Pshing in gnats by the handfuls

Yesterday evening, 4.25.09, was great birding at Colliers Mills WMA.  The birds were out in mass.  I’ve been saving up vacation time for May birding but this month has been pretty good too.

If you get out there you never know what your going to catch a glimpse of.  I had time so I decided to walk the front pond, all 2.2 miles of it.  Some really good views of a few wood warblers.   Every turn of the Turn Mill pond had Common Yellowthroat and Palm Warblers.  The Common Yellowthroats have finally arrived singing their “wichety wichety wichety” song.

A favorite bird of mine had to be coaxed out of the woods to perform it’s “drink your TEEEE” song.  At the back bridge, near the range, I decided to do some pshing to encourage closer views of these avian soloists.  It wasn’t surprising but more of a highly anticipated appearance of the Eastern Towhee pictured above.  Once grouped together with the western race as Rufous-sided Towhee.  It derives it’s scientific name from the Latin term Pipilo or “to chirp” and erythrophthalmus Greek for “red-eyed” (pipilo erythrophthalmus).

As I made the squishy whisper call (pshing) I did not recognize or remember the call note I was hearing.  But it also was certainly an effective tool to communicate a free meal to the local gnats.  My target bird making that “chewink” song note was not coming out.  So I walked on and finally closed in on the call note singing bird, which than provided his heart stopping solo song.  If he doesn’t get chicks with that “drink your tea” song there is no justice in a sparrows life.

Location: Colliers Mills WMA, New Egypt

Observation date: 4/25/09

Notes: Few hours before sunset.

Number of species: 21

Eastern Kingbird

Canada Goose

Downy Woodpecker

Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted)

Eastern Phoebe

Black-capped Chickadee

Tufted Titmouse

Carolina Wren

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

American Robin

Swamp Sparrow

Chipping Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow

Northern Cardinal

Red-winged Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird

Killdeer

Turkey Vulture

Eastern Towhee

Common yellowthroat

Palm warbler