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
 sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
 other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
 acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
 (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
 grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
 first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
 from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had 
 not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
  
 Paul Schmitt
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basics
 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
 The Mail Archive
 Surfbirds
 BirdingOnThe.Net
 Please submit your observations to eBird!
 --


--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Dave Nutter]

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.--Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very late nestlings). But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings on mulberries. Anne ClarkOn Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this morning. Very active until about 10 am. Saw an interesting sequence when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks. Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river. The Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before resuming activity.More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest cavity. (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at other times it appeared to be round objects. Did not seem possible to be acorns. Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.Paul Schmitt--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

RE: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Marie P. Read]

Hey there's a thought...caching food...definitely something that woodpeckers 
do. 
Anyway, woodpeckers do indeed bring out fecal material (a mix of droppings and 
wood chips rather than a sac (songbirds only I think)), but one might have to 
watch for a number of hours before it happens. 

I may have to head up there myself...I know, what took me so long, right?

Marie


Marie Read Wildlife Photography
452 Ringwood Road
Freeville NY  13068 USA

Phone  607-539-6608
e-mail   m...@cornell.edu

http://www.marieread.com

***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
iTunes

http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11

From: bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
[bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
[nutter.d...@me.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species 
do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it 
possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with 
fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, 
Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.

--Dave Nutter

On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:

Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.

More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very 
late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings 
on mulberries.

Anne Clark

On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:

Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point this 
morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when a 
Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the 
adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, 
the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the 
other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for 
about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before 
resuming activity.

More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
(http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes 
to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first 
visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from 
vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not 
expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.

Paul Schmitt
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME

Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES

Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

Archives:
The Mail 
Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html

Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds

BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
--

--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME

Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES

Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

Archives:
The Mail 
Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html

Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds

BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
Subscribe, Configuration and 
Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
Archives:
The Mail 
Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
--


--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Ann Mitchell]

I thought I mentioned it before, but  Linda Clougherty and I saw then caching 
food a couple weeks ago. We did see them with some kind of nut and also 
insects. Really cool!

Ann Mitchell
Sent from my IPhone

On Aug 20, 2013, at 7:42 PM, Marie P. Read m...@cornell.edu wrote:

 Hey there's a thought...caching food...definitely something that woodpeckers 
 do. 
 Anyway, woodpeckers do indeed bring out fecal material (a mix of droppings 
 and wood chips rather than a sac (songbirds only I think)), but one might 
 have to watch for a number of hours before it happens. 
 
 I may have to head up there myself...I know, what took me so long, right?
 
 Marie
 
 
 Marie Read Wildlife Photography
 452 Ringwood Road
 Freeville NY  13068 USA
 
 Phone  607-539-6608
 e-mail   m...@cornell.edu
 
 http://www.marieread.com
 
 ***NEW***  Music of the Birds Vol 1 ebook for Apple iPad now available from 
 iTunes
 
 http://itunes.apple.com/us/book/music-of-the-birds-v1/id529347014?mt=11
 
 From: bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu 
 [bounce-107847794-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of Dave Nutter 
 [nutter.d...@me.com]
 Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
 To: CAYUGABIRDS-L
 Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point
 
 I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker 
 species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. 
 Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge 
 with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the 
 way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.
 
 --Dave Nutter
 
 On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
 Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
 fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.
 
 More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
 very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
 nestlings on mulberries.
 
 Anne Clark
 
 On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:
 
 Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May’s Point 
 this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
 when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
 which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
 Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching 
 south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was 
 in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes 
 longer before resuming activity.
 
 More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
 cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
 sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
 other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
 acorns.  Now, I’ve posted some images on my blog  
 (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
 grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
 first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
 from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had 
 not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
 
 Paul Schmitt
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
 
 Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
 
 Subscribe, Configuration and 
 Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
 
 Archives:
 The Mail 
 Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
 
 Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
 
 BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
 
 Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
 --
 
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
 
 Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
 
 Subscribe, Configuration and 
 Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
 
 Archives:
 The Mail 
 Archivehttp://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
 
 Surfbirdshttp://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
 
 BirdingOnThe.Nethttp://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
 
 Please submit your observations to eBirdhttp://ebird.org/content/ebird/!
 --
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basicshttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
 Rules and Informationhttp://www.northeastbirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
 Subscribe, Configuration and 
 Leavehttp://www.northeastbirding.com

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Paul]

Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that.  
Any seen that?   It is definitely possible this is food caching.  Looked up the 
background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds.  It mentions caching of 
acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous of 
woodpeckers.  But why would they cache insects?  Seems a poor choice.

Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were 
they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; 
incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days.  That predicts fledging in 39 
to 44 days from onset.  How does that match with dates when they were 
excavating?  Does anyone have the key dates?

Paul Schmitt

From: Dave Nutter 
Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu 
Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species 
do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it 
possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with 
fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, 
Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.

--Dave Nutter
On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:


  Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.  

  More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
nestlings on mulberries.  

  Anne Clark

  On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:


Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point 
this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence when 
a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the 
adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  Thereafter, 
the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the 
other to the north in a tree along the river.  The Merlin was in the area for 
about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before 
resuming activity.

More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
acorns.  Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog  
(http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes 
to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first 
visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from 
vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not 
expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.

Paul Schmitt
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics 
Rules and Information 
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
Archives:
The Mail Archive 
Surfbirds 
BirdingOnThe.Net 
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

  --
  Cayugabirds-L List Info:
  Welcome and Basics 
  Rules and Information 
  Subscribe, Configuration and Leave 
  Archives:
  The Mail Archive 
  Surfbirds 
  BirdingOnThe.Net 
  Please submit your observations to eBird!
  --
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--
--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[joe Diana]

Hi, 
 I was only able to observe them a couple of times. The first dates are on 
7/08/ 2013 and the ones where I saw them going back and forth from the nesting 
cavity are on 8/12. On the July date, they were still excavating. Here is a 
link to one leaving the cavity with what I assume is a fecal sac.
http://www.dianawhitingphotography.com/Galleries/Birds/Passerines/12959449_8PScNT#!i=2713829101k=jc4LbbC

Diana
On Aug 20, 2013, at 8:12 PM, Paul wrote:

 Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that.  
 Any seen that?   It is definitely possible this is food caching.  Looked up 
 the background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds.  It mentions 
 caching of acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous 
 of woodpeckers.  But why would they cache insects?  Seems a poor choice.
  
 Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were 
 they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; 
 incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days.  That predicts fledging in 
 39 to 44 days from onset.  How does that match with dates when they were 
 excavating?  Does anyone have the key dates?
  
 Paul Schmitt
  
 From: Dave Nutter
 Sent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PM
 To: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.edu
 Subject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point
  
 I'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker 
 species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. 
 Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge 
 with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the 
 way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.
 --Dave Nutter
 
 On Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:
 
 Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological 
 Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their 
 fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees. 
  
 More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit 
 very late nestlings).  But robins in the same Michigan property fed their 
 nestlings on mulberries. 
  
 Anne Clark
  
 On Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:
 
 Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point 
 this morning. Very active until about 10 am.  Saw an interesting sequence 
 when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to 
 which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks.  
 Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity 
 watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river.  The 
 Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 
 20 minutes longer before resuming activity.
  
 More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest 
 cavity.  (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While 
 sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at 
 other times it appeared to be round objects.  Did not seem possible to be 
 acorns.  Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog  
 (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild 
 grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my 
 first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries 
 from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. 
 Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.
  
 Paul Schmitt
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basics
 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
 The Mail Archive
 Surfbirds
 BirdingOnThe.Net
 Please submit your observations to eBird!
 --
 
  
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basics
 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
 The Mail Archive
 Surfbirds
 BirdingOnThe.Net
 Please submit your observations to eBird!
 --
 
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basics
 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
 The Mail Archive
 Surfbirds
 BirdingOnThe.Net
 Please submit your observations to eBird!
 --
 --
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 Welcome and Basics
 Rules and Information
 Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
 Archives:
 The Mail Archive
 Surfbirds
 BirdingOnThe.Net
 Please submit your observations to eBird!
 --

Diana Whiting
http://www.dianawhitingphotography.com/


--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's Point

[Dave Nutter]

