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On the day of the Lunenburg Christmas Bird Count I found a bird that my fir=
st impression told me was a Townsend's Solitaire, sitting in the middle of =
a bush with a gray chest and white eye ring. It disappeared deep into the =
bush that it had been sitting out in the open edge of. I knocked on the do=
or of the house on the property as I could not see into the bush from where=
I was on the road and the house owner kindly gave me permission to get a b=
etter look. I was able to view a bird within a few feet and out in the ope=
n, I then called it a runt northern mockingbird. It disappeared deep into =
the bush. The next thing I know I'm seeing a bird that I think is a Solita=
ire again. The bird kept hopping in and out and I kept changing my mind. =
I was very confused as this kept going on for quite some time until I was a=
ble to get a very good view of what I thought was the same bird hopping alo=
ng the ground. It was hopping as a mockingbird would and looked in every r=
espect like one. I am positive now that there were two birds in the bush, =
but I do not have photos of both to prove it and did not see two at the sam=
e time. When the bird or birds went into the bush they totally disappeared=
from view. The bird that I saw in the open that cinched my mockingbird id=
, I remember to have more white on the tail then in my photos, white on eit=
her side of the tail and it was very thin in comparison when it was hopping=
along on top of a piece of wood about two feet from me. Far thinner than =
a Solitaire would be. The bill was different and appeared longer than that=
of a Solitaire. I of course had never seen a Townsend's Solitaire before =
then so had nothing to compare it to. Luckily I had my camera with me and =
was able to get some not very good photos. Every time I went to snap a sho=
t when the bird/birds were fully in the open they moved and I had just the =
plant. I did manage to get four shots of one bird in the bush and I have b=
een debating my id ever since as it did not fit that of a northern mockingb=
ird. I finally downloaded the pics and sent them off to Ian. Ian confirme=
d my initial suspicions on the bird and it was a first year Townsend's Soli=
taire. One other mockingbird was seen on the count already, so changing mi=
ne to a Townsend's Solitaire, which photos confirm will bring the total spe=
cies to 92. An all time record for the Lunenburg Count. I'm still really =
confused about the whole deal as what are the chances that two such birds w=
ould be in the same place at the same time? Isn't birding wonderful when i=
t throws such a loop hole into the scenario. It is what makes bird identif=
ication interesting sometimes.
=20
James R. Hirtle
Dublin Shore
_________________________________________________________________
At a loss for words? Find them by playing Seekadoo! Play now!
http://g.msn.ca/ca55/208=
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On the day of the Lunenburg Christmas Bird Count I found a bird that my fir=
st impression told me was a Townsend's Solitaire, sitting in the middle of =
a bush with a gray chest and white eye ring. It disappeared deep into=
the bush that it had been sitting out in the open edge of. I knocked=
on the door of the house on the property as I could not see into the =
bush from where I was on the road and the house owner kindly gave me p=
ermission to get a better look. I was able to view a bird within=
a few feet and out in the open, I then called it a runt northern mockingbi=
rd. It disappeared deep into the bush. The next thing I know I'=
m seeing a bird that I think is a Solitaire again. The bird kept hopp=
ing in and out and I kept changing my mind. I was very confused as th=
is kept going on for quite some time until I was able to get a very good vi=
ew of what I thought was the same bird hopping along the gro=
und. It was hopping as a mockingbird would and looked in every respec=
t like one. I am positive now that there were two birds in =
the bush, but I do not have photos of both to prove it and did not see two =
at the same time. When the bird or birds went into the bush they tota=
lly disappeared from view. The bird that I saw in the open that =
cinched my mockingbird id, I remember to have more white on the tail t=
hen in my photos, white on either side of the tail and it was ver=
y thin in comparison when it was hopping along on top of a piece of wood ab=
out two feet from me. Far thinner than a Solitaire would be.&nbs=
p; The bill was different and appeared longer than that of a Solitaire.&nbs=
p; I of course had never seen a Townsend's Solitaire before then so had not=
hing to compare it to. Luckily I had my camera with me and was able t=
o get some not very good photos. Every time I went to snap a shot whe=
n the bird/birds were fully in the open they moved and I had just the plant=
. I did manage to get four shots of one bird in the bush and I h=
ave been debating my id ever since as it did not fit that of a northern moc=
kingbird. I finally downloaded the pics and sent them off to Ian.&nbs=
p; Ian confirmed my initial suspicions on the bird and it was a first year =
Townsend's Solitaire. One other mockingbird was seen on the count alr=
eady, so changing mine to a Townsend's Solitaire, which photos confirm will=
bring the total species to 92. An all time record for the Lunenburg =
Count. I'm still really confused about the whole deal as what are the=
chances that two such birds would be in the same place at the same time?&n=
bsp; Isn't birding wonderful when it throws such a loop hole into the scena=
rio. It is what makes bird identification interesting sometimes.<BR>
<BR>
James R. Hirtle<BR>
Dublin Shore<BR><br /><hr />At a loss for words? Find them by playing Seeka=
doo! Play now!</bo=
dy>
</html>=
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