Maine birds And MOAC mountainbiking: October 2014

Friday, 31 October 2014

[Maine-birds] Bar Harbor to Southwest Harbor

31 Oct 2014
Final trip of the season from Bar Harbor around the south side of Mt. Desert I. to the Hinckley Yacht company in Southwest Harbor. Just a couple days short of 6 months of running cruises around Frenchman Bay.
Common Loon (COLO) 23
Red-throated Loon (RTLO) 3
Red-necked Grebe (RNGR) 14
Gannet (NOGA) 2
Double-crested Cormorant (DCCO) 1000+ Numerous huge Vees passing continuously out beyond the Cranberry Isles
Great Cormorant (GRCO) 8
Common Eider (COEI) 500+
Long-tailed Duck 18 (LTDU)(10 and 8)
Black Scoter (BLSC) 8
Red-breasted Merganser (RBME) 4
Herring, Black-backed, and Ring-billed Gulls.
Black Guillemot (BLGU) 10+

________________________________________
We have updated our webpage with new nature and family pictures. Web address is:
www.fotki.com/townsend-maine

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[Maine-birds] Biddeford: American Pipits and an estimation activity...

This afternoon, there were 12 American Pipits, 12 Savannah Sparrows
and 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers feeding in the wrack-line of the beach at
Timber Point in Biddeford.

I also saw a large flock of Double-crested Cormorants fly over. If
you're interested, try estimating the number of Cormorants in this
photo (http://bit.ly/1tpIjtC), then verify your count by viewing my
eBird checklist (http://bit.ly/1tJAP4F).

Good birding,
Josh

Josh Fecteau
Kennebunkport, ME

JOSH'S JOURNAL: New England Natural History and Wildcrafting
(http://joshfecteau.com)

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[Maine-birds] Phippsburg - Oct 31

Spent the morning looking for large expanses of berries where that Solitaire may be hiding. The Bayberry mast seems to be a flop this year, but other berry crops are ablaze right now. Junipers have been decimated by the protected herd of small deer on Hermit Island, but other crops are abundant. No sign of the solitaire, but a few highlights nevertheless:

Peregrine Falcon adult at Popham Beach
Popham area shorebirds included only 1 Blk Bellied Plover, 8 GYLegs and 14 Semi-Plovers.
Large flock of P Siskins at Head Beach. 60 or more.
Early (for Phippsburg) Fox Sparrows, and building numbers of Purple Finches

no sign of the Solitaire, but my money is on its continuing presence somewhere in Phippsburg.

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[Maine-birds] Red-bellied Woodpecker in Harrington

I was astonished to see a Red-bellied Woodpecker at our feeder this afternoon. This is my first for Washington County. What is the status of this species this far Down East?

In Flat Bay there are good numbers of Bufflehead, Long-tailed Ducks and Red-breasted Mergansers. Our winter companions are back!

Yellow-rumped Warblers are still moving through.

Merle Archie

Harrington, ME

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RE: [Maine-birds] Feather ID help please

could be a hen neck feather, or from a costume - craft stores sell plumes and saddle feathers for projects as well as fly tying.

Sarah

Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2014 14:52:46 -0400
Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Feather ID help please
From: susanguare@gmail.com
To: lrbevier@colby.edu
CC: maine-birds@googlegroups.com

How would a rooster feather end up in the middle of Bangor? I know about the Backyard Chicken movement, but trust me, I lived on a farm and I would know if a rooster was around here.

I thought Kirk was kidding.

#Bangor#rooster#feather Why not add one more code?

On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 1:41 PM, Louis Bevier <lrbevier@colby.edu> wrote:

That looks like the neck feather of a rooster. Is your dog into tying flies? Those are the kind of feathers people want for that.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

species mentioned in this post: Red Junglefowl (domestic) Gallus gallus, REJU, galgas (love that one! but ya gotta get into 6-letter codes)

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[Maine-birds] Additional Highlights This Week and Goose Fields Update, 10/25-31

Hi all,

Some additional highlights of note from me over the past seven days included:

- 1 Indigo Bunting and 1 "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow, Biddeford Pool Beach, 10/26.

- 1 Lapland Longspur, behind "Hattie's," Biddeford Pool, 10/26.

- 1 TENNESSEE WARBLER, 1 Snow Bunting (first of fall), 1 Semipalmated Plover, 473 Sanderlings, etc, Reid State Park, Georgetown, 10/28 (with Jeannette).

- 150+ Horned Larks and 75+ American Pipits, Mayall Rd, Gray/New Gloucester, 10/30 (with Lois Gerke).

- 2 Semipalmated Sandpipers, 3 White-rumped Sandpipers, 1 Semipalmated Plover, 15 Black-bellied Plovers, 1 "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow, Pine Point, Scarborough, 10/31.

