Bird Watching Diary - 20160303

20160303

Identified at 08:30 an American Crow rooting around in a bird nest about 60 feet up in the Willow Oak in the SE corner of my front yard.  2 other birds I believe to be Northern Mockingbirds were hoping around in the tree very nearby within 5 feet of the American Crow.  I don’t know if they were there to try to protect what was in the nest or looking for left overs. Northern Mockingbird Feeding Behavior - Captures insects mostly while walking and running on ground. Also watches from low perch and flies down to capture items on ground below. Perches in shrubs and trees to eat berries. 2 Red-shouldered Hawks flew into the outer limbs of the Willow Oak near the American Crow and the nest for a closer look in hopes of snatching any prey from the nest and immediately the American Crow flew very fast out of the nest and chased the Red-shouldered Hawks away. Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 09:00 the same 2 Red-shouldered Hawks flying and perching in a large oak tree on College Ave about 100 yards away to the W.  The American crow immediately flew to their location and chased them away to the NW then returned to the Willow Oak and the nest. Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 11:15 a Carolina Chickadee in the thickets of the white garage to the west of back yard. Quick little bird. Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 11:45 a pair of Mourning Doves flying from W to E and perching in the large oak tree in the back yard of the 4th house on Virginia Ave.  I believe this is the same pair identified on 20160302 as Mourning Doves are monogamous. Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 13:15 2 Common Ravens rooting around under the magnolia tree in my back yard. When they flew in all the other birds flew out immediately.  They rooted out what looked like round seed pods about .5 to .75 inches in diameter.  They could have been snails but I couldn’t verify what they were eating.  Then they would crush them in their beaks and swallow them whole. They had a blue metallic sheen on the head and neck so they must have been Common Ravens.  See: “A raven’s feathers shine with a blue or purple tint when the sun hits them”
http://www.avesnoir.com/crows-ravens-the-difference/
5 minutes later a large flock of Common Ravens flew to a perch in the large oak tree in the back yard of the 5th house on Virginia Ave.  I counted at least 3 dozen Common Ravens perched there.  Among the Common Ravens I spotted a lighter colored bird of the same size but with a speckled breast and feathers colored gray and brown with an orange beak.  Not sure if this is another species of bird that flies with the Common Raven or perhaps a mutation.  The noise from the Common Ravens was very loud.  I noticed a Cardinal perched in the scraggly vine ridden tree behind the neighbor’s garage to the W of my back yard.  The Cardinal appeared annoyed at the noise the Common Ravens were making.  Then about a dozen Ravens from the perch in the oak tree joined the Ravens on the ground under the magnolia tree in my back yard.  I observed this from inside my house.  When I stood up to take a picture with my cell phone the Common Ravens in my back yard flew for cover in the magnolia tree.  Then the entire flock from the magnolia tree and the neighbor’s oak tree flew to the SE about 5 minutes later when I went outside.  It was all over at 13:30.  Both Non-Binocular Viewing and Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 14:05 American Tree Sparrow on the ground next to the E fence. Had a black spot on chest.  Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 14:17 Dark-eyed Junco pecking in the grass next to the E fence. Had a dark spot at tip of beak.  Both Non-Binocular Viewing and Binocular Viewing.

Identified 14:57 counted 6 Common Ravens perched in the large oak tree in the back yard of the 5th house on Virginia Ave. Both Non-Binocular Viewing and Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 15:55 Robin pecking worms in my back yard when a small prop airplane flying at between 1,500 and 2,000 feet flew towards the yard from the east.  The Robin observed the plane when it was still 2 miles away and fled to the magnolia tree.  5 minutes later when the plane was gone the Robin resumed pecking in my back yard. Non-Binocular Viewing.

Identified at 16:40 I have a Carya tomentosa, (Mockernut hickory, mockernut, white hickory, whiteheart hickory, hognut, bullnut), See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carya_tomentosa

tree on the back fence line of my back yard.  I went out to find what the Common Ravens were eating at 13:15 and found Hickory Nuts on the ground.  This is what the Common Ravens were eating.  Non-Binocular Viewing

(Prevalent birds viewed:

American Tree Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

Northern Mockingbird

Cardinal

Robin

Mourning Dove

Blue Jay)