Sunday, March 29, 2009

Expanding the Chateau Papillon Bird List


In the past month and a half, we've been able to add several birds to the Chateau Papillon bird list, as well as visually confirm a few we'd only heard before (Beth saw a pair of Pileated Woodpeckers fly through the yard, for example).

We've had a couple of new sparrows show up at the feeders, including a Fox Sparrow and a Chipping Sparrow.  Also, an Eastern Phoebe has been calling out all day from the woods around the yard, so it's good to know they're in the neighborhood.  And, just today, a small flock of seven Cedar Waxwings made a brief stopover in the yard; hopefully, we'll see more of them later!



Unfortunately, we've also had a visit from a male House Sparrow; because of his appearance, we're not putting out any of the "cheap seed" that they prefer--though our primary feeding stations are black-oil sunflower, we had one with a mix of various millets and other small seeds which the juncos and other sparrows really love.


The recent sightings bring the Chateau Papillon bird list to 34 species and counting.  Just with expected species we haven't seen yet, we should hit 40 before long.

1 comment:

John Nolley II said...

Two more birds bring the total to date to 36; Beth thought she saw a Hairy Woodpecker at the feeder a few days ago, and I confirmed the larger cousin of the Downy's presence today. Unfortunately, the second new bird is a bit of a pest: the Brown Cowbird. We also had a Pileated Woodpecker visit the yard several times yesterday while we were out working--though I didn't get a chance to get any photos, sadly.