- 2 Snow Buntings and 1 "Ipswich" Savannah Sparrow, Pine Point Beach, 10/31.

- 1 Great Egret, Dunstan Landing, Scarborough Marsh, 10/31.

And the "Greater Yarmouth Goose Fields Update" for the week:

- The CACKLING GOOSE has apparently departed. Hopefully, others will soon follow.

- The spiffy leucistic Canada Goose continued through at least mid-week.

- Canada Goose numbers decreased over the course of the week following a high count of 654 on 10/27.

- 1 Killdeer continues at Thornhurst Farm, while Horned Larks and American Pipits were here and there.

-Derek

*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04069
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

****************************************

[Maine-birds] Orange-Crowned Warbler

Today at Saco WWP, actualy just beyond in the little stream that goes
under the trail I had a great look at an Orange-crowned Warbler. Grayish
top side and yellowish underside, thin bill, broken eye looked complete
to me. I did not get to see the orange-crown. At Pine Point there were
two Semi=palmated Sandpipers, # Black-bellied Plovers and 143 Dunlin.

Bob Crowley
Chatham, NH

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[Maine-birds] history of alpha codes for birds

I would hope this isn't a big deal to most reading the Maine list. It is unfortunate that some are bothered by the use of the codes and that others are equally upset at those complaining. I've used these codes since the 1970s when they first became widespread and established. There has always been good humor and joking about them, believe me. I sympathize with both positions.

Some background
In 1978, Kathy Klimkiewicz and Chan Robbins proposed a set of abbreviations to aid banders in recording birds. The intent was to develop a standard shorthand that would speed recording on forms and data processing. The rules for the abbreviations were simple, and this made it easy to use even if one had not memorized the list of codes. While this was intended for banders, many of us learned we could jot down species in our notes a lot faster by using these codes; so the idea spread. In 2003, Peter Pyle and Dave DeSante refined and expanded the rules and codes to cover all species in North America, and that's where we are today.

What are the codes for?
The codes are intended for notes, forms, and data processing, i.e. they are meant for communication to a piece of paper or a computer. The "audience" is not another human (except data processor). The originators admonished against this, saying they are strictly for the convenience of banders in their own records and should never be used as a substitute for common or scientific names. As Kirk noted, there's an app for that now, and one doesn't need to memorize the codes. Sure, among a group of peers all versed in them, it's fine to use the codes. For most people, however, the codes simply don't register quickly; even shortened and botched common names work better. The codes do make writing more compact, and the Crossley guide employed them for that purpose, to save space in text. For the other reason, texting alert services with limited characters allowed, the current generation of smartphones have obviated the need for such brevity.

The banding lab says this: "The alpha codes provided here are required for reporting bandings to the Bird Banding Laboratory in Bandit (preferred) or Band manager [these are both computer applications]. They are not required or recommended for any other purpose (source: http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/manual/bandsize.cfm)

Rapid recognition
Consider your audience. If someone has to look up a code to figure out what's being discussed, then I think we've failed to communicate clearly and quickly. One might think that everyone should know the codes and know where to look them up, but that's not very considerate of all readers. It's simply better to write out a bird name. But if someone does use them, there should be no worries. An example might be, subject line "Townsend's [or Toownsends!] Solitaire" and text that reads "TOSO Hermit Island." Nobody needs to do that. And really, if the name is spelled out in the subject line, then all one needs is "Hermit Island" in the text. The code is superfluous and redundant. Most instances I read in list messages are this sort of one-off translation.

Learning and using the codes
The original rules were fantastically easy to learn and apply. The subsequent Pyle and DeSante rules while important for computer coding, are maybe too complex. (I link to both set of rules below.) If one wants to speed up notetaking, then learn the simple set of rules and go! Put pen or pencil to paper and don't care about being exact. Unless you get a job at a banding station, don't worry about potentially conflicting codes, ones that would be the same for two or more species, or learning every nuanced resolution. The context of their use is almost always unambiguous. If not, add an extra letter or note. Done. For example, if the notebook has "flock of TRSW on the wires," TRUS me, the observer didn't mean Trumpeter Swans. (The orginal 1978 list resolved many identical codes, but not this one; life was simpler in those days.) If one writes HEGU in the East, then Heermann's Gull isn't meant (HERG vs. HEEG). If one writes YEWA here in Maine, anyone entering your notes later would surely know you meant Yellow Warbler and not Yellow Wagtail. Besides, since the wagtail was split, its now EYWA (Eastern Yellow Wagtail). This brings up another point, the codes change with the changing classification. It's never ending. And this last example involving Yellow Warbler is YWAR is not the answer.

