The species I did find (with conservative estimates): Number of species: 20 Mourning Dove 14 Monk Parakeet 15 Red-bellied Woodpecker 2 Downy Woodpecker 2 Hairy Woodpecker 2 Northern Flicker 1 Blue Jay 4 Black-capped Chickadee 6 Tufted Titmouse 4 White-breasted Nuthatch 2 European Starling 20 White-throated Sparrow

SectionID=3&TopicID=2 One advantage of this flexibility is that it allows them to preen almost any part of their body with their beak, which is critical given how important feather care is (without hands, all preening has to be done with the beak or the feet, and preening is often estimated to occupy 5-10% of a bird's day). 

Impossible to get an accurate count as they were overhead constantly and moving every which way, some very high and some very low, but I would estimate at least 20.

Bluff Point - morning flight (I am am not an experienced bluff point observer so what follows are my best estimates) - 900+ birds, 250-300 yellow-rumped warblers, 100+ juncos, 50+ phoebes, 6-8 blue headed vireos, 2 red eyed vireos, 1 common yellowthroat, 2 BT blue warblers, 3-4 parulas, 3 blackpoll warblers, 6-8 ruby crowned kinglets, 2 golden crowed kinglets

As many of you have observed over the years, this is the beginning of what becomes an early spring gull extravaganza on Long Island Sound, with feeding groups numbering in 4 digits a regular occurrence, 5-digit frenzies sometimes estimated and occasional recourse to guesses of 6-digits spread out over very wide areas.

(sorry for these late reports - power was out) From SH Johnston: 08/29/11 - Farmington Meadows -- 6 Greater Yellowlegs, 1 Wilson's Snipe, 20+ Least Sandpipers, 1 Pectoral Sandpiper, and an enormous flock of Chimney Swifts, estimated at 500-700, very busily feeding over flood-muddied fields.

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Road TUNDRA SWANS (~300), Estimated total seen in Sand Bay, Reeds Bay and Button Bay SNOW GEESE (~25), Seen near mouth of Button Bay CLIFF SWALLOW (1) (Late date for species) Seen over field on the 3rd Line before Big Sand Bay parking lot. Erwin Batalla and I stayed to follow the SWALLOW for about 10 minutes.

Leo happened to mention that he was in Rainy River earlier today where he estimated there were 500 rails, mostly Soras but many Virginia Rails too, along Miller's Creek in town. Rainy River is just south of Lake of the Woods and across the river from Baudette, Minnesota. The extreme drought in northwestern Ontario continues.

3pm - 13.03.13 - my conservative estimate of a few minutes ago is that a flock of between 300/400 Bohemian Waxwings are feeding on small apples with which many of the trees that grow within this complex are loaded - under my nose at my front door they are feeding on juniper berries - they replace a large flock of American Robins seen this morning.