Tom Riley and Bill Roberts first noted 2 adult Red-headed Woodpeckers flying around along South Mays Point Road on Wednesday 3 July. On 7 July I saw each adult tossing wood chips from separate apparently old holes in the same dead tree. I think they have since concentrated on just one of those holes. --Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 08:12 PM, Paul pschm...@stny.rr.com wrote:Have not seen them bringing out fecal sacs, and have been looking for that. Any seen that? It is definitely possible this is food caching. Looked up the background in Kaufman’s Lives of North American Birds. It mentions caching of acorns, beechnuts, not berries. Says they are the most omnivorous of woodpeckers. But why would they cache insects? Seems a poor choice.Now, I am wondering about the timing of this pair at this location. When were they first seen excavating the cavity? Says a second brood is possible; incubation 12-13 days and fledging in 27-31 days. That predicts fledging in 39 to 44 days from onset. How does that match with dates when they were excavating? Does anyone have the key dates?Paul SchmittFrom: Dave NutterSent: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 7:32 PMTo: Cayugabirds-L@cornell.eduSubject: Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers at May's PointI'm not surprised at them eating fruit, which I've seen many woodpecker species do many times, but I am surprised they would feed fruit to nestlings. Is it possible they are caching the food? Has anyone seen the adults emerge with fecal sacs? Would this species carry off fecal sacs? Nice photos by the way, Paul, and thanks for taking the time to observe carefully.--Dave NutterOn Aug 20, 2013, at 07:06 PM, Anne Clark anneb.cl...@gmail.com wrote:Back in the 80's when I was living in SW Michigan (near Kellogg Biological Station, in Delton, MI), a pair of red-headed woodpeckers brought their fledglings every year to eat mulberries at a productive group of trees.More unusual that they would take them to protein-needy nestlings (albeit very late nestlings). But robins in the same Michigan property fed their nestlings on mulberries.Anne ClarkOn Aug 20, 2013, at 6:51 PM, Paul wrote:Spent about three hours watching the Red-headed Woodpeckers at May�s Point this morning. Very active until about 10 am. Saw an interesting sequence when a Merlin made a pass at the nest cavity,, actually several passes to which the adult RHW responded with loud calls and some defensive attacks. Thereafter, the pair were on sentry duty, one in an adjacent cavity watching south and the other to the north in a tree along the river. The Merlin was in the area for about 5 minutes. They stayed on alert for about 20 minutes longer before resuming activity.More interesting was a discovery on what they are bringing into the nest cavity. (Have not yet seen chicks at the opening. Has anyone?) While sometimes, I can see that they are bringing insects such as dragonflies, at other times it appeared to be round objects. Did not seem possible to be acorns. Now, I�ve posted some images on my blog (http://birds-n-blooms.blogspot.com/) which show an adult bringing wild grapes to the cavity. There are ripe grapes on the vines in the area. On my first visit (July 24), I recorded an adult picking Woody Nightshade berries from vines at the base of dead trees to the north east of the nest tree. Had not expected woodpeckers to be eating fruit.Paul Schmitt--Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!Cayugabirds-L List Info:Welcome and BasicsRules and InformationSubscribe, Configuration and LeaveArchives:The Mail ArchiveSurfbirdsBirdingOnThe.NetPlease submit your observations to eBird!--
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers, South Mays Point Road, Montezuma NWR

[Dave Nutter]

This morning (Sun 7 July) I went to Montezuma seeking the Red-headed Woodpeckers which Bill Roberts reported he and Tom Riley saw along South Mays Point Road this past Wednesday, 3 July. There have been several reports of the species this year and last year in the north basin, but they've been tough to re-find. One was seen only by folks in the car behind me on a trip I was supposedly leading! I tried not to get my hopes up, but I thought this report was most likely to pan out even though it was 4 days old, because there were 2 birds and the habitat seems perfect, at least to me: lots of dead trees and open woods in a wetland. Still, I made this my first stop and figured on spending most of the day there waiting for them if necessary. After a late start - not wanting to send any over-anxious vibes - I arrived at the parking lot opposite the corral 8:45, and no one else was there. Trying to be cool, I couldn't help checking out the view across Mays Point Pool from the platform, where I saw a couple of flying BLACK TERNS in non-breeding plumage (According to Sibley these should be juveniles, because adults shouldn't molt until August.), a pair of PIED-BILLED GREBES constructing and walking on a platform of vegetation next to a lone cattail in the middle of the pond, and a female BALTIMORE ORIOLE bringing food to a nest nearly at eye-level in a dangling branch of a cottonwood as I looked left.Then I wandered down the road listening to YELLOW-THROATED and WARBLING VIREOS and a CERULEAN WARBLER, and not even having to fake interest. Meanwhile another car had shown up, and a couple of birders were down by the bend in the road with binoculars trained on one of the dead trees. Charles  Lisa Rouse obligingly pointed out the first of 2 adult RED-HEADED WOODPECKERS clinging fairly low on a trunk. Then we saw it fly to a larger snag and perch at an old woodpecker hole just above a big fork in the tree. It went inside, and poked its head out several times to spit mouthfuls of wood chips. Meanwhile my companions said another Red-headed Woodpecker was on the opposite side of the far fork of the same tree. We walked down the road a bit to see at the same level a second adult reaching into another old hole (the lowest of 3) and also tossing out mouthfuls of wood chips. It was a beautiful scene with symmetrical excavating Red-headed Woodpeckers, but perplexing. Are they a post-breeding pair setting up individual roosting cavities? Are they the same gender and hoping to each raise a family here? Are they a couple who just can't quite agree where to nest? Anyway this is a great photo op: The birds were tolerant of us on the road, sometime flying to dead trees even closer to us, and the stand of dead trees is northwest of the road, which is good for morning or mid-day light. Sometimes they would fly into the strip of live trees in back, along the pond behind the dam on the Clyde River, but not for long, and there were other birds to hold my interest until they returned: a pair of GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHERS, a pair of AMERICAN REDSTARTS, a singing male INDIGO BUNTING, 2 baby EUROPEAN STARLINGS peering hopefully out of a hole in another dead tree, 37 TREE SWALLOWS perched on various dead branches, five OSPREYS circling noisily overhead... So, I recommend this place:42.9961, -76.76242--Dave Nutter
--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

