Another Species of Towhee and Today's Project FeederWatch Observance

Not many new Life birds yet this year (too much damned snow to venture out too much), but this year of 2011 has gotten off to an amazing start all the same! Yesterday (02/12/2011), Kirk Marshall and myself headed up north a bit (a little over an hour from my home here in Littleton) to Carolyn Grummon's abode in Peterborough, NH to get ourselves the 2nd new species of towhee this year, a Spotted Towhee!! We arrived there a little after 10 am, and within minutes, Kirk got on this venerated bird. He was chillin' in some thickets just behind the myriad of bird feeders that Carolyn has set up! He gave us superb looks before he flew off to another section of the Grummon's property! Much thanks must be given to the graciousness and generosity of Carolyn and her husband, for the only way we could best see this lovely Spotted Towhee was via inside their home. We felt obliged to bring some delicious doughnuts from Gourmet Doughnuts out of Townsend, MA on our way to Peterborough, NH to compensate for such kindness, though I must say it pales in comparison to the grandeur of the towhee and the friendliness of our hosts!


So, for those whom want to venture out to Peterborough, please call Carolyn in advance to set up a time to visit and to get directions! Their number is as follows: 1-603-924-7027. These folks are very friendly and obliging to let us fellow birders into their home to see such a rarity in these parts! Both the Spotted Towhee and the Green-tailed Towhee that Kirk and I observed at Sachuest Point NWR in Middletown, RI back on January 1st, are western species. From what I understand, this Spotted Towhee seen in Peterborough is only the 3rd such record of the bird in New Hampshire!


Other birds seen were typical backyard birds seen in the winter time, and thus, no other real highlights to mention, both for in Peterborough and here at home for today's Project FeederWatch observance. So, both sightings lists are below......enjoy and happy birding folks!!

Location:     121B Old Town Farm Road, Peterborough, NH
Observation date:     2/12/11
Notes:     From what I understand, this sighting of a Spotted Towhee is only the 3rd record in NH. Was seen a little after 10 am at host's residence (Carolyn Grummon) in Peterborough, NH. Excellent looks for a few minutes before it flew off to a different section of the Grummon's property. Has been seen over the past 6 weeks with regularity, according to Carolyn, though from what I saw on the NH Birds List, it has only been reported for the past 2 weeks or so. Simply gorgeous bird (male) with the characteristic white spots on back and white wing bars, the deeper chest than that of Eastern Towhee, and the bright coloration as compared to duller colors of a female.
Number of species:     11

Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens     1
Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus     1
Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata     7
Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus     9
Tufted Titmouse - Baeolophus bicolor     4
Red-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta canadensis     1
White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis     2
Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus     1
Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored) - Junco hyemalis hyemalis/carolinensis     3
Northern Cardinal - Cardinalis cardinalis     2
American Goldfinch - Spinus tristis     3

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Mourning Dove	2
Downy Woodpecker	1
Blue Jay	5
Black-capped Chickadee	6
Tufted Titmouse	5
Red-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-breasted Nuthatch	1
White-throated Sparrow	1
Dark-eyed Junco	6
Northern Cardinal	4
House Finch	8
American Goldfinch	3