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Yesterday during the NSBS Metro Hot Spots Trip, Fulton and I identified a Brewers Blackbird. The trip was led by Mike King who asked us to scout out some of the areas that would be visited by the larger birding party, as well as, any nearby areas that might be visited by the entire group if birds of interest were discovered there.
Mike did an excellent job of leading the trip and as usual, most of the best birds happened to be wherever Mike was standing. One exception occurred in Dartmouth as the group was traveling from Dorthea to Day. In between these two sites Fulton and I were checking out Clifford. Fulton targeted the vacant lot/magnificent tangle next to Albert Sparks and I, Landrace Park as well as the adjacent green areas. Across from the park on the corner of Clifford & Anderson there is a building that is completely fenced in. Running the length of the back of that fence is a wonderful tangle of bushes.
As I approached these bushes, I saw two European Starlings feeding on berries and just below them was a Rusty/Brewers style blackbird, but it looked unlike any Rusty Blackbird that I have ever seen. As soon as the bird noticed me, it began to move deeper into the bushes.
I immediately backed off to the corner, just missing Mike as he whizzed by with another vehicle. Right behind them was Patricia Chalmers who I flagged down and she agreed to go round up Mike and the rest of the group. I called for Fulton and he joined me on the corner.
We quietly snuck back to peak at the blackbird and like myself he was immediately struck by how unusual looking this bird was. Fortunately the bird did not see us right away so we were able to get longer looks. We began ticking off field marks - the size was right, the tail length was right, the bill was right, and best of all the bird was a dark eyed individual. Our only concern was that the body plumage of the bird was darker that either of us expected it to be. This made us unsure as to whether the bird was a young male with a dark eye or a blacker than normal female.
Our biggest mistake was that neither of us had a field guide with us. Fulton was very concerned that we understand any apparent incongruities in the bird’s body plumage before we reported the bird, due to the high number of times reported Brewers turned out to be something else. However at this point we were both about 99 % sure that the bird in question was indeed a Brewers. It was not until we reached Halifax and discovered that Mike King had done the right thing and had a couple of field guides with him in the car that we were able to gain that additional one percent.
In his Smithsonian bird guide we found a photo of a female Brewers Blackbird that was a very close match for the Brewers we saw in the field. In Sibley’s guide our final concern about how old immature males could be before they showed a light eye was easily answered when we discoverer that juvenile males display the yellow eye as early as July of their birth year.
After consulting the guides Fulton and I could now say without any doubt that the Brewers was a female Brewers Blackbird. It was at that point that Fulton announced the certainty to the group. I apologize to the birders present for Fulton & I not having the birding guides with us in the field, because if we had, we could have stated more firmly the identity of the bird while we were still all in Dartmouth.
For anyone wishing to see the Brewers I offer the following advice:
1. When Fulton and I were viewing the blackbird, as soon as the blackbird saw it was being observed, it melted back into the bushes. This same behavior was demonstrated when I first found the blackbird. We have come to the conclusion that this particular bird is a very shy individual which may explain why we were unable to view it as a large group. Individual birders or much smaller groups may have greater success.
2. One good way to view a large portion of the bushes is to stand on Clifford and look thru the fence. However when the blackbird was first present it could not be seen from that angle. Both times it could only be viewed from Anderson which offers a view of only a very small portion of this massive tangle of bushes. Another possible viewing angle occurs at the other end of the clump where there is a birder friendly home. While there on the trip, we were granted access to the backyard, but not access for future visits, anyone visiting the area who wish to enter that yard should first talk to the home owners.
3. Be aware that in addition to the Brewers there are other blackbirds present. While there, we observed both Common Grackles and Brown-headed Cowbirds in the area and the adjacent feeder owner reports that he has a Red-winged Blackbird attending his feeders. It seems apparent from sightings of Red-winged Blackbirds yesterday at Hartlen Point and on Cape Sable Island that a small number of blackbirds are currently on the move.
4. Both times we observed the Brewers is was in the company of 2 European Starlings suggesting that is may again be found feeding with them. It should be noted that immediately afterward when everyone was present we observed 2 groups of 2 starlings but could not see the Brewers.
5. Landrace Park is also referred to as Portland Park on some maps but the onsite sign identifies this area as Landrace Park. Currently the street sign for the corner of Clifford & Anderson is down and is lying on the ground inside the fenced off area. This corner also forms an odd “Z” shaped intersection with the corner of Clifford & Day.
6. Anyone having further questions can contact either Fulton at 455-4966 or myself at this email or for much faster reply at 864-0802. A more detailed description of the Brewers Blackbird is also in the works but may have to wait until after the Halifax/Dartmouth Christmas Bird Count is completed. - All the Best in Birding, Clarence
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