Klimkiewicz, M. K., and C. S. Robbins. 1978. Standard abbreviations for common names of birds. North American Bird Bander 3(1):16-25.
https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nabb/v003n01/p0016-p0025.pdf

Pyle, P., and D. F. DeSante. 2003. Four-letter and six-letter alpha codes for birds recorded in the American Ornithologists' Union Check-list area. North American Bird Bander 28:64-79.
https://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/nabb/v028n02/p0064-p0079.pdf
see page 66 for rules

Good birding!

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

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Re: [Maine-birds] White robin

Interesting. Must be leucism.. On the 10 mile road to Grand Lake stream there were 3 white crows. One died but the others are still there as far as I know, One has a mottled head feathers (white but some black too)

On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 4:36 PM, Diana <dedmaine@hotmail.com> wrote:

Had it here around 9a.m. Doesn't have any Orange on its breast. And when. It flies. Looks like a black and white woodpecker. It was here about a month ago too. Diana. In south unity. The camera was in the house! Not good

Sent from my iPad

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[Maine-birds] Brant Dyer Point

Dyer Point 2:30- 3:30

8 Brant

735 Common Eider

9 Harlequin

14 Longtail

8 Common loon

30 Northern Gannet

33 White-Winged Scoter

131 Black scoter

20 D.C.Cormorant

1 Northern Flicker

Yellow-Rumped Warblers

[Maine-birds] White robin

Had it here around 9a.m. Doesn't have any Orange on its breast. And when. It flies. Looks like a black and white woodpecker. It was here about a month ago too. Diana. In south unity. The camera was in the house! Not good

Sent from my iPad

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Re: [Maine-birds] Feather ID help please

How would a rooster feather end up in the middle of Bangor? I know about the Backyard Chicken movement, but trust me, I lived on a farm and I would know if a rooster was around here.

I thought Kirk was kidding.

#Bangor#rooster#feather Why not add one more code?

On Fri, Oct 31, 2014 at 1:41 PM, Louis Bevier <lrbevier@colby.edu> wrote:

That looks like the neck feather of a rooster. Is your dog into tying flies? Those are the kind of feathers people want for that.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

species mentioned in this post: Red Junglefowl (domestic) Gallus gallus, REJU, galgas (love that one! but ya gotta get into 6-letter codes)

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[Maine-birds] Late Oriole

After having no orioles at all this spring or summer, we have had a first year female Baltimore on our suet for the last three days.

Linda D. Scotland

PO Box 248

Cape Neddick, ME 03902

(207) 363-5377/752-1131

lds@maine.rr.com

Re: [Maine-birds] Feather ID help please

That looks like the neck feather of a rooster. Is your dog into tying flies? Those are the kind of feathers people want for that.

Louis Bevier
Fairfield

species mentioned in this post: Red Junglefowl (domestic) Gallus gallus, REJU, galgas (love that one! but ya gotta get into 6-letter codes)

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[Maine-birds] Feather ID help please

[Maine-birds] Alpha codes in Maine-birds

I wonder if the boilerplate text could easily be updated to include a link to an index?

It would be far-fetched for now but maybe something to ponder for the future, if the posting software could provide mouseover captions or give each reader a settings option to have automatic replacement of each code by “CODE (Spelled-out Name)”.

Sallie Satterthwaite, Brooksville:Harborside

salliesatt@comcast.net

~* It’s a good day to have a good day! *~

Re: [Maine-birds] Orange-crowned Warbler

On Oct 31, 2014, at 7:51 AM, panteradeath666 <seanari@live.com> wrote:

A question about their behavior. During fall migration, do they typically forage on the ground and bob their tails?

This combination of behaviors sounds like Palm Warbler, which bob their tails AND frequently forage on the ground. Orange-crowned Warblers are often found in low, weedy vegetation during migration (the kinds of places sparrows like too), but they tend to stay above the ground where they often probe leaf clusters, especially dead leaves harboring invertebrates. They twitch their tails rarely and far less than even a close relative, Nashville Warbler, or another subtle tail-twitcher like Yellow-rumped Warbler. The sharp, pointed bill of Orange-crowned Warbler comes in handy prying open leaves, probing cracks in bark, and gaping open fruits. Here is an example of the latter behavior of a late Orange-crowned foraging on River Grape in Waterville: https://flic.kr/p/iinz3t

Note: I found an error in the Birds of North America account regarding foraging on the ground. The account says Orange-crowned forages in dead leaves on the ground, but it should read "above the ground" (or "dead leaves on the wintering ground"). This comes from a misreading of a short note on foraging behavior here: https://sora.unm.edu/node/130772

Good birding!

Louis Bevier

Fairfield

[Maine-birds] Orange-crowned Warbler

A question about their behavior. During fall migration, do they typically forage on the ground and bob their tails?

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Re: [Maine-birds] Sabattus Pond, 10/30

There were two drake common goldeneye off the south end beach last week, the first I had seen this year.

Dan Nickerson.

