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Post by birder1942 on Jan 15, 2011 13:44:35 GMT -8
Greetings fellow birders.
I checked for the ACWO this morning about 10 am and found it within a couple of minutes moving from tree to tree along Fore Road, Matsqui village. I then did a bit of a sweep in North East Abbotsford and among other things I picked up the following:
A Snow and Cackling Goose in a flock of Canadas. An American Kestrel, a Merlin, a Rough-legged Hawk, 5 Wood Ducks, and small flock of Evening Grosbeaks.
Good birding everyone, John Vooys, Abbotsford.
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Post by bandj on Jan 15, 2011 17:46:06 GMT -8
That's a relief! Bryan and I and various other birders were around from 11:30 - 4:00 and no one spotted it. The worrying part was a Cooper's Hawk perching just east of the Hazelnut farm and then periodically hunting along Fore Road.
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Post by kenpossum on Jan 15, 2011 20:42:56 GMT -8
Sounds like the early bird gets the acorn! I was with the group that missed it all day, but hey, thanks to Bryan and Janet, I was able to get a couple of personal 'firsts'. Thanks!!! Great company all day. Ken Pugh
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Post by Gord on Jan 15, 2011 22:08:50 GMT -8
That Cooper's Hawk is a little alarming! Let's hope it has a taste for starlings. ;D
John, nice find on the Snow Goose.
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Post by bandj on Jan 16, 2011 11:36:18 GMT -8
Yesterday I found myself wondering if a Juvenile Cooper's might be more interested in hunting the area being studiously scoped by me and others because of all our big EYES (scopes, binoculars, cameras) repeatedly scanning the ACWO feeding area. Might our interest increase the young Cooper's persistence? I'd hate to be a negative affect on the rare ACWO! My general tendency is what most would call over-caution - I don't pish or play recordings or approach birds closely. But that Cooper's was so observant and twice came right to us - once on a nearby telegraph pole and once low overhead and into the cedar hedge by the cafe where I was viewing juncoes. Any opinions?
Janet
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Post by kenpossum on Jan 16, 2011 11:49:53 GMT -8
Hmmmm Avian espionage. I knew it! It all started in the Franco-Prussian War (or earlier?) with Carrier Pigeons carrying messages from the forward observation posts. They worked for crumbs and mere bird feed no less. This Cooper may have been watching the History Channel!
I think I do agree with Janet's suggestion not to use those iPod song bird calls in the proximity of a raptor. Best to error on the side of caution. Besides, I can't afford my iPod just yet. Ken Pugh
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Post by Gord on Mar 19, 2011 13:20:50 GMT -8
Yesterday I took a sandwich for a walk to see if I could spot the Acorn Woodpecker. No luck in the 20 minutes I spent there even though there was a promising looking group of flickers, robins, Varied Thrushes and juncos that I thought might make good company for it. I have early February as the last time someone has reported it. Have any Abbotsfordites (Stan, John, Len et al) been trying of late?
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Post by ian on Mar 20, 2011 8:41:43 GMT -8
My wife and I have been up there regularly until about 10 days ago (at least a dozen times) with no luck. Nice encounter with a red-tailed and a peregrine falcon but no Acorn. We are heading down to Portland next week and I will probably see one in the first ten minutes...  |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 22, 2011 10:37:20 GMT -8
No, sorry, I haven't been checking the area for a while. I haven't heard any reports since the last time it was reported online, and I don't remember when that was. And with the unfortunate demise of the bcvanbirds web list, I'm not even sure where to look for the last report.
Stan
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Post by Chris on Mar 23, 2011 20:07:42 GMT -8
Thanks for the update Stan. I wonder if the cold weather in February made the bird fly south? However, it could be still present as it could be very difficult to locate at times. I checked Ebird and the last sighting was February 5th.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 26, 2011 18:36:33 GMT -8
Yeah, or it could perhaps have moved somewhere else around here where there is also a good food supply and shelter, and may never be located again.
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