Grosbeaks in Sanford *Updated*
April 25th, 2009 · 4 Comments
Brian from Sanford, NC, (edge of the Piedmont, yo!) sent in these pics of rose-breasted grosbeaks that stopped at his platform feeder last week. These were new birds for Brian, and when he IDed them with his trusty National Geographic field guide, he realized they weren’t locals. Nope, rose-breasted grosbeaks are Northerners, but us Piedmonters sometimes spot them during spring and fall migration.
I haven’t seen a single grosbeak this spring, so I’m glad Brian shared his with me. He and I nearly tied on FOTY hummingbirds (4/19 for me, 4/20 for Brian). Still seeing massive waxwing flocks and dozens of Sam Peabodys, so maybe there’s still time for grosbeaks and warblers to pass through. But has anyone noticed how HOT it is? We hit 92 at GBirds HQ today. Migrants better hustle it up!
UPDATE (Sunday, April 26, 8:15 a.m.): Sitting here on the patio as I type this and there are two rose-breasted grosbeaks high up in a tree. Got a few photos, but this fancy black MacBook is too cool to have a built-in card reader, so you’ll have to wait till later on those. (Aside: I’ve been a Mac user since the ’90s, but am becoming increasingly peeved by their high prices and minimal features compared with PCs.) Also just saw and heard my FOTY gray catbird. It pays to do my early morning slacking outside, I guess!
Tags: Reader Report · Rose-breasted Grosbeak
4 responses so far ↓
1 NCmountainwoman // Apr 26, 2009 at 3:12 pm
We saw our first male Friday morning. Can’t wait for more of them to come through.
2 Hope // Apr 27, 2009 at 1:47 pm
I saw a red breasted grosbeak at my platform feeder Saturday. I live in Atlanta, Ga and it is the first one I’ve seen in the past three years of having our feeder out. He stayed at the feeder several minutes and even hustled a few mourning doves away when they got too close to him.
3 Mags65 // Apr 27, 2009 at 2:31 pm
I saw a male at my feeder Saturday morning! First one ever. I also have a blue grosbeak that passes through each year at this time; he stays 3-4 days and then goes who-knows-where. Saw him last on Friday.
I have both you and Brian beat- saw my first hummer on 4/11.
4 Mary Lee // May 7, 2009 at 7:23 am
This is so timely. I’m a bird lover but no good at identification, so when I saw one of these in my Charlotte yard I had no idea what it was. Finding this blog was easier than digging out the bird book. Thanks!
I’ve seen one painted bunting–years ago, in SC,–but never an indigo.