On Thu, Oct 30, 2014 at 6:24 PM, <chrwsu@myfairpoint.net> wrote:

Notably absent from that list was Common Goldeneye. I usually start seeing small flocks before this on inland lakes and rivers. I'm assuming mild weather up north has delayed their arrival.

Wally S.

On Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:05:55 -0700, 'Derek and Jeannette Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:
Hi all,

Lois Gerke joined me on a jaunt up to Sabattus Pond. This morning's glass-calm conditions that reduced the flight at Sandy Point afforded a perfect opportunity to count and enjoy the duckage here:

916 Ruddy Ducks (!!!)
195 Lesser Scaup
127 Canada Geese
99 Mallards
33 American Coots
24 Greater Scaup
22 American Black Ducks
12 Bufflehead
3 Mallard x American Black Ducks
3 Hooded Mergansers
3 Common Loons
1 continuing female REDHEAD
1 Horned Grebe

-Derek

*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04069
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

****************************************

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Dan's Natural History Blog:
Ravenwatcher
"An Eye on the Natural World"
http://ravenwatcher.blogspot.com

Thursday, 30 October 2014

[Maine-birds] Evening grosbeaks in Brooklin

One male and four females were feeding on ash tree seeds this afternoon--only the second time I've seen them here in 19 years! I heard them before seeing them. Magical.

Kim

Author, THE SECRET POOL, a children's book about vernal pools. Winner, Riverby Award, John Burroughs Association, and Lupine Award, Maine Library Association. Skipping Stones Honor Award, 2014. "Share with budding naturalists or use as an excellent guide for a woodland walk..." Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

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[Maine-birds] No cattle egret in China today, northern harrier instead

I stopped by Meadowbrook Farm in China today, but did not see the cattle egret. There was a female northern harrier hunting in the field.

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[Maine-birds] Harlequins Dyer point Cape Elizabeth

Nice day of birds today Dyer point

4 Harlequins

55 Common Eider

2 Northern Gannets

1 Sanderling

15 Yellow-Rumped Warblers

2 Savannah Sparrows

Common Loon

Kettle Cove

2 Swamp Sparrows

2 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets

2 Horned Grebes

Think I had the Orange-Crowned Warbler but dipped down to fast?

Great Pond

Red-Winged Blackbirds

American Tree Sparrows

2 Ruddy Ducks, 5 greater Scaup

Re: [Maine-birds] Sabattus Pond, 10/30

Notably absent from that list was Common Goldeneye. I usually start seeing small flocks before this on inland lakes and rivers. I'm assuming mild weather up north has delayed their arrival.

Wally S.

On Thu, 30 Oct 2014 11:05:55 -0700, 'Derek and Jeannette Lovitch' via Maine birds <maine-birds@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Hi all,

Lois Gerke joined me on a jaunt up to Sabattus Pond. This morning's glass-calm conditions that reduced the flight at Sandy Point afforded a perfect opportunity to count and enjoy the duckage here:

916 Ruddy Ducks (!!!)
195 Lesser Scaup
127 Canada Geese
99 Mallards
33 American Coots
24 Greater Scaup
22 American Black Ducks
12 Bufflehead
3 Mallard x American Black Ducks
3 Hooded Mergansers
3 Common Loons
1 continuing female REDHEAD
1 Horned Grebe

-Derek

*****************************************
Derek and Jeannette Lovitch
Freeport Wild Bird Supply
541 Route One, Suite 10
Freeport, ME 04069
207-865-6000
www.freeportwildbirdsupply.com

****************************************

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[Maine-birds] catbird kennebunk

On my feeders for a brief visit at 9 am Thurs. Pileated woodpecker also regularly in area. Last phoebe (2) sighting was Monday the 27th.
Sharon in West K,bunk

[Maine-birds] Hooded Mergansers, Lewiston

At the Bates pond today, near corner of Russell and College streets,
were 3 Hooded Mergansers - possibly a few more as I didn't have my
binoculars.
Anne Williams

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RE: [Maine-birds] Grass seed

I put out white millet and I get a ton. I have had white throated..White crowned..song..2 chipping..2 or 3 fox sparrows and juncos galore...it has been a blast watching them but keep hoping I see something rare in there but no such luck.

Sent from my U.S. Cellular® Smartphone

-------- Original message --------

From: Susan Guare

Date:10/30/2014 3:30 PM (GMT-05:00)

To: Maine birds

Subject: [Maine-birds] Grass seed

My neighbor says the time to overseed one's lawn is in the fall. The white-throated sparrows and juncoes are having think so, too, and are a lovely time out there. I can't even see them, in the leaves, until I move suddenly and fifty or more take flight at once.

(Bangor)

[Maine-birds] Grass seed

(Bangor)

[Maine-birds] Northern Maine Birds: Snowy Owl, Bohemian Waxwings American Tree Sparrows

This AM, work took me north to the St. John River Valley.

