tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post6550306108524443564..comments2024-01-16T10:47:14.743+01:00Comments on Bell Tower Birding: The Heart of Darkness: the next episode of the St. Louis seriesJochenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10852825311605464857noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-7094181974208958172007-08-22T14:12:00.000+02:002007-08-22T14:12:00.000+02:00Dauphin Island! In the spring! I think the only ea...Dauphin Island! In the spring! I think the only eastern warblers that I have NOT seen there are Kirtland's, Connecticut, and Mourning. Of course you will not be guaranteed to see them all at any given time... and I'm not sure of the state of the island post-Katrina. We don't get to go on long-distance birding trips much anymore, since we got all these animals. I haven't been to D.I. in several years. But it's a great place for spring migration. And a much friendlier environment than the Texas locations. I found those to be nothing but "no trespassing" signs!Ruralityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616461213179182660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-46037910664089684722007-08-20T23:02:00.000+02:002007-08-20T23:02:00.000+02:00Hi Mon@rch!You have not seen Prothonotary Warbler ...Hi Mon@rch!<BR/>You have not seen Prothonotary Warbler yet? This bird is truly worth a birding trip somewhere to its breeding grounds! Just pay Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario a short visit on your way to Pelee (and then Crane Creek) in May, a short tour of the great lakes, and you'll lose your grip on reality seeing it!<BR/><BR/>Corey, it was a fabulous day, the same day I had the Western Kingbird (and Eurasian Tree Sparrows) earlier and yet another special bird later, about which I'll report soon. Glad you agree about the warblers. They should at least put up warning signs at the entrances of parks. I mean for goodness' sake, there were playing children there!<BR/><BR/>Hi David!<BR/>I am so glad you enjoy my posts! I still have two more and then a few other post with pictures taken around St. Louis! I just don't have the time...<BR/><BR/>About the Crows, I am aware of the calls of American Crows. The easy thing about those crows was that I heard them from my car, so I immediately played the Stokes' bird CD and was able to directly compare the calls. Even though the young American Crows sound a bit similar, it was rather clearly Fish Crow. Besides, I never even once heard the classic Am. Crow call during the whole observation which lasted - as I mentioned - 15 minutes.<BR/>About the flight shots. Yes, the Crow is in a rather heavy molt, but judging by the relative length of the primaries and the even change in length, my impression is the only the innermost few primaries are moulted and that a comparison amongst the outermost is still possible. However, establishing the wing formula on a bird with "fingers" in flight is rather difficult as the "fingers" tend to bend upwards during the downstroke of the wing, making them appear shorter when seen from the side.<BR/>Looking at the picture from Missouri, the wing formula seems not pointed enough for a classic Fish but too pointed for an American. So I am also not entirely satisfied with calling this silent crow a Fish.<BR/>But as I said, luckily 2 calling Fish Crows flew by while I was waiting/hoping for the Yellow-throated Warbler to make an appearance...<BR/><BR/>Hi Rurality!<BR/>I surely wouldn't mind paying Alabama a visit for a multitude of reasons, but of course the time of the year would be entirely focussed on the best chances of seeing a Yellow-throated Warbler. And some more Fish Crows. And now I have to go and look up John Wesley Harding on the internet...<BR/>I hope it cools off at your place down south. It is very miserable and cold here in Michigan now, I even had to exchange my shorts for some pants!Jochenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10852825311605464857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-38686407166351015582007-08-20T14:39:00.000+02:002007-08-20T14:39:00.000+02:00Nice post! "Heart of Darkness" is also a nice song...Nice post! "Heart of Darkness" is also a nice song by John Wesley Harding. Who is nothing at all like Iron Maiden.<BR/><BR/>You should take a trip to Dauphin Island (Alabama) in the spring. If you see a crow there, it's definitely a Fish Crow!<BR/><BR/>I've been told that before - about the begging call of the AC sounding like the regular FC call. I'm not an expert on AC begging calls but from the clips I've heard they really don't sound that much alike! Maybe the clips are just bad though.<BR/><BR/>I've had the same experience with Yellow-throated warblers... the later in the season, the worse luck I have at seeing them. (They like to taunt you, did you notice?)Ruralityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06616461213179182660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-58822888836508540562007-08-20T07:45:00.000+02:002007-08-20T07:45:00.000+02:00It's so interesting to read your perspective on th...It's so interesting to read your perspective on the birds I know a love so well. Thanks much for all the detailed accounts.<BR/><BR/>Now as for the crows, I'm afraid I don't have any encouragement to offer -- the opposite in fact.<BR/><BR/>As you may already be aware, juvenile American Crows have nasal begging calls that sound completely different from the calls of adult birds. They can easily be confused with the calls of Fish Crows if you aren't expecting it, or even if you are. Maybe you know this and had already eliminated the possibility, but I didn't see that mentioned in your post.<BR/><BR/>I've read about the difference in flight feathers, but your bird is obviously in molt, and I personally would not find it possible to analyze the proportions of flight feathers when some are showing significant wear and other are growing in. Perhaps it's possible for someone who knows more about molt timing and sequence in the two species, but I sure don't.<BR/><BR/>So I'm firmly in the agnostic camp on this one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-40024832171704869202007-08-20T00:21:00.000+02:002007-08-20T00:21:00.000+02:00Sounds like a great day...and I got my life Protho...Sounds like a great day...and I got my life Protho within 10 minutes of my life Hooded Warbler, and, let me tell you, it almost killed me. Those warblers ARE dangerous and should come with a warning label or something.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2647395313001100441.post-61004369962022973132007-08-19T23:13:00.000+02:002007-08-19T23:13:00.000+02:00Fish Crow and Prothonotary Warbler both would be l...Fish Crow and Prothonotary Warbler both would be lifers for me! WOW looks like you had an excellent time! Great report!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com