Some interesting birds in the trees, at home and office

Written by Jack Sanders
Thursday, 21 January 2010 15:47

Some interesting birds have been showing up in trees, both at home and at our office in the center of Ridgefield — including some you might not expect at this time of year or in this kind of place.

The office overlooks four Bradford Pears planted in the sidewalk. For those unfamiliar with the species, the Bradford Pear is a tree popular with city planners because it produces a bounty of white flowers each spring, have long-lasting leaves, and can survive in awful locations.  Our trees are surrounded by pavement — sidewalk and street — with only about two square feet of exposed “earth” at their base. Yet they thrive, requiring constant pruning because of growth, and producing great masses of flowers and, later, the small round “pears” the size of grapes.

In winter, birds seem to love this fruit. Though surrounded by buildings, pavement and a busy road, the trees are frequently visited by cardinals, starlings and House Sparrows — the latter often spend the night in small flocks.

At least once every winter, a flock of Cedar Waxwings will descend on the trees, and for several minutes, engage in a feeding frenzy. This year, waxwings visited the trees several times in November and December.

However, last week was the real treat: A flock of Eastern Bluebirds showed up twice. With them was a single robin. Each time, they spent a few minutes chowing down, and then flew off.

Among the other species spotted in those trees this year are Sharp-shinned Hawk, Blue Jays, chickadees, grackles, Tufted Titmice, and — at the same time as one of the bluebird visit — a White-breasted Nuthatch.

Clearly, Bradford Pears are more than just hardy streetscape beautifiers. They are a source of food for many birds in the season of cold.

Now if nature could only improve on the scent of their flowers: They smell like well-used sweat socks.

Five woodpeckers

At home, we have a lone apple tree of uncertain variety — it produces a few green apples each year. However, it is the bark, not the fruit, that is of more interest to many birds — especially woodpeckers. In just the past few weeks, we have seen on this tree a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, a Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, and Hairy Woodpeckers. (Pileated Woodpeckers have been seen in the yard, but not in many months and not on that tree. The only other woodpecker species that might be “native” is the Red-headed, but we are at the eastern edge of its range and I’ve never seen one anywhere in the area.)

Both the sapsucker and flicker are somewhat unusual birds for winter, though we are within the northern edge of their winter ranges. The sapsucker has since disappeared, no doubt looking for a warmer place while the flicker has been visiting our feeder, enjoying black oil and hulled sunflower seeds. This is the first time we’ve ever observed a flicker at the feeder. In summer they are often seen on the ground where they eat ants and other insects.

Speaking of woodpeckers, Milan Bull, senior director of science and conservation at Connecticut Audubon, will do a program on them Saturday (see below).

Ruddy Shelduck

Anyone missing a Ruddy Shelduck?

“For the last few days we have seen a Ruddy Shelduck in the river behind our house,” writes Diane Gilliam of Darien.  “We have never seen this species before and wonder if they have been seen by to others.”

Ruddy Shelducks come from Asia and Europe. In North America, duck fanciers breed them. Some people buy them to decorate their ponds, but like other waterfowl, they tend to wander.

Coming Up

“Wanderers On My Native Shores: Three Decades of Rare Birds In Connecticut,” with leading bird watcher and photographer Frank Mantlik, Thursday, Jan. 21, 7 p.m., free, Western Connecticut Bird Club,  at Kensington Green, 655 Main Street — South, Southbury, klfischer2 @ sbcglobal.net, 203-426-3901

Woodpeckers with Attitude, with Milan Bull, Saturday, Jan. 23, noon, Connecticut Audubon, 2325 Burr Street, Fairfield, 203-259-6305 ext. 109, ctaudubon.org

Bald Eagle Survey at the Croton Dam, Croton-on-Hudson with Bedford Audubon’s Tait Johansson and volunteers, Saturday, Jan. 23, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Carpool from Bylane, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge at 3 p.m., register jebecker @bedfordaudubon.org or  914-232-4806, bedfordaudubon.org

Daytime Owl Prowl with Luke Tiller, Saturday, Jan. 23, to register, sunrisebirding.com/walks.htm; 203-453-6724, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Pelham Bay Park birding with Bedford Audubon’s Tait Johansson, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 9 to noon, carpool from Bylane, 35 Todd Road, Goldens Bridge at 8 a.m., register jebecker @bedfordaudubon.org or  914-232-4806, bedfordaudubon.org

Owl Moon Night Hike, live presentation plus hike with campfire, Saturday, Jan. 30, 5 to 6:30 p.m., $8, New Canaan Nature Center, 144 Oenoke Ridge,  NewCanaanNature.org, info @ newcanaannature.org, 203-966-9577

Saturday Morning Bird Walks with Luke Tiller,  Jan. 30, Big January Roundup (free); Feb. 13, Westport Hotspots; Feb. 20,  Stamford/Greenwich Hotspots,  Feb. 27,Stratford/Milford Tour; to register, sunrisebirding.com/walks.htm; 203- 453-6724, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

First Sundays, birding at Greenwich Point with Meredith Sampson of Wild Wings, and other guides, 203-637-9822.

Copyright (c) 2010 by Jack Sanders. Send sightings or comments to: jackfsanders [at sign] yahoo.com, or to Bird Notes, Box 1019, Ridgefield, CT 06877; or call 203-438-1183, extension BIRD (2473), and leave a message with your report, spelling your first and last names and telling us your town. If you need help identifying a bird, try your local nature center. If you find an injured bird, call wildlife rehabilitator Darlene Wimbrow of Redding, 203-438-0618, Wildlife in Crisis of Weston, 203-544-9913, or Wild Wings of Greenwich, 203-637-9822. The columnist’s website is www. sandersbooks. com.