Saw several flocks of American Tree Sparrows and an early Snowy Owl in Frenchville. Got some decent pics of the owl which I will post tonight.

In Van Buren, a small flock of Bohemian Waxwings were working on what appeared to be a cherry tree. These were my first "for sure" Bohemian's this fall.

Evening Grosbeaks are showing up at area feeders.

Autumn-into-winter up this way.

Bill

Bill Sheehan
Woodland, Aroostook Co., Maine
http://northernmainebirds.blogspot.com/

[Maine-birds] Fox Sparrow- Waterville

I've had a Fox Sarrow under my feeders sporadically the past 2 days - unusual for me for the fall - I usually only see them anywhere in Maine in late March or April.

- Margaret Viens

Ridge Road, Waterville

[Maine-birds] Sabattus Pond, 10/30

Hi all,

Lois Gerke joined me on a jaunt up to Sabattus Pond. This morning's glass-calm conditions that reduced the flight at Sandy Point afforded a perfect opportunity to count and enjoy the duckage here:

916 Ruddy Ducks (!!!)
195 Lesser Scaup
127 Canada Geese
99 Mallards
33 American Coots
24 Greater Scaup
22 American Black Ducks
12 Bufflehead
3 Mallard x American Black Ducks
3 Hooded Mergansers
3 Common Loons
1 continuing female REDHEAD
1 Horned Grebe

-Derek

[Maine-birds] Bowdoinham

Things are changing at our feeders.
Red-bellied woodpecker, first in over a year
Red-breasted nuthatch is back.
3 evening grosbeaks, just now!
brown creeper yesterday

Plus, lots of blue jays, chickadees, white-breasted nuthatches,
white-throated and song sparrows, tufted titmice,
hairy and downy woodpeckers, mourning doves, a few robins,
a raven, and the grackles also just arrived.

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[Maine-birds] Snowy Owl

I flushed a Snowy Owl this morning on Lighthouse Hill. It flew off chased by crows and blue jays. We also have a continuiing Dickcissel, Red Bellied Woodpecker and Bluebirds. Otherwise, Juncoes rule the island.

[Maine-birds] Sandhill Cranes in Fryeburg .

Continuing Birds, 6 are always together, occasionally 3 others join
them. They are to be found in the sod fields at the intersection of
McNiel and Old River Roads, Fryeburg Harbor.

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[Maine-birds] Schoodic SeaWatch

Another fine morning from the Point.
First snow bunting of this season's sea watch.

69 Common Loon
9 Red-throated Loon
50 Northern Gannet
207 DC Cormorant
65 Common Eider
7 Long-tailed Duck
8 Red-beasted Merganser
4 Black-legged Kittiwake
4 Ring-billed Gull
3 Surf Scoter
1 White-winged Scoter
1 Black Scoter (another 10 going opposite direction)
2 Harlequin Duck (males, non-migrants; feeding along shore)
28 American Crows - three groups at separate times, confused by land's end, wanting to go south
but reticent due to water crossing (or so it seemed); headed north along peninsula.

A morning like this makes one want to instantaneously transport to Avalon, NJ (personal inspirational site for sea watch addiction).

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[Maine-birds] Brown Creeper Spurwink Church 10/29

first of the Fall for me Brown Creeper

4 hermit Thrush, 3 Red Tailed Hawks

D.E.Juncos in big numbers Saturday over 100 spurwink marsh, Dozen white-Throated Sparrows

50 or so Common Grackles on the move South Portland Hinkley Park Tuesday

1 Mockingbird trying to guard a crabapple tree from invading starlings.

Yellow-Rumped Warbler, 2 Ruby-Crowned Kinglets South Portland Nursing

Wednesday, 29 October 2014

Re: [Maine-birds] Alpha Code Animosity and a Query

Maybe the ABA Blog might be a good home for the discourse.

ABA = American Birding Association

;-)

Scott

[Maine-birds] Kettle Cove KECV

A brief visit to KECV this noon produced a Oranged Crowned Warbler and a Catbird. Leon Mooney. LEMO

Sent from my iPad

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Re: [Maine-birds] Bobo

Merci beaucoup, mon ami. C'est très clair; comme de la boue, n'est pas? ;-)

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Lest this email be completely wasted, I should report a semi-late Palm Warbler near the Flood Farm in Clinton this morning. Also had a Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spotted Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, and Americal Pipit in the same general vicinity, all of which I normally find to be somewhat scarce in late October. 12 Ruddy Ducks and 2 Bufflehead on North Pond in Smithfield were my first unusual ducks in the area this fall, although Bufflehead seem to be more regular than in the past.

Wally S.