[cayugabirds-l] Red Headed Woodpeckers Aurora

[Donna Scott]

Thanks for Jay's good description of the location of the RED HEADED WOODPECKERS 
in the woods at the south end of Aurora (SE cor. of NY Rt. 90 and Poplar Ridge 
Rd.)!

I spent an hour and a half there today (~1-2:30 pm) and even saw the pair mate 
on a branch of the large Sycamore tree near Rt. 90.
They did not do anything with the large holes in that tree, but kept flying 
east, back into the woods. That woods goes on for quite a ways up P. Ridge 
Road, so maybe they have a more secluded hole picked out for a nest.

Also, now and then one flew across the street towards the lake and worked the 
trees over there. I observed quite a bit of vehicular traffic on that corner 
and now I am worried that one of the woodpeckers might fly too low at the wrong 
time.

Saw one woodpecker fly out of the Sycamore and catch a red bug in the air.

If you go, don't wear shorts, as I foolishly did. Lotsa thorny plants and 
poison ivy. 

-Donna Scott

Donna L. Scott
535 Lansing Station Road
Lansing, NY 14882
d...@cornell.edu
--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers Aurora

[Dave Nutter]

Credit for this discovery goes to Stuart Krasnoff and Paul Anderson. I was only the messenger. They were in the second of 2 cars of birders headed north. In the lead car Bob was driving and I was riding shotgun. As we turned from the north end of Lake Rd back onto NYS-90 entering the Village of Aurora, I was thinking of the gravelly delta of Payne's Creek, where Tom Johnson once conjured up a California Gull (possibly only the first or second Cayuga Lake Basin record) by saying "There ought to be a California Gull here," or words to that effect, and suddenly he found one. So I was staring at the Ring-billed Gulls for any ringers. As we approached the Aurora Boathouse, Bob glanced in the rear-view mirror and saw that Stuart's car had stopped just past the bridge, and Stuart, Paul, and Judy Thoroughman were jumping out and running back. We quickly joined them and saw the reason for the excitement. What intrigues me, though, is the manner of their find. Apparently as they were at the stop sign at the north end of Lake Rd, Paul idly mentioned that he'd like to see a Red-headed Woodpecker as it would be a life bird, and within seconds Stuart saw it. This area around the mouth of Payne's Creek is a mysterious place. I have heard rumors, listened to legends, and chased reports of Red-headed Woodpeckers in the Aurora area, mainly north of town, for years. It was a thrill to finally see one, and furthermore, to hear confirmation of what seemed likely given the date, that this is a breeding territory. --Dave NutterOn May 21, 2011, at 08:00 PM, wroberts wrobe...@wells.edu wrote:I had the good fortune of meeting up with Bob McGuire, Dave Nutter, Susan 
Danskin, and others as they 
were tracking the movement of a Red-headed Woodpecker at the corner of Poplar 
Ridge Rd. and Rt. 90 in 
Aurora earlier today (Saturday) around 12:20 p.m. The bird was very active 
flying back and forth in the 
nearby woods; it was first located on the west side of 90 in a yard 
immediately north of Paynes Creek.

