Birds of Roosevelt

[Rod Tulloss]

Well, time to restore this discussion group also. Today I saw my first ever Indigo Bunting on the picnic table in the back yard. It was a beautiful blue male with a purplish or indigo face. He wasn't in full mating plumage yet because the outer part of the wing and the back part of the tail were still the brown of winter plumage. But he was gorgeous. He cooperated in hanging around long enough so that I could retrieve my favorite binoculars, but not long enough for me to get a camera. Hopefully, he'll be back. I understand that some Indigo Buntings winter in Cuba; so maybe he just got back to Jersey from his winter vacation.

Indigo Buntings have been listed on the Roosevelt Bird list for ages, but I've never seen one. The list also includes the somewhat similar (but larger) Blue Grosbeak. Has anyone seen one of those in recent years?

Very best,

R

[Rainy Hartley]

Other years I've seen Indigo Buntings just past the stream where it crosses the road into the cemetary, as well as Common Yellowthroat there. I've never seen Blue Grosbeaks, although they're supposed to be found in Assunpink. Have you heard the Wood Thrushes yet this year? I heard one not to far from your house this morning!

[Rod Tulloss]

No, I haven't hear the Wood Thrushes. I'm afraid I have my nose to the grindstone and the windows closed because of my allergies. However, we did have a sad accident in which a yellow-billed cuckoo collided with some part of the house. We found it by the back door a few days ago. Mary was very upset, as you can imagine.

Very best,

Rod

[David Bruce Schwendeman]

Okay, Hi Rod. Let's get this bird , animal and plant list started for the RWT> Perhaps we need a lesson about this site at an REC meeting? I'll see if someone will bring their lapto to a meeting and demonstrate.
Dave s.

[Rod Tulloss]

Bruce, I'm not sure what "RWT" is?