On Wed, 29 Oct 2014 18:25:32 -0400, Bruce Bartrug <bbartrug@gmail.com> wrote:

Mis amigos, explicame, por favor, porque ustedes han usado la palabra bobo como un nombre de uno pajaro. Pregunto, porque "bobo" en Español es lo mismo como "clown" en su idioma de Inglés.

Did I make myself clear?

BOBO is not only Spanish for clown, it's also the origin of the word "booby," a bird that looks like a bobo because it has a black mask. It's fine if you want to use "professional" codes, but many here are not professional ornithologists, and if you wish to be understood by everyone it would seem logical to write in plain English. Not in Spanish, and not in made up codes. It also might be best if you would kindly use the correct name of the bird, not "redwing," which, as pointed out by Derek, is a European thrush.

Derek's posts on this forum are exemplary, in that he always uses the correct English name besides the codes, and often the scientific names as well.

I don't make the rules here, so do what you want. I just don't read posts that only have codes.

Cheers,
BAB

Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein

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RE: [Maine-birds] Alpha Code Animosity and a Query

There is a large flock of canada geese occupying the fields on Poor's mills rd along with many gulls, might make a good spot for vagrant spotting for people with more time than me in the am.

I find alpha codes a bit of a nuisance and they make me less likely to read an entire message once I hit ones I don't recognize. But to each their own. I do find it fascinating that while most of the scientific community and other intense species spotters (butterflies, moths, herptiles, etc) use taxonomic species names birders have invented YET ANOTHER coding system. Having been a good biology and taxonomy student once upon a time I learned a whole slew of scientific names and still remember a fair bit and frankly my brain is a bit too full most days to add much more.

Sarah

Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:53:26 -0700
From: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [Maine-birds] Alpha Code Animosity and a Query
To: maine-birds@googlegroups.com

Hi all,

At least once a year we go through the same "conversation" on the listserve about the use of four-letter codes for bird names. Despite Craig's rapid apology, the thread continues over a day later.

I find this fascinating. There are few topics on listserves (Maine-birds is not unique) that bring out such animosity as the use of four-letter codes. Nothing results in more public responses (perhaps with the exception of cats), especially in condemnation, than the use of only a four-letter code in a post.

Not incorrect bird names. Not random abbreviations understood by only the one person posting it. Not grammar and syntax so poor that the who, what, where, and when is rendered completely indecipherable. No. The fire comes out when someone has the audacity to use a four-letter code, which, by definition, is not "jargon" at all, but as Stella rightly pointed out, is a standardized list of short-hand codes agreed upon by a professional, scientific body for use in the field and rapid communication. (By the way, what kind of "jargon" is FAC? "Friday after class?" Florida Airports Council? Forward Air Controller?).

Just look at the variety of ways Red-winged Blackbird is posted in early spring. "Redwing" is a Eurasian thrush that can occur as a vagrant in North America. RW black Bird? But should someone post simply "RWBL" (the actual, official four-letter code) then all heck can break loose. In fact, I once had an editor tell me that "The use of four-letter codes in (shorthand, abbreviated) text is a deal-breaker...People just hate them too much."

Why? What is it about four-letter codes that get people so worked up? It's not like Peterson declared "Confusing Fall Codes" and thereby relegated a generation of birders into thinking these were overly challenging or impossible to learn.

As anyone who knows me has realized, I love exploring birder psychology. A current project has encouraged me to spend considerable time pondering the nuances of birders, how we communicate, how we learn, and how we get upset.

So I have a query. Can people tell me (offline is best; I think the listserve has had enough about four-letter codes for a while) why "we" are so opposed to learning four-letter codes? Why do we spend more time ranting, complaining, or simply just questioning on the listserve how and why someone would use a four-letter code than simply looking them up to learn them (online, at resources several people have posted or in your "Crossely Guide?") Clearly four-letter codes get people riled up, and I want to know why.

This is not an attempt to poke fun, or attempt to prove how smart I think I am, but an exercise in attempting to understand. Perhaps I will receive some insight that I could synthesize in some way. Should I be able to do that, I will post my conclusions - or, likely, a link to it. Maybe the ABA Blog might be a good home for the discourse. Any comments sent to me privately will remain anonymous, so please, let me know what you really think. And, like anyone's posts you don't like, should you not be interested, simply hit "delete" and all will be fine.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Derek

[Maine-birds] Bobo

Mis amigos, explicame, por favor, porque ustedes han usado la palabra bobo como un nombre de uno pajaro. Pregunto, porque "bobo" en Español es lo mismo como "clown" en su idioma de Inglés.

Did I make myself clear?

BOBO is not only Spanish for clown, it's also the origin of the word "booby," a bird that looks like a bobo because it has a black mask. It's fine if you want to use "professional" codes, but many here are not professional ornithologists, and if you wish to be understood by everyone it would seem logical to write in plain English. Not in Spanish, and not in made up codes. It also might be best if you would kindly use the correct name of the bird, not "redwing," which, as pointed out by Derek, is a European thrush.

