Rare Gene

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April 23 - Year Bird #99 Black-throated Blue Warbler

April 23, 2008
Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow - (9)
American Goldfinch - feeder (m, f)
American Robin - yard (2); elsewhere (1 nesting)
Black-throated Blue Warbler - year bird #99
Blue Jay - feeder (3); elsewhere (4)
Carolina Chickadee - feeder
Common Grackle (2)
Dark-eyed Junco - feeder
Eastern Phoebe - yard
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m)
European Starling (36+)
Mourning Dove - yard (1); elsewhere (1)
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m, f); elsewhere (3)
Northern Flicker - heard
Pine Siskin - feeder This ornery little bird was sitting on the tube feeder grabbing sunflower seeds as fast as it could and throwing them far and wide. I don't know if it ever slowed down long enough to eat any but when I got back home this evening the seed level was down three inches!

Red-winged Blackbird - heard
Song Sparrow - heard
Tufted Titmouse - feeder
Bullfrog - pond
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Pipevine Swallowtail - FOS; elsewhere (2); yard (1)
Eastern Grey Squirrel (2)

Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (4)
Eastern Towhee - heard

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (11)
Dark-eyed Junco (2)
European Starling (6)
Mourning Dove
Tufted Titmouse

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow
American Robin (7)
European Starling

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (2)

Driving with the windows down sure makes it easier to hear the birds even if it is harder to see them while driving.

April 22 - Year Bird #98 Wood Thrush

April 22, 2008
Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (5)
American Robin - yard (2); elsewhere (1)
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay - feeder (3); elsewhere (3)
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Chickadee (3)
Carolina Wren - This wren pointed out the Brown Thrasher for me. As I was observing the wren it flew into a tree and as I refocused on it I saw something behind it. It was a Brown Thrasher well hidden further back in the branches. I never would have seen it if the wren had not shown it to me.

Dark-eyed Junco - feeder (2)
Eastern Phoebe - yard (1); elsewhere (1)
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m) this morning; also heard (2) calling in the evening.
Mourning Dove (3)
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m); elsewhere (m)
Northern Flicker - heard several times but could not find it (them.)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - feeder (m); elsewhere (1 or 2m)
Song Sparrow - feeder
Tufted Titmouse - feeder (2)
White-throated Sparrow
Wood Thrush - heard - year bird #98
Yellow-rumped Warbler (3)
Bullfrog - pond (2)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Water Strider - pond (2)
American Red Squirrel - pond
Gray Squirrel
Raccoon - porch

April 21 - Year Birds #95-97

April 21, 2008
Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow - yard (1); elsewhere (4)
American Robin (3)
Black-and-white Warbler - year bird #96
Blue Jay - feeder (1); yard (7); elsewhere (5+)
Dark-eyed Junco - feeder (1); elsewhere (1)
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee (f) I think this is the first female of the season here.
European Starling (9)
Mourning Dove - feeder (2)
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m); elsewhere (2m)
Northern Flicker - yard (2); elsewhere (1)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (7)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Song Sparrow (2)
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler - year bird #95
Bullfrog - pond
Water Strider - pond (3)
Gray Squirrel
Groundhog - dead
Virginia Opossum - dead

Hampton, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (2)
Rock Pigeon

Valley Forge, Carter County, Tennessee
European Starling (7)
Great Blue Heron
Mallard (2)
Rock Pigeon (3)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (5+)
American Robin (2)
Chimney Swift
Common Grackle (20+)
European Starling (21+)
House Sparrow (6+)
Mallard
Mourning Dove (4)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (4)
Osprey - year bird #97
Rock Pigeon (7)
Turkey Vulture
Groundhog - dead

Sycamore Shoals State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow
American Robin (6)
Blue Jay (2)
Canada Goose (34+)
Carolina Chickadee
Carolina Wren
Chimney Swift (5)
Chipping Sparrow (7)
Downy Woodpecker
Eastern Bluebird (f)
Eastern Towhee
European Starling (6)
Field Sparrow
House Finch (2m, 2f)
Mallard (7m, f)
Mourning Dove (3)
Northern Cardinal (2m, 2f)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (5+)
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-throated Sparrow (2)
Gray Squirrel (2)

