Eastern Screech Owl

Yesterday afternoon's birding along the eastern CT shore was rather slow, but a detour to view a red Eastern Screech Owl on private property was quite nice. Also of note, the "Black" Brant continues in Waterford.


Eastern Screech Owl

- NB

Comments

  1. Brian WebsterFebruary 1, 2010 at 10:25 AM

    Hey hey my fellow argue(er)!! (lol)


    Just wondering...do you discern between 'black' Brant and 'atlantic' brant on your life list??

    For instance... Harlan's and Krider's Red-tails?? I have cackling goose as a seperate lifer, but when I get to Red-tailed Hawk I have 157-Red-tailed Hawk then 157(a) Harlan's and 157(b) Krider's. (just an arbitrary number... not sure what Red-tail is on my list).

    I know it is usually up to the birder, but I was wondering with this particular species, having seen the Stratford bird.


    I still don't know how you pull out thses ssps in these flocks!! I felt awesome when I was able to pluck a Ross' Goose out of like 15k_ Snow Geese in ND!!


    -Brian-

    ReplyDelete
  2. Brian WebsterFebruary 1, 2010 at 10:25 AM

    Oh.... BTW.... my road-trip is still on. I would've had to pay EVERYTHING out of pocket to take the NJ banding internship. Money I have been saving for this trip.


    Did you ever make it out to Arizona??

    ReplyDelete
  3. Nick BonomoFebruary 1, 2010 at 10:36 AM

    Hey Brian,

    Bummer about the internship. At least you have your trip to "fall back" on.

    As of right now there is only one Brant species in the world, with 3 official subspecies. I don't think there has ever been a really good case to split Black Brant from the others, but I'm no expert on the matter. I generally follow the AOU (American) decisions regarding taxonomy. In some cases the BOU (British) taxonomists are more split-happy, but they have not split Brant either. So, I do not add "Black" Brant as a separate species on my life list. But identifying subspecies is still very worthwhile, if not just to contribute to what we know about subspecies' range.

    PS - rescheduled CA/AZ trip to Feb 14-24

    ReplyDelete
  4. Brian WebsterFebruary 1, 2010 at 11:32 AM

    Makes sense. I usually follow the AOU tax. also. Until Charlie B. told me Cackling was split (I thought it was, but wasn't sure).


    And I am expecting your homework completed upon return to CT on the best spots to hit up in SE Arizona!!! Granted I'll be there in mid Spring, not late winter, but still. =)


    It is a bit of a bummer, regarding the internship. But I spoke with Char Weston (master bander at the Coastal Center) and this season I will be getting into pretty much the same things I'd be doing in Jersey. Not to mention I wouldn't get my banding license in Jersey... I could do the Cornell course later in the summer (hopefully).


    -Brian-

    ReplyDelete

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