Derek's posts on this forum are exemplary, in that he always uses the correct English name besides the codes, and often the scientific names as well.

I don't make the rules here, so do what you want. I just don't read posts that only have codes.

Cheers,

BAB

Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine, USA
bbartrug@gmail.com
www.brucebartrug.com

The world is a dangerous place, not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do nothing. - Albert Einstein

[Maine-birds] Cattle egret in China

I noticed a cattle egret in among the black angus cows at Meadowbrook farm in China this afternoon. Unfortunately, I di have my camera with me. I'll try to head over that way tomorrow am and see if it is still there.

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[Maine-birds] Alpha Code Animosity and a Query

Hi all,

At least once a year we go through the same "conversation" on the listserve about the use of four-letter codes for bird names. Despite Craig's rapid apology, the thread continues over a day later.

Thank you for your time and consideration,

Derek

Re: [Maine-birds] Snow Buntings AND ........

Wow. Great spotting have a camp somewhat close and in 35 years have never seen one

Sent from my iPhone

On Oct 29, 2014, at 8:58 AM, rob speirs <rspeirs1@gmail.com> wrote:

Since most birders are, by extension, amateur naturalists I thought I'd share this, being a somewhat uncommon sighting.

Yesterday, while up north, NW of Chesuncook Lake, we bumped into first of fall Snow Buntings. Shortly thereafter, when passing a side road, I noticed something out of place, up this side track...gray and upright.....a light gray stump?....but it didn't look to be in the right place...was it leaning out over the road, or, was it "in" one track of the woods road?

Unsure, and as we do so many times, we backed up for another look and found this. A smoke gray wisp, blending in perfectly,..an apparition, and one of the more uncommon sighting in the North Maine Woods. Just beautiful...just beautiful
Check it out https://www.flickr.com/photos/64147480@N02/15035003643/in/photostream/

Rob Speirs Cumberland

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[Maine-birds] Snow Buntings AND ........

Since most birders are, by extension, amateur naturalists I thought I'd share this, being a somewhat uncommon sighting.

Yesterday, while up north, NW of Chesuncook Lake, we bumped into first of fall Snow Buntings. Shortly thereafter, when passing a side road, I noticed something out of place, up this side track...gray and upright.....a light gray stump?....but it didn't look to be in the right place...was it leaning out over the road, or, was it "in" one track of the woods road?

Unsure, and as we do so many times, we backed up for another look and found this. A smoke gray wisp, blending in perfectly,..an apparition, and one of the more uncommon sighting in the North Maine Woods. Just beautiful...just beautiful

Check it out https://www.flickr.com/photos/64147480@N02/15035003643/in/photostream/

Rob Speirs Cumberland

RE: [Maine-birds] Re: Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)

Www.birdpop.org has all the codes by commom and/or scientific names. Can be downloaded for free. rRR

Subject: Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)
From: stellawalsh@earthlink.net
Date: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 07:51:26 -0400
CC: maine-birds@googlegroups.com
To: mfahay@gmail.com

I would propose that ALPHA "codes" are not so much "jargon" as useful standardized abbreviations which makes recording in the field much quicker (and required for data when doing field work). Not a lot different than writing NC for North Carolina.

I certainly agree that the full species name is what should be used for general communication, I would encourage anyone doing a lot of birding to check out the ALPHA codes for their usefulness in the field.

In addition to the links provided earlier, you can look up species by entering ALPHA code, or find the ALPHA code by entering all or part of the common name at

https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/SpeciesTable2.php

Stella

On Oct 29, 2014, at 07:27, Mike Fahay <mfahay@gmail.com> wrote:

Those four-letter codes are JARGON, plain and simple. Jargon should be avoided whenever possible. Especially in this case.
mike

On Tuesday, October 28, 2014 5:19:03 PM UTC-4, CrimsonCrow wrote:
For those of us who may not be quite as expert as others, could we all kindly write out the species of the bird(s) seen? It would help me a lot. Thanks.

bg

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Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)

And we must not forget that there is an app for that.

On Oct 29, 2014, at 07:51, Stella Walsh <stellawalsh@earthlink.net> wrote:

I would propose that ALPHA "codes" are not so much "jargon" as useful standardized abbreviations which makes recording in the field much quicker (and required for data when doing field work). Not a lot different than writing NC for North Carolina.

I certainly agree that the full species name is what should be used for general communication, I would encourage anyone doing a lot of birding to check out the ALPHA codes for their usefulness in the field.