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow

April 20 - Another day at home

April 20, 2008
Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow - heard (2+)
American Robin (2)
Blue Jay - feeder (1); elsewhere (3)
Carolina Chickadee - feeder
Chimney Swift
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} - feeder (2)
Eastern Phoebe (2)
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m) and heard another
House Finch - feeder (m, f)
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m, f)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Song Sparrow - feeder
Tufted Titmouse - feeder (2)
Bullfrog - pond (2)
Raccoon - porch
White-tailed Deer - yard (3)

April 19 - All within walking distance of home

April 19, 2008
Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow - yard (1); elsewhere (1) and heard (4+)
American Goldfinch (m)
Blue Jay - feeder (2); elsewhere (8+)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Carolina Chickadee - feeder (1); elsewhere (1)
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} - feeder (1); elsewhere (1)
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m)
House Finch - feeder (f, m)
Mourning Dove - feeder (2)
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m, f); elsewhere (m)
Northern Flicker - yard
Pileated Woodpecker - heard
Pine Siskin - feeder
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - feeder (m); elsewhere (m)
Song Sparrow (1) and heard (2)
Tufted Titmouse - feeder
Turkey Vulture (2)
White-throated Sparrow
Bullfrog - pond (2)
Salamander - pond (2)
Small frog - pond
Water Strider - pond
American Red Squirrel
Raccoon - on the porch at 9:10 am

April 18 - Back home with Tigers

April 18, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (1) and heard another
American Robin (2)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (3)
Tufted Titmouse - heard
White-breasted Nuthatch (2)
American Red Squirrel
Groundhog

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (3)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored}

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
American Robin
Common Grackle
European Starling (2)

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (6)
American Robin (5)
Blue Jay (5)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (3+)
Carolina Chickadee (4)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored}
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Towhee - heard
European Starling (5)
Mourning Dove (1) and heard another
Northern Cardinal (m)
Pileated Woodpecker - heard
Tufted Titmouse - yard (1); elsewhere (1)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2+)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Water Strider - pond
Cottontail

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

April 17 - Plenty of driving, not so many birds

April 17, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (2)
American Goldfinch
Carolina Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (2)
Pine Siskin (2)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Cottontail (2)
Gray Squirrel (3)
White-tailed Deer (4)

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (3)

Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow
Mourning Dove (2)

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
American Robin (3)

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Robin
Eastern Towhee - yard (m)
European Starling (9)
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal - yard (m)
Raccoon - porch

April 16 - Cottontail with a death wish

April 16, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow - heard (3) saw (2)
American Goldfinch
Blue Jay
Carolina Chickadee (4)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (2)
Downy Woodpecker (m)
Hairy Woodpecker (m)
Mourning Dove (2)
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch (m)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Tufted Titmouse (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Chipmunk
Cottontail - with a death wish. It had already crossed the road but turned back and ran down the middle of my lane for a while before deciding it was ready to let me pass and veered on across the road and let me by. Around another curve or two was a normal cottontail. It finished crossing, sat on the side of the road and watched me go by. (2)

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (2)
European Starling (4)
Mourning Dove (4)

April 15 - Tax Day Run Around

April 15, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (8)
American Robin (6)
Carolina Chickadee (4)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (11)
Downy Woodpecker (m, f)
Hairy Woodpecker (f)
Mourning Dove
Pine Siskin
Red-breasted Nuthatch (3)
Tufted Titmouse (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wild Turkey (m)
American Red Squirrel
Gray Squirrel
Groundhog
White-tailed Deer (6)

Genesis Wildlife/Buckeye Lake, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (3)
American Robin (2)
Blue Jay (2)
Carolina Chickadee (2)
Chipping Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (4)
Eastern Towhee (2m)
Mallard
Mourning Dove (2)
Northern Flicker
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (3)
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Song Sparrow
Gray Squirrel (3)

