Hi all,
Ann Mitchell and I went to Hector hoping to see the MONK PARAKEETS
taking up residence in the vineyards. I also wanted to walk in the Finger Lakes
National Forest, one of my favorite spots.
It wasn't hard to find the Parakeets, using LeeAnn's directions, and
the fact that they are big green and blue noisy exotic birds in a shed at a
vineyard. To say they look the unlikely visitors would be understatement. Their
loud calling and powerful flight is fun to watch and I was impressed with the
size and length of stick that could be flown with. We were able to easily
digiscope and get some movie footage. I really like these birds and they are
much more approachable than the ones in Rochester. We will see how they like a
good Fingerlakes winter ! They are surprisingly hardy I guess, but birds in
this family just look out of place to me here.
After the visit with our green friends we headed back up Searsburg Rd.
to the FLNF. Along the way we spotted a RUFFED GROUSE by the road edge. I
always take advantage of any sighting of these guys so I swung the car around
so we were looking through the windshield. She was standing stark still until
the traffic cleared then very slowly started walking across the road. Her
walking looked exaggerated with too much head bobbing, fascinating, but weird.
When she was halfway across the little chicks started marching out of the
roadside grass in line formation. Soon there were 7 chicks and the mother in a
line across the road. Just when I was fearing this was way to slow a process
for safety the first chick picked up and flew across then on down the line it
went until there was only one chick left. A few protracted seconds later he
found the courage to fly and all were safely to the other side.
The Interloken trail waited for us and was its usual birdie self. Among
the many wonderful breeders, VEERY, HERMIT/WOOD THRUSH, OVENBIRD, TANAGER,
GROSBEAK, HOODED and CANADA WARBLERS, BLACKBURNIAN, REDSTARTS, RAVENS,
BLUE-HEADED / RED-EYED VIREOS, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK and more. Our most exciting
visual treat was getting great looks at a BLUE-HEADED VIREO catching an insect
then flying back to a nest right next to the trail. I've never seen one of
these nests. It's a small cup nest with hanging tendrils of some tiny leafed
vegetation that gave it a wonderful delicate basket appearance.
It was a fun day of birding and another reminder of all the terrific
public land we can enjoy with only a short drive.
Happy birding,
Gary
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