In addition to the links provided earlier, you can look up species by entering ALPHA code, or find the ALPHA code by entering all or part of the common name at

https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/SpeciesTable2.php

Stella

On Oct 29, 2014, at 07:27, Mike Fahay <mfahay@gmail.com> wrote:

Those four-letter codes are JARGON, plain and simple. Jargon should be avoided whenever possible. Especially in this case.
mike

On Tuesday, October 28, 2014 5:19:03 PM UTC-4, CrimsonCrow wrote:
For those of us who may not be quite as expert as others, could we all kindly write out the species of the bird(s) seen? It would help me a lot. Thanks.

bg

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[Maine-birds] American Coot in Caribou

Bill Sheehan's American Coot (AMCO) was on-station in a Rte 205 marsh in s. Caribou this morning. Almost missed it because it was so close to the road.

Also a single Pied-billed Grebe.

Best (and thanks, Bill!)

Craig K

Re: [Maine-birds] Re: Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)

In addition to the links provided earlier, you can look up species by entering ALPHA code, or find the ALPHA code by entering all or part of the common name at

https://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bpp/SpeciesTable2.php

Stella

On Oct 29, 2014, at 07:27, Mike Fahay <mfahay@gmail.com> wrote:

Those four-letter codes are JARGON, plain and simple. Jargon should be avoided whenever possible. Especially in this case.
mike

On Tuesday, October 28, 2014 5:19:03 PM UTC-4, CrimsonCrow wrote:
For those of us who may not be quite as expert as others, could we all kindly write out the species of the bird(s) seen? It would help me a lot. Thanks.

bg

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Margaret Mead, M.A., Ph.D.

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[Maine-birds] Sabattus Pond - Oct 28 (and Bowdoinham sparrows)

Dark but spectacular viewing conditions. FAC and the birds slowly changing from drifting to feeding to loafing modes. Used my window-mount to scope them as they drifted by.

Much the same as previous days, (600-700 Ruddy Ducks, 200+ Scaup, solo H. Grebe), but dipped on Redheads and Canvasbacks. Also no sign of Ring-necked Ducks. I did not check the NW part of the pond, however.

I looked through well-over 300 sparrows in the weedy fields on Browns Point Road, (Bowdoinham), but no premium species or dickcissels. Despite the heavy construction project ongoing, there are birds-a-plenty.

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[Maine-birds] Re: Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)

Those four-letter codes are JARGON, plain and simple. Jargon should be avoided whenever possible. Especially in this case.
mike

On Tuesday, October 28, 2014 5:19:03 PM UTC-4, CrimsonCrow wrote:

For those of us who may not be quite as expert as others, could we all kindly write out the species of the bird(s) seen? It would help me a lot. Thanks.

bg

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Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else.
Margaret Mead, M.A., Ph.D.

Tuesday, 28 October 2014

[Maine-birds] Pine Point 10/28 Tuesday-Dunlin

Most fun were 8+ juv Dunlin on the beach just as the tide was coming in, on a rare outing for me.

Also Semi-Sandipipers, a Semi-Plover. There were many more farther down the shore.

Probably some that I didn't ID. I didn't have my good bins with me. (How's that for an excuse!) Corrections welcome.

One Lesser Yellowlegs swimming at Pelreco/Blue Cold. I don't remember seeing them actually swim before... tried to make it into a phalarope, but wrong shape. It did walk up on a rock; yellow legs, bobbing head.

Otherwise only 2 loons, B-b Gull.

Barbara

~~~

Barbara Partridge Herrgesell
Sanford, ME

herpartb@aol.com

Re: [Maine-birds] Four-letter bird codes (FLBCs)

I use Flubcos (FLBCs). They litter my notebooks and make data-entry easier. These days, I don't need to remember the code because look-up software allows me to guess by typing the first two letters of each name or the first letters of each word in a bird's name if it is >2. Conflicting codes are provided as alternatives. I tend not to use Flubcos in polite conversation, though, and they have waxed and waned in popularity among birders. I remember a time when many spoke them aloud. "Look at the moh-dohs (MODO) on the feeder." Or, "I found a boh-boh (BOBO)." Mourning Dove and Bobolink, if you were wondering. For a time, birds in the genus Childonias, which includes Black Tern, were called marsh-terns. Hence, BLMT (Black Marsh-Tern) became fashionable. It wasn't long after that when BLMT became the limit—say that out loud and you'll see what I mean—and LABU became taboo. That last one was for Lazuli Bunting. Who wouldn't want to write the word lazuli?

It's fun to see the flubcos return. It reminds me of my childhood when I learned my home phone number as Elgin-5 4678. The AT&T exchange names were both popular and standardized in those days. But do we miss them?

Returning to CAEG there's something Old English and appealing about that one (apparently it means "key"). But I digress. The real question is why English failed to come up with a singular noun for ungulates in the genus Bos, cattle being a peculiar example. See here for more on that topic: https://flic.kr/p/bBLVYG (a photo of a Cattle Egret and a caption).

Good birding!

Louis Bevier

Fairfield