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (2)
American Robin

Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (4)
American Robin
Cooper's Hawk
European Starling
Mourning Dove

Heaton, Avery County, North Carolina
Wild Turkey (f)

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
European Starling
Mourning Dove (4)

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Robin (3)
Carolina Chickadee - yard
European Starling (22+)
Northern Cardinal (m)

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (3)

Hampton, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow

Valley Forge, Carter County, Tennessee
Mourning Dove

Elizabethton, Carter County, Tennessee
American Robin (4)
European Starling (6)
Killdeer
Raccoon - dead

Sycamore Shoals State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
Eastern Towhee - heard 2-3
Mallard
Northern Cardinal - heard
Northern Rough-winged Swallow

April 14 - Year Bird #94 - Ruby-throated Hummingbird

April 14, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow
American Goldfinch (m)
American Robin (4)
Carolina Chickadee (2)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (3)
Downy Woodpecker (f, m)
Hairy Woodpecker (f, m)
Northern Flicker
Pine Siskin
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Red Squirrel
Gray Squirrel

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (6)

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
American Robin
European Starling (3)

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (6)
American Goldfinch - feeder (3f, 4m); yard (1) total (8)
American Robin - yard (2)
Belted Kingfisher
Blue Jay - feeder (1); elsewhere (3)
Brown Thrasher
Carolina Chickadee - yard (2)
Chipping Sparrow
Common Grackle (25+)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} - feeder (1); elsewhere (1)
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m)
European Starling (3)
Mourning Dove
Northern Cardinal - feeder (m); elsewhere (m)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - feeder (m) year bird #94
Tufted Titmouse - feeder
Virginia Opossum - dead

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow

Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina
American Robin

April 13 - Juncos 13

April 13, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (2)
American Goldfinch (2m, 2f)
American Robin (7)
Carolina Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (13)
Downy Woodpecker (m, f)
Hairy Woodpecker (f, m)
Mourning Dove
Pine Siskin
Red-breasted Nuthatch (3)
Tufted Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch (2)
American Red Squirrel
Cottontail
Gray Squirrel

April 12 - Year Bird #93 - Chimney Swift

April 12, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (4)
American Goldfinch (f, 2m)
Brown-headed Cowbird
Carolina Chickadee (2)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (3)
Downy Woodpecker (m, f)
Hairy Woodpecker (m, f)
Mourning Dove
Pine Siskin
Purple Finch (2m)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
White-breasted Nuthatch
Chipmunk
Gray Squirrel (3)
Red Squirrel

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
Carolina Chickadee - feeder (2)
Chimney Swift (2) - year bird #93
European Starling (2)
Tufted Titmouse - feeder

April 11 - Roan Mountain 666

April 11, 2008
Beech Mountain, Watauga County, North Carolina
American Crow (3+)
American Robin (2)
Carolina Chickadee
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} (5)
Eastern Towhee - heard
Mourning Dove
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-breasted Nuthatch (2)
Chipmunk
Gray Squirrel

Beech Mountain, Avery County, North Carolina
European Starling

Banner Elk, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow (4)
American Robin
European Starling

Elk Park, Avery County, North Carolina
American Crow
Common Grackle (3)

Roan Mountain, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow
American Goldfinch - feeder (5m, 3f)
American Robin (6)
Blue Jay - yard
Carolina Chickadee - feeder
Common Grackle (6)
Dark-eyed Junco {slate-colored} - feeder (2)
Eastern Towhee - feeder (m)
European Starling (6)
Killdeer
Northern Cardinal - yard (m)
Pine Siskin - feeder
Tufted Titmouse
Turkey Vulture
Bullfrog - pond (2)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - yard
Cottontail - dead
Virginia Opossum - dead
White-tailed Deer (2)

Roan Mountain State Park, Carter County, Tennessee
American Crow (3)