After Bob, Dave and Susan and friends left for Montezuma I continued searching 
for the bird  as it was the 
first RhW I have observed in Aurora in over twenty years. With the help of a 
friend I located the RhW in the 
large Sycamore east of 90 and south of Poplar Ridge. After about 30 minutes I 
discovered that there were 
two RhWs moving in the tree tops and flying back and forth over Rt. 90. It 
seems that this is a breeding 
pair which adds to the excitement of having this magnificent species finally 
return to the Aurora area.

I did manage to photograph the bird at some distance. Bill Roberts

Aurora, N.Y.



--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html'http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

--
Cayugabirds-L List Info:
Welcome and Basics
Rules and Information
Subscribe, Configuration and Leave
Archives:
The Mail Archive
Surfbirds
BirdingOnThe.Net
Please submit your observations to eBird!
--

Re:[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers

[Jay McGowan]

Perri and I went up the lake today to take a look at the Red-headed
Woodpeckers.  We found both birds at the edge of the woodlot on the east
side of Rt. 90 just south of Poplar Ridge.  One bird was calling frequently
and we saw both birds visit a cavity, possibly a nest hole.  This hole is in
the largest sycamore near the west edge of the lot and more or less centered
north-south, in a narrow dead drunk in the middle of the main sycamore
trunks.  One bird spent several minutes inside but I don't know what it was
doing, possibly just prospecting or perhaps they even have an active nest
already.

We headed up to Montezuma afterwards but didn't see too much of note.  The
best shorebird habitat by far is at Tschache Pool, where we saw Dunlin,
Least and Semipalmated sandpipers, and perhaps 30 Semipalmated Plovers.

Good birding.

-- 
Jay McGowan
Macaulay Library
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
jw...@cornell.edu

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

Re: [cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers Aurora

[J. Gary Kohlenberg]

Two Red-headed Woodpeckers at same location as yesterday. 
Gary



On May 21, 2011, at 11:00 PM, wroberts wrobe...@wells.edu wrote:

 I had the good fortune of meeting up with Bob McGuire, Dave Nutter, Susan 
 Danskin, and others as they 
 were tracking the movement of a Red-headed Woodpecker at the corner of Poplar 
 Ridge Rd. and Rt. 90 in 
 Aurora earlier today (Saturday) around 12:20 p.m. The bird was very active 
 flying back and forth in the 
 nearby woods; it was first located on the west side of 90 in a yard 
 immediately north of Paynes Creek.
 
 After Bob, Dave and Susan and friends left for Montezuma I continued 
 searching 
 for the bird  as it was the 
 first RhW I have observed in Aurora in over twenty years. With the help of a 
 friend I located the RhW in the 
 large Sycamore east of 90 and south of Poplar Ridge. After about 30 minutes I 
 discovered that there were 
 two RhWs moving in the tree tops and flying back and forth over Rt. 90. It 
 seems that this is a breeding 
 pair which adds to the excitement of having this magnificent species finally 
 return to the Aurora area.
 
 I did manage to photograph the bird at some distance. Bill Roberts
 
 Aurora, N.Y.
 
 
 
 --
 
 Cayugabirds-L List Info:
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
 http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm
 
 ARCHIVES:
 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html
 
 Please submit your observations to eBird:
 http://ebird.org/content/ebird/
 
 --

--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--

[cayugabirds-l] Red-headed Woodpeckers Aurora

[wroberts]

I had the good fortune of meeting up with Bob McGuire, Dave Nutter, Susan 
Danskin, and others as they 
were tracking the movement of a Red-headed Woodpecker at the corner of Poplar 
Ridge Rd. and Rt. 90 in 
Aurora earlier today (Saturday) around 12:20 p.m. The bird was very active 
flying back and forth in the 
nearby woods; it was first located on the west side of 90 in a yard 
immediately north of Paynes Creek.

After Bob, Dave and Susan and friends left for Montezuma I continued searching 
for the bird  as it was the 
first RhW I have observed in Aurora in over twenty years. With the help of a 
friend I located the RhW in the 
large Sycamore east of 90 and south of Poplar Ridge. After about 30 minutes I 
discovered that there were 
two RhWs moving in the tree tops and flying back and forth over Rt. 90. It 
seems that this is a breeding 
pair which adds to the excitement of having this magnificent species finally 
return to the Aurora area.

I did manage to photograph the bird at some distance. Bill Roberts

Aurora, N.Y.



--

Cayugabirds-L List Info:
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES
http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm

ARCHIVES:
1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html
2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds
3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html

Please submit your observations to eBird:
http://ebird.